Divorce

The divorce rate still hovers around 50% in most of the nation.  Millions of children now grow up in broken homes.  Courts are full of divorce and custody cases.  Counselor’s offices are full of couples dealing with the issue. The Church is in full stride seeking to serve those in these difficult moments of life as well as becoming more and more committed to celebrating and saving marriage.  Divorce is every day.

What does the Bible say?

Jesus condemned the easy divorce of His day.
Jesus allowed for divorce, but only in rare case.
Jesus offered grace to those damaged by broken relationships.

The Bible has no concrete rules that cover marriage and divorce in every case.  It does celebrate the institution of marriage and the family.  It does celebrate love in marriage. It does celebrate the unique relationship of service and love that is in marriage.  It does offer grace for those who experience the tragedies of life, including divorce.  It does call for faithfulness in marriage and yet offers new beginnings for those who have been hurt by the trauma of divorce, new beginnings made possible by God’s grace.

What does the United Methodist Book of Discipline say?
“We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant…when a married couple is estranged beyond reconciliation, even after thoughtful consideration and counsel, divorce is a regrettable alternative in the midst of brokenness…The welfare of each child is the most important consideration…divorce does not preclude a new marriage…we encourage an intentional commitment of the Church…to minister compassionately to those in the process of divorce, as well as members of divorced and remarried families…God’s grace is available to all.

There is little doubt that the greatest crisis of the Church is not money, or a lack of faith, but divorce.  Nothing has created more pain, angst, and division in the life of the Church than the fallout of divorce.  This pain is felt by the couple, the children, the Church, and even God himself.  But we also recognize that God’s grace is always sufficient and available, for reconciliation for some, and healing for others, and a new marriage for others still.  The First United Methodist Church is dedicated to serving all people.  Our prayer is that divorce never happens, that prayer, faith, counseling, and compelling love wins in every marriage and couples grow from year to year in a compassionate relationship that every child grows up with their family’s intake, loving and faithful.  But when divorce happens, and sometimes it must, we work to bless children as they struggle with brokenness and individuals as they seek for recovery and a new, different and a Jesus promised abundant life.  The Church is always about grace.

Category: What I believe