Hebraic Musing – Does
“Separation of Church & State” Apply to Marriage?
While the
concept of “Separation of Church & State” is alleged to be in the Constitution,
it actually is not. However the concept
and use of the phrase guides many decisions in the governance of our nation’s
laws and customs. My life’s purpose is
to promote the sacredness of Biblical Marriage (In fact, I’ve authored a book
with that title); thus my deep concern about attacks on traditional biblical
marriage. I have some questions about a
perceived conflict between “Separation of Church & State” and the concept
of biblical marriage?
Marriage was
given to us as a gift from God and thus is the responsibility of the Church to
govern. The sanctity of marriage is well
emphasized in Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage
should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge
the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Why then, when a minister officiates a
wedding, said minister has to be approved by the State for the marriage to be
recognized? Has the State usurped
jurisdiction over recognition of the Church’s sacrament of marriage?
On the other
side of the issue, divorce is a legal act now governed by the State and occurs
with increasing frequency. Yet divorce
is not accepted biblically and for years was forbidden by the Church. The Catholic Church, as I grew up, strictly
prohibited divorce with ex-communication as the penalty (with annulment as the questionable
escape mechanism). And Jesus was very clear when He said (in red
letters) "Anyone
who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against
her. And if she divorces her husband and
marries another man, she commits adultery." Mark 10:11-12 (Note 1)
The granting
of divorce has become an increasingly recognized way of life today, and divorce
decrees are being granted by the State. I
have heard little or no preaching in Church(s) against divorce. Is the Church being forced to go along with
the State’s willingness to grant divorces?
Thus, divorce has had to be accepted by the Church as a popular life
style in today’s society. Can we have “Separation
of Church & State” when the two seem to be inextricably intertwined? (Note 2)
It gets
deeper when the Church’s acceptance of divorce becomes so prevalent that it is perceived
to be sanctioned, contrary to the biblical sacrament of marriage. Those caught in the LGBT (Note 3) lifestyle
want acceptance by the Church since the Church has already weakened its
position on the sanctity of biblical marriage.
Thus the argument, why shouldn’t LGBT folks have acceptance AND approval
by the Church since the State has now given approval, even approving homosexual
marriage? (Note 4)
Has the
church abdicated its responsibility for the sanctity and governance of marriage
to the State?
Critical caveat – If you are reading
this and feel condemnation because you have been through a divorce, please
consider that Satan wants us to look back while Jesus wants us to look forward. View your current situation looking forward,
not backward. We, the Church, have
participated in the problem, thus we all need to repent, ask forgiveness and
vow to honor the biblical sacrament of marriage from this day forward.
Points to ponder
What’s next as the State rules on more Judeo-Christian moral issues?
When have you heard Matthew 19:8-9 preached from the pulpit?
Or Malachi 2:16? "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel…
Or Malachi 2:16? "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel…
Which should we be honoring – The Church’s Lord or the State’s Laws?
"Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matt. 3:2
Yosef a.k.a.
Joe Brusherd March 28, 2017
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage” “Musings - A Victorious Life” “Musings - The Torah and New Testament”
Weekly “Hebraic Musings” www.InsightsByYosef.com
Notes #1 thru
4 are extensive, challenging and supplementary.
They are available on request.
Notes
and supplements to
Hebraic Musing – Does “Separation of Church & State” apply to Marriage?
Hebraic Musing – Does “Separation of Church & State” apply to Marriage?
This is a huge subject for
the general size format of Hebraic Musings so the notes here are supplementary:
1.
Jesus’s
words in Matthew 19:8-9 differ somewhat from verses in Mark and Luke about divorce. “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your
hearts were hard. But it was not this
way from the beginning. I tell you that
anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries
another woman commits adultery."
The Matthew rendition requires a willingness to study Matthew’s version of the discourse with a Jewish mindset and understanding of the legal bickering of the Jews with Jesus. I propose or postulate, that if Jesus actually said except for "marital unfaithfulness” there are only two ways he said it. He was giving the same concession Moses allowed, which He was not himself in agreement with the issue, or he was using Hosea and wife Gomer, as the standard of unfaithfulness. In either case he never gave permission to remarry. The divorce in itself doesn’t constitute adultery; the divorce has to be followed with remarriage to constitute adultery. So if you wish to divorce your wife/husband because of “marital unfaithfulness” using Hosea and Gomer as the standard; ok, but you still can’t remarry.
The Matthew rendition requires a willingness to study Matthew’s version of the discourse with a Jewish mindset and understanding of the legal bickering of the Jews with Jesus. I propose or postulate, that if Jesus actually said except for "marital unfaithfulness” there are only two ways he said it. He was giving the same concession Moses allowed, which He was not himself in agreement with the issue, or he was using Hosea and wife Gomer, as the standard of unfaithfulness. In either case he never gave permission to remarry. The divorce in itself doesn’t constitute adultery; the divorce has to be followed with remarriage to constitute adultery. So if you wish to divorce your wife/husband because of “marital unfaithfulness” using Hosea and Gomer as the standard; ok, but you still can’t remarry.
2. The
State needs to control the legality of the minister to join a couple because
when it divorces they need a legal contract to begin with. If you want to legally separate a couple you
first need a legal document that has put them together so that it can be
legally taken apart. Stop divorce, and
you no longer need the state’s involvement in the marriage; and “inheritance
rights” issues are minimalized.
3. LGBTIQ
is the newest acronym. It stands for Lesbian,
Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Intersexed, Queer or Questioning. This is almost humorous; does anyone see that
there is no end to this list? If we
accept one sin as ok, where does it end?
In fact, I’ll predict that someday a “P” will be added for Pedophilia;
and then a “B” for Beastiality.
4. The
LGBT movement is no longer interested in acceptance by the Church, they are
starting to get that. What they want now
is endorsement.
Additional
perspectives from a respected source:
The real issue is that men of
old and of today want to divorce their wives so as to remarry another. They
were looking for a loophole to get out of their marriage. Interestingly
enough it’s possible Jesus permitted Moses’ exception to stand but never agreed
to the motive of their hearts to remarry. And today most Christian men
treat the Bible as a legal document to justify or condemn behavior to suit
their own desires; rather than clinging to the heart of the word of God and
working out their salvation with fear and trembling.
Another perspective to
consider, the Bible was written at a time when men ruled. Women were not
on the same status as men. Therefore the discourse in Matthew’s gospel
deals with the motive of men. Women’s motives are far more involved and
not always so simple to define. Women don’t usually want a divorce for
the purpose of remarrying. Yes it
happens. but not on the scale that men do it. Men get tired of the
old model and want to trade it in on a newer model. There is more here to
be studied and researched than I have time to focus on.
Another thought, or
perspective to consider; how many men start relationships with single women as
opposed to another married women? Generally
speaking…Men want sex. Women want
security. That’s why many young women
don’t want a young man because they don’t exude security like an older man with
an established career that offers a greater sense of security. This is a very complicated subject.
But not nearly as complicated as the problems remarriage brings, like the
doors of “Pandora’s box” being opened. That was the whole idea of
"Pandora’s box”, it is an allegorical idea of mysteries that could not be
calculated nor comprehended in their ramifications on the human condition.
Thus the spiraling out of control of what is sexually permissible in
today’s culture. (Is the term “today’s
culture” an oxymoron?)
