A member of our congregation has been separated from his wife for over a year. His wife just called to inform me that he has filed for a divorce. She says that the papers she has been served with a statement that the reason for the divorce is “for the betterment of the family”. I believe this to be willful sin on his part and that the members here need to go talk to him and try to convince him that (as he knows) what he is doing is completely unscriptural and request that he not go through with the divorce. If he still refuses to do so we should withdraw from him.<\/p>\n
I realize that it’s hard for you to offer any advice not being here and knowing the details, but would you not agree that I am right?<\/p>\n\t
Since God clearly states that He hates divorce (Malachi 2:14-16) and that this divorce appears to be completely unnecessary, from what you tell me; then yes, I agree the man needs to be talked to and action needs to be taken if he doesn’t repent of his sins. One thing that needs to be kept in mind: in these days of “no-fault” divorces, what the lawyers chose to put on the papers likely does not match the actual reason. He should be clearly informed that if he proceeds with this divorce, he has no grounds for future remarriage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: A member of our congregation has been separated from his wife for over a year. His wife just called to inform me that he has filed for a divorce. She says that the papers she has been served with a statement that the reason for the divorce is “for the betterment of the family”.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[167,254],"class_list":["post-8261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-divorce","tag-withdrawal"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14944,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-a-husband-commits-adultery-after-his-wife-divorces-him-can-she-remarry\/","url_meta":{"origin":8261,"position":0},"title":"If a husband commits adultery after his wife divorces him, can she remarry?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 22, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My sister has decided to leave her physically abusive, alcoholic husband. She doesn't have plans to divorce him and is hoping that eventually, he'll realize he needs help. She knows what a scriptural divorce is and that this does not constitute remarriage. I don't think he will ever change,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31571,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-husband-divorce-his-wife-ten-years-after-forgiving-her-of-an-affair\/","url_meta":{"origin":8261,"position":1},"title":"Can a husband divorce his wife ten years after forgiving her of an affair?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I want to help my sister in Christ. Situation:\u00a0 A woman cheats on her husband.\u00a0 Husband says he forgives her and stays with her for 10 years after the adultery.\u00a0 Over the 10 years, the husband never really gets over the infidelity. He eventually files for divorce and divorces\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5441,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-deal-with-a-husband-who-wants-a-divorce-just-to-be-alone\/","url_meta":{"origin":8261,"position":2},"title":"How do I deal with a husband who wants a divorce just to be alone?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a question. I have been with my husband for many years. We both believe in God, but he has not been wanting to pray with me lately. He also has been speaking about divorce. 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She divorced her first husband due to adultery and remarried her current husband, who is a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30228,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-we-make-things-right-after-our-adultery\/","url_meta":{"origin":8261,"position":5},"title":"Can we make things right after our adultery?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 11, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I would like your advice on a matter that concerns me. I'm a young single woman who fell in love with a guy who was married. I'm not a Christian, but he is. He has children as well. 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