FOREVER - Marriage is for a Lifetime

ON LINE WORKSHOP - SESSION I - MARRIAGE IS FOR A LIFETIME

Before we begin our first session I know some may wonder why I am dividing each week of our workshop into two parts. The first day's posting will focus on Divorce and the second day's posting will relate to Remarriage.

The reason I am doing this is because I have found that several people visiting my site are looking for information about remarriage. This is a clear indication that those visiting with me are in various stages along the pathway of divorce and remarriage. By working our way through this workshop in a two fold manner I believe I can be more helpful to those seeking guidance concerning divorce and remarriage.

I hope you will interact with me either through comments on my blog or emailing me.

Today, let's talk about divorce. Tomorrow we will consider some points on the issue of remarriage.

As one who believed that a Christian marriage was for a lifetime it was very difficult for me to cope with the trauma of divorce. I struggled long and hard to keep my dysfunctional marriage together. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing with you my experience of divorce and remarriage as related in my book, "Divorce & Remarriage Made Beautiful In His Time."

I desire that as you journey with me you will find hope, healing and a wholesome restored self image. As we walk together through the valley of the shadow of divorce you will find the rich assurance that He makes even divorce beautiful in His time.

Learn what many of us have experienced as we traveled down that lonely, guilt-ridden path. It is a path that can lead to depression and defeat, or to the exhilarating challenge of growth and victory.

During our study we will look at the "Process" of divorce and remarriage. This process is not like a 1, 2, 3 process but has an element of bouncing back and forth between the emotional feelings related to divorce.

As I began working on my outline for this workshop I found that many of the keywords began with "F." (These are not the fearsome "F" words that we hear all around us today) They are words that can come to have special meaning in our lives.

We will begin with the first "F" WORD OF DIVORCE:

I. FOREVER

On page fourteen in my book I say, "In my own Christian experience I was taught both by word and example that Christians don't get divorced. Our Lord hates divorce. When you marry, it is until death do you part. Divorce is not an option for the Christian."

My biblical and pastoral education in a fundamental Christian college ingrained within me the clear teaching that one does not enter into marriage lightly nor do you get a divorce except in the case of adultery. Even in such a situation it is not absolutely necessary that you divorce your partner. Several scholars referenced in my book teach various theological positions on divorce. Only one allows for divorce for causes other than adultery. None allow for remarriage. For a Christian with a background like mine the struggle with the issue of divorce is life shattering.

On page fifteen of my book I raise the question: "Why then, with so much evidence that divorce and remarriage are not an option for the Christian, did I become divorced and remarried? There was never any infidelity on the part of Maria or me. Instead of thirty years of endearing ourselves to each other, why did we find ourselves tragically enduring one another? It was clear that our hearts had become hardened in our relationship."

Christ cited this as the reason God allowed for divorce in the Law of Moses.

Matthew 19:8. He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so." (NKJV)

I will talk more about my interpretation of hardness of the heart in a later session.

Next week we will look at the "F" words Family and Frustration - Dysfunctional marriages.

Remember tomorrow I will be posting a section on the issues of remarriage. It will address
"Finding Oneself"

Ecclesiastes 3:11. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

HUGS, IN CHRIST'S AND MY LOVE,

Don E. Cunningham, Author