"One commandment broken is all commandments broken.
One sin, reveled in My name, are all sins accounted to you" (from Timothy's sermon)

I have an interesting question about this - does this count if one decides to dissolve their marriage? Is not marriage a committment, before God, to one person that you swear an oath to love and care for - til death do you part? Is it a sin to dissolve a marriage?

First: Amen Trent.

2Co 12:9 -
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Next: I would like to correct Jason's comment above and show the context.

It is not from my sermon - it is the Word of The Lord, from His own mouth!

Here is the context:

"One commandment broken is all commandments broken.
One sin, reveled in My name, are all sins accounted to you.

One sin, repented in the Christ’s name, all are forgiven you.

I know your hearts, My children, and I know whether or not you have become
fully converted in your spirit...you can not lie to your God.
Come to Me, in all truth and supplication, by Him who I sent to you in Truth,
being the Truth Absolute, utterly void of darkness.
He is light...by Him shall you walk into life.

He is the Way, the only One under Heaven...
Walk in Him, and you shall find Me." ~ God

Lastly, Yes, it is a sin to dissolve marriage, except for unfaithfulness... to disobey the Lord is sin.

1Co 7:10-11 -
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. (*NOTE: This came from The Lord as Paul states in verse 10 and repeats again in verse 12)

1Co 7:12 -
But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.

1Co 7:13 -
And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

Mt 5:32 -
But now I tell you: if a man divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit adultery if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits adultery also.

Mt 19:9 -
I tell you, then, that any man who divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, commits adultery if he marries some other woman."

"To disobey God is to sin"

"Yes, it is a sin to dissolve marriage, except for unfaithfulness... to disobey the Lord is sin." (Timothy)

Unfaithfulness being 'adultery' correct? So if no adultery is committed - does the husband have the blessing of God to discontinue their marriage?

Paul's view seems to be that if a believer has a husband or wife that is considered an 'unbeliever' they are not leave them either - not if the person desires with their heart to stay in the marriage. Correct?

So if I want to leave my marriage because my wife and I have varying views on scripture and the Christian faith - do I have the right to leave?

Jason,

Its me, Trent. I'm going to muddy the waters a bit before Timothy gets a chance to respond.

Sometimes things are more complicated (or multifaceted) than one single teaching on a subject. When Jesus taught on marriage and divorce, those that He taught did not bind themselves to each other by a solemn vow. Today, some of us have bound ourselves by a vow and some have not.

Provided that you have made a marriage vow, (for better or worse until death do we part) than scripture informs us how to behave once we have made a vow.

"Or if a person thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil--in anything one might carelessly swear about--even if he is unaware of it, in any case when he learns of it he will be guilty." -- Lev. 5:4

"Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord." -- Lev. 19:12

"Moses said to the tribes of Israel: 'This is what the Lord commands: When a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to oblidge himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.' " -- Num. 30:1-2

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, 'My vow was a mistake.' Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God." -- Eccl 5:4-7

THE POINT IS ... that DEATH may be your only way out, if that is what you vowed.
Better yet, you have God's promise of a miracle to fulfill His commands regarding keeping your word. The Lord Jesus Keeps 100% of His promises, and even though we are too weak to keep 100% of our promises, He intends to give you and me the grace and strength to keep ours by the Spirit so that He gets the glory for what is wrought in His beloved sheep.

I know three people who have stayed true to their marraige vows even though their mate has not. They wear their rings because of the promise they made even though their other-half does not or may wear another person's ring. It isn't easy for them, but God's grace is sufficient. But as long as their spouse is alive they remain bound to their solemn vows prayerfully and God has blessed them for it.

Amen!

Ripening,
Trent

Thanks Trent for the response (and Timothy also).

So, we all consider marriage a life-long committment - correct? We swore these oaths knowing what they mean and what committment we have vowed - correct?

What if it is more simple of a problem we are dealing with - like a spouse that does not believe like we do? Do we seperate (literally leave one another) - that which God has put together? Or do we continue with the person even though we may not hold the same religious beliefs?

Is God okay with us seperating from our wives?

Jason,

Separating from your spouse can be proper or not be proper. There is certainly biblical precedent for it from Paul's writings.

1 Cor 7:10-18 (The Message)
And if you are married, stay married. This is the Master's command, not mine.
If a wife should leave her husband, she must either remain single or else come back and make things right with him. And a husband has no right to get rid of his wife.
For the rest of you who are in mixed marriages - Christian married to nonChristian - we have no explicit command from the Master. So this is what you must do. If you are a man with a wife who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her.
If you are a woman with a husband who is not a believer but he wants to live with you, hold on to him.
The unbelieving husband shares to an extent in the holiness of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is likewise touched by the holiness of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be left out; as it is, they also are included in the spiritual purposes of God.
On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse walks out, you've got to let him or her go. You don't have to hold on desperately. God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can.
You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God.
And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life. Don't think I'm being harder on you than on the others. I give this same counsel in all the churches.

Personally, I believe that temporary / targeted separation may be called for when the situation is really characterized by fury and anger. I am writing you from my parents house as I was violently asked to leave my house by my wife. We are going to counseling about twice a week and devoting our efforts to reconciliation. Perhaps we have been gone too long, perhaps not long enough. My precious beloved wife was sunburned (so to speak) and needed a break form exposure to relieve her hypersensitivity on alot of issues. I could agree to this because I saw with my own eyes how magnified everything was to her. And we are using this time to gain perspective and reconcile. I don't want to be apart from her. I love her and she knows that divorce is not an option for me no matter what. So we are both taking the separation seriously as a time to reconcile with vigor and intention while seeking the Lord in prayer.

However, the case may be totally different for you.

You have a Shepherd that loves you and guides you and will help you make a wise decision on HOW TO RECONCILE things with your wife in the most efficient way possible. Trust that He will guide you and do not linger too long in indecision.

Make up your mind to do this or that one week from now. And let Him speak to you about it for that week if your decision needs to be reversed or tweaked. Cry out to Him, for He is always near. Just make up your mind in the meantime, and allow Him to influence your decision ... that way you are not lingering in indecision for the whole time.

Ripening,
Trent

Thanks Trent for the comments and advice - was good to hear.

Jason,
Lets both thank the Lord for He is the Father of everything we happen upon that is pure and good. Let us thank the Lord together for each other and the oneness He makes of His body.
Amen.

-Trent