{"id":86391,"date":"2025-04-05T16:44:39","date_gmt":"2025-04-05T21:44:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=86391"},"modified":"2025-04-05T16:44:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T21:44:39","slug":"is-it-a-sin-to-divorce-a-non-believer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-a-sin-to-divorce-a-non-believer\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it a sin to divorce a non-believer?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

Question:<\/h2>\n

Hello!<\/p>\n

I have read much on your webpage about divorce, and I appreciate all the hard work you put into answering these questions. I pray God continues to give us all wisdom through His word.<\/p>\n

In I Corinthians 7, we have the situation where a believer departs from another believer. We see a situation where an unbeliever may depart from a believer. But we have a situation where a believing wife wants to leave an unbelieving spouse. The ball is already rolling on getting the divorce. This decision was not made by the elders or by us as ministers. It came out of nowhere.<\/p>\n

The wife has been separated for three years from the husband, who is sometimes drunk around the kids and not being the husband he needs to be. Within that time, she reached out to the elders and ministers, went on dates, and went to counseling to no avail. The husband has no desire to study God’s word up to this point. When I reached out to her, I barely got any response. We have not had an official study, so I, along with our elders, want to try. I Corinthians 7, Paul says to the married that they should not divorce, but if she does, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled. Is this statement only applicable to those marriages among believers?<\/p>\n

Then in I Corinthians 7:12-13, Paul tells the believing spouse, male or female, to stay if they are willing to consent.<\/p>\n

It seems clear that Paul is saying not to depart, but does the “if she does depart” from I Corinthians 7:11 apply to her being married to an unbeliever, or is that only applicable to marriage among believers? Is this a sin if she departs?<\/p>\n

Do you have any suggestions on what this looks like practically from her standpoint? Thank you! Please pray that God can give us the wisdom and humility needed as we continue to pray for you.<\/p>\n\t

Answer:<\/h2>\n

Divorce situations are always messy, which is why God said, “I hate divorce … and him who covers his garment with wrong<\/em>” (Malachi 2:16).<\/p>\n

I Corinthians 7:10-11 deals with believers because they are motivated to follow the Lord’s commands. The general rule is that there should be no divorce. Unfortunately, people being people, some are going to get divorced anyway. In such cases, they are to remain unmarried or be reconciled with their spouse.<\/p>\n

I Corinthians 7:12-16 deals with a believer married to a non-believer. Here, the non-believer has no motivation to follow God’s laws. If the non-believer decides to leave the marriage, the believer does not leave the faith just to keep the marriage together. The non-believer is allowed to leave; however, it doesn’t imply that the believer can marry again. The rule stated in I Corinthians 7:10-11 still applies.<\/p>\n

See “Marriage<\/a>” for a detailed discussion on these passages.<\/p>\n

While elders and ministers can advise the Christians under their care, they cannot make decisions on their behalf. The situation is not ideal, nor was the wife’s decision one that “came out of nowhere.” She has been dealing with an alcoholic husband for years and has been separated from him for three years. In that time, the situation did not improve. She sought out help, but he didn’t change. While a divorce is not ideal and should be avoided, she decided it was enough. The one thing that you should make sure she understands is that this does not release her to marry again.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: Hello! I have read much on your webpage about divorce, and I appreciate all the hard work you put into answering these questions. I pray God continues to give us all wisdom through His word. In I Corinthians 7, we have the situation where a believer departs from another believer. We see a situation…<\/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,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[167],"class_list":["post-86391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-divorce"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20369,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-for-a-christian-to-marry-a-non-believer\/","url_meta":{"origin":86391,"position":0},"title":"Is it wrong for a Christian to marry a non-believer?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 8, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In I Corinthians 7:12-14, it doesn't mean a Christian marrying an unbeliever. 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Because of the desire to serve Christ, the believing\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":51262,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-divorced-single-christian-serve-in-the-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":86391,"position":1},"title":"Can a divorced, single Christian serve in the church?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: These days it seems as if many couples, including Christians, do not give their marriages a chance and their marriages end quickly because they are not willing to give up their stubborn ways.\u00a0 My husband and I have been married a long time and went through a lot of\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":26785,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/ive-sinned-living-with-a-non-believer-ive-repented-but-do-i-marry-this-man\/","url_meta":{"origin":86391,"position":2},"title":"I’ve sinned, living with a non-believer. I’ve repented, but do I marry this man?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 22, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a Christian woman in my thirties. I have two children outside of wedlock for the same father who is a Muslim man. Now I know that having sex before marriage is wrong, making my children illegitimate. But I know the errors of my ways and I have\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":39662,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-wife-just-told-me-she-filed-for-divorce-what-can-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":86391,"position":3},"title":"My wife just told me she filed for divorce. What can I do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, My wife left for summer break with my two kids.\u00a0 Three weeks later I noticed that she was acting weird with me, so I had a long conversation with her. I found out she file for divorce and that she is not coming back. We have been married\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":15678,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-divorce-disqualify-a-man-from-being-an-elder\/","url_meta":{"origin":86391,"position":4},"title":"Does divorce disqualify a man from being an elder?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 5, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Does divorce disqualify a man from being an elder? Is adultery covenant-breaking? Answer: Adultery does break the covenant or \"law\" between a man and a woman. \"Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man\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":40892,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/am-i-sinning-by-not-contesting-my-wifes-desire-for-a-divorce\/","url_meta":{"origin":86391,"position":5},"title":"Am I sinning by not contesting my wife’s desire for a divorce?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day, My wife and I are married for over ten years and have beautiful kids together. We are both reborn Christians. She filed for divorce recently due to my abusive and aggressive behavior when we disagree sometimes. 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