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New Position Papers Released
By Ken Horn | August 15, 2008
I was privileged to attend the Assemblies of God General Presbytery this Monday through Wednesday in Springfield. The General Presbytery approved two position papers—one new and one updated.
Read them here:
Worship in the Bible
Divorce and Remarriage
Position papers are official documents of the Assemblies of God that outline the Fellowship’s stand on given issues.
Topics: theology |
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
My first marriage ended when my wife starting initiating sexual relations with men she meet through the internet. She left me with 3 girls after 26 years of marriage. The last 15 years of our marriage she was under treatment for severe depression. I stayed at church and continued to minister in the Singles ministry and leading a DivorceCare recovery group. Within one year after leaving me, my ex-spouse met another man and remarried.
I met a lady at church whose husband left her and the children but not for another woman. He was just tired of being married and the kid responsibilities.
We married one year ago.
In reading Luke 16:18, I feel guilty that I might have committed adultery by marrying a woman who was abandoned by a non-practicing Christian. Her ex did not divorce her for another woman. She did not want the divorce and was committed to reconciliation, but he would not return to the marriage. But I also know that my new wife and I love Jesus with all our hearts and are seeking him. If a spouse is abandoned by a non-practicing Christian, do they commit adultery by remarrying?
I hate divorce. I hate the fact that I will die and not be able to have stayed in a covenant marriage for life.
Several months ago, my ex came to me and asked me to forgive her. She said she could never explain why she did what she did, but her life since she left me was much worse. I told her that I did forgive her and I prayed that God would bless her and her new marriage. She now hosts a home bible study at her home and is very active in church.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
This passage from the position paper “Divorce and Remarriage” answers your question:
“4. Paul also included an exception on behalf of the innocent spouse. In cases where unbelieving spouses were unwilling to live with partners who had become believers, Paul advised, ‘If the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound [not “enslaved,” douloō] in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace’ (1 Corinthians 7:15). ‘Not bound’ is a strong expression that appears to mean the believer is set free. Therefore, the meaning seems to be that the believer is free to remarry.”
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_4189_divorce_remarriage.pdf