Point to ponder......If the church only allows divorce in a case of adultry,then many people will be commiting such act just to get a divorce, just to get away from their spouse....which in its self adultry; is wrong(breaking your wedding vows,disobeying the ten commandment).Then who is going to marry who...an adulterer and an adulteress? wow...talking about beaten with many stripes.....

I have a little more of a liberal view. (I hope that word is not too inflammatory for anyone).

I do not believe it is sinful for an Adventist to divorce a nonbeliever (Ezra 10:2, 3). Paul qualifies his comment in 1 Corinthians 7:13 with the phrase, "if he be pleased to dwell with her" thus indicating if he is not pleased to dwell with the believer she would be allowed to divorce. I have seen many cases where the husband makes fun of the Adventist believer, watches TV on Sabbath, drinks, smokes and simply cannot be described as being "pleased" to live with an Adventist spouse. He is a stumbling block to her faith. I have also seen the reverse where a non-believing husband was supportive of his wife's faith and would respect her honoring the Sabbath and other practices of her faith. A person married to that type of non-believer should not divorce.

Shane...you may not be wrong...paul also says " if the unbelieving depart, let him depart...no one is under bondage, but God has call us to peace. 1 Corin 7:15.

On the contrary, Shane you appear to not have a liberal view but rather an Old Coveneant view of marriage. Applying the passage in Ezra 10 to Elsworths situation overleaps several clear statements of Jesus Himself, who affirmed the permanance & creation ideal of marriage.


Malachi 2.
God H A T E S Divorce. Because:

1) Divorce covers ones garments with violence.
2) Divorce damages your spirit (v. 15)
3) Divorce deals in treachery
4) Divorce is driven by pride

Psalm 73:6

A woman told me this when she was about to get a divorce: "I spent much of my life doing things that God dislikes, now I am going to do something that He hates...?" Her and her husband were reconciled and now they counsel people in marriage. God can save any marriage and as He does He also gives them a ministry to others. This is needed in our world.


best regards,


oG

I have seen some terrible marriages where a back-slidden Adventist marries a non-Adventists, often times a non-Christian and later returns to the church. The non-believer scoffs at her rebirth and does everything they can to prevent the reborn Adventist from practicing his or her faith. Often times children are involved and the unbelievers makes fun of the believer and his or her beliefs to the children.

I have a very difficult time advising people in that situation that divorce is not an option that should be considered.

I guess you could try prayer.

If you want to know the official church stance, it is in the church manual (download at http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/church_manual/index.html).

To respond to elsworth's concern, the church does not believe that the person who committed adultery has a biblical justification to remarry. It is the "innocent spouse" who is allowed to divorce their unfaithful spouse and remarry if they wish--based on Matt. 19:9. (This is the church position, but some would argue it's not fully biblical given the fact that Jesus in some places condemned divorce and remarriage with no exceptions. However, it is supported by Ellen White's writings. See the compilation "Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce," which you can read at www.whiteestate.org.)

Paul's statement about marriage to an unbeliever in 1 Cor. 7:12-16 is that the believer should not initiate a divorce in this situation, but if their unbelieving spouse initiates the divorce, they may have to accept the breakup of the marriage. The point is that staying married to the unbeliever may result in the salvation of the spouse and children. Peter also makes this point (1 Pet. 3:1, 2).

Excellent, Rach..

You've touched on the reason why I inquired about the SDA church's stance on the issue. I pray that no one is in the situation being talked about, but it is a point to think about: If you are both christians, and yet cannot reconcile (sample reasons as to why this may happen: dry spot in your lives spiritually speaking, not far enough in spiritual understanding to comprehend the significance of the issue, etc..). What would that couple do? What if both or one of them would like to be married but they feel unequally yoked and can't seem to reconcile?

Of course the ideal is that they simply bite the bullet and reconcile, but sometimes people simply don't. Yet, at the same time, while they're hearts are hardened, they still have need for a spouse as a helper and as a friend. What can they do?

Hard questions to ponder, I guess. :)

One question might be asked is "Do we feel we have a RIGHT to be married ... no matter what the circumstances ... just because we WANT to be?

Do we have a RIGHT to be 'equally yoked' just because we want to be?