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HOW EASY DIVORCE IS DEFILING AMERICA

In Proverbs 14:34, it states that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."  Divorce is rampant in our society today.  There is no one reading this article that has not either been in a divorce or knows someone that has experienced a divorce. 

Divorce is an action that violates God's plan of one man, one woman, for life.  Jesus states in Matthew 19:4-6, "Have you not read," he replied "that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?  So they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."  Jesus says in Matthew 5:31-32, "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

Marriage is a basis of all social contracts between two specific people and involves God since He joins them together.  Marriage in scripture is a sacred bond between a man and a woman for life.  The concept of marriage was established by God and applies to believers and nonbelievers.  

If an individual can break their vow to the individual that meant more to them than anyone else and to their God, then how can their word be trusted in any other situation?  Finally, the impact of divorce on a nation and God's attitude can be seen in Malachi 2:13-17 when the people were upset because God no longer would accept their offering and they wanted to know why.  Malachi tells them, "Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant." 

He then says, "So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.  'For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.'"  

Then in verse 17 Malachi tells the nation of Israel (you could easily put us in their place) that "You have wearied the LORD with your words.  But you say, 'How have we wearied Him?' (RSV) By saying, 'Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.' Or by asking, 'Where is the God of justice?'" Are we not guilty of these same words? The Nation of Israel was not able to make the necessary changes.  Will we be more successful than they?
 
Charles Royal
Decatur AL

  

"And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand." "Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant." "And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth." "For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously." "Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?"