I cannot congratulate a couple if there is any possibility that they are entering into an adulterous marriage. I feel sad sometimes that I end up raining on everyone's parade. The people doing the congratulating are not questioning anything about the new marriage, just a happy congrats.
Because marriage is held in such low regard these days by Christians there is a sense that I cannot join in their happiness when there is a possibility of the new marriage being an adulterous one.
Luke 16:17-18 "17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. 18 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."
Adulterous marriages usually come with a host of excuses as to why they were justified in divorcing their first spouses. God does not give any reason to get out of a marriage, not even for adultery.
The passages in Matthew that is always used to justify divorce and allow for remarriage has nothing to do with the marriage relationship. The word in the KJV of the bible is translated "fornication." It is translated that way because it has to do with the law of the Jews that required a certificate of divorcement for the betrothal time that we call engagement.
The betrothal was nearly as binding as marriage in the Jewish law except if one of the parties was unfaithful. The never did pertain to marriage.
Everyone knew this principle for the past 1900 years until the seminaries became liberal teaching the false doctrine of divorce for adultery, that is unfaithfulness within marriage, began being taught.
When Christ makes two people into one at the ceremony of the promises they are no longer two but one, that is a spiritual oneness that cannot be broken by a law of the land that liberally allows divorce pretending to dissolve the marriage.
No matter what that certificate of divorce signed by the judge says, it does not dissolve the union that God glued together. A sort of spiritual super glue only God can undo through the death of a spouse.
Satan has managed to twist the minds of many in the liberal churches to believe they can claim anything they like and God will place His stamp of approval on it. There are serious consequences for disobeying God, some are lifelong.
There is an old Amish saying; "when two divorced people get married there are four people in the bed."
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears, they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
In this 2 Timothy 4 passage, we see that we are living in those times when the Bible is merely a book of good suggestions rather than the very words of God. Many people completely disregard the passages they do not like to embrace what they do like. Even words they take away from and add to the words of God to justify sin.
Those of us who speak the truth from God's word as He has written it will be called names, accused of lacking knowledge, told we are mean spirited and even told we refused to discuss things when we tried hard to bring the scriptures to bear but it was rejected.
I have had people accuse me of the very things they were doing but I was not. This is a favored tactic of the devil. The devil wants us to defend ourselves and fight back bitterly to have our say.
The best thing for the believer to do when they are accused of things and our character is maligned is to realize it is the devil in these people using their mouths to cause anger in us.
God says "be angry and sin not." When we see the tactic being employed to outrage us we can ignore it knowing who is behind it and make an effort to avoid such a person.
Romans 16:17-18 "17 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.…"
There will even be times when these rebellious ones will attempt to gain others on their side by their gossip and through half truth, even out and out lies. We must also avoid anyone who listens to the gossip.
Remember we do not need to run after trouble makers. Those are the ones who want to fight to win over us, they want us to be like them and refuse to allow us our views.
Scripture is not important to these problem people, only getting their way and surrounding themselves with those who validate their false religion of compromise.
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a divine curse!
Galatians 1:9
As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you embraced, let him be under a divine curse!
Someone might say, "marriage is not about doctrine", the answer is sure, marriage is a picture of Chrsit and His relationships with His church. The union of Christ and His children cannot be severed. God disciplines His children but He does not remove the relationship.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…'
God also tells us that those who belong to Him obey Him. When someone refuses to obey the Bible, adding what they wish and crossing out what they don't like they are in rebellion against God.
Even worse these people are deliberately antagonizing God''s children to convince them to disobey God.
Galatians 4:16-17 "…16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. "
I probably can't count the number of times I have encountered those who thought their anger at me would cause me to follow their ungodly thinking. These people want us to feel intimidated, embarrassed and ashamed for believing God and His Word.
They do not understand that God's Word is more than a saying we call the book we read. God's word is the very essence of Who Christ is, His Word is above all other writings a perfect truth.
All the disobedience I see among pretenders is based on their feelings and circumstances, not on God's Word. They never seek God in prayer to learn the truth, they simply defend their ignorance.
Those who say they are Christians but do not have the Holy Spirit will interpret things the way they wish to see them and not by the power of the Holy Spirit. Keep this in mind when you encounter these people, do not take them seriously, pray for their salvation, and keep moving forward in truth and holiness. There is nothing to gain by remaining with argumentative people who care only about winning without truth.
Hallelujah!
