Sin within the church
Question:
Dear Sir,
What does the Bible teach when a wife sins against her husband first? She committed impurity (not immorality) with a younger man in the church. Afterward, the husband committed immorality with a younger woman who was a member of the church. The wife repented of her sin, broke the relationship, apologized to her husband, and is willing to fix their marriage; however, the husband was no longer willing to get together and left the church. The wife was disheartened and left the church. She also left their three kids to her husband. The husband filed for a divorce for abandoning their kids, and he got full custody of their kids. The husband went back to church, and also the young woman with whom he had an affair while he was still married. After a few months of being with the church, the man asked the young woman to be his girlfriend and eventually got married in the church. And now, they have become one of the leaders of the church.
As I understand, the Bible teaches that if you commit adultery as part of your repentance, you must either reconcile with your wife or remain unmarried for the rest of your life.
Please enlighten me. Thank you for all you do to uphold and teach the Word of God! May God continually guide and bless you!
Answer:
Sadly, I frequently hear of people who react badly when their spouse sins, and then sin as well. The wife sinned, but instead of forgiving her as commanded (Matthew 6:14-15), he divorced her. She furthers her sin by abandoning her children and the church. He leaves the church, but returns with the woman he committed adultery with. He then marries her, and the church accepts him; thus, the sin spreads since the church is required to withdraw from those who remain in adultery.
The man had no right to marry another since his first marriage did not end because of fornication (Matthew 19:9; 5:32).
This is why God said, "'For I hate divorce,' says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the LORD of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously" (Malachi 2:16). One sin leads to another like dominoes falling.
What does it take to straighten out this tangled web?
- The church must withdraw from the man and his wife while they remain married since they are living in adultery.
- The man must end his adultery by divorcing the woman he is married to, which means facing the fact that he will likely be single for the rest of his life and that he will be a single father to his children.
- If the man and woman stop their adultery, then the church can welcome them back.
