____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ July 16, 2006 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Is Desertion a Ground for Remarriage? (Johnny Stringer) 2) Worldliness (Keith Sharp) ____________________________________________________ -1- Is Desertion a Ground for Remarriage? by Johnny Stringer Jesus taught that marriage is permanent. In keeping with God's original intent regarding marriage, He prohibited divorce and stated that all second marriages of divorced persons are adulterous (Mt. 19:3-9; 5:32; Lk. 16:18). He made only one exception to this rule: One is permitted to divorce his spouse for fornication, and when he does so, is free to remarry. Some, however, teach that even if he did not divorce his mate for fornication, a Christian is still free to remarry if he was deserted by his mate. Erroneous Interpretation Of 1 Corinthians 7:15 Advocates of this view cite 1 Corinthians 7:15 as proof of their position. It says, "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases." They reason that if one is not under bondage, then he must be free to remarry. Such an interpretation is obviously false, because it clearly contradicts the teaching of Jesus on the subject. The woman who was described by Jesus as being put away (Mt. 5:32; Lk. 16:18), would be deserted; yet, Jesus taught that she had no right to remarry. Contextual Interpretation Of The Verse It is necessary to consider the problem Paul was dealing with when he made the statement under discussion. Some of the Christians in Corinth evidently had spouses who were not Christians. They had been converted to Christ, but their mates had not been. They were concerned as to whether a believer's marriage to an unbeliever was valid; and doubting the validity of such marriages, they wondered whether or not they ought to leave their unbelieving mates. In verses 12-14, Paul showed that such marriages were valid, so that unbelievers ought to continue dwelling with their unbelieving mates. The Lord had not personally dealt with the specific matter of whether marriages between believers and unbelievers were valid marriages which were to be continued, but Paul would address himself to the subject (v. 12). Of course, when Paul spoke on the subject, he spoke as the Lord's ambassador under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; hence, the authority of Heaven was behind what he said. The point of verse 14 is that the marriage between a believer and an unbeliever is valid. This being the case, the teaching of Jesus applies to such a marriage, for His teaching had to do with marriages in general. In making the point that the marriage between an unbeliever and a believer was valid, and that the believer ought therefore to continue living with the unbelieving mate, Paul hinted that some unbelievers might be unwilling to live with believers. He instructed the believer to dwell with the unbeliever if the unbeliever was pleased to dwell with the believer. Some unbelievers would not be willing to live with believers. Because some unbelievers would be unwilling to live with believers, it was necessary to tell believers what to do if their unbelieving mates left them. This is the purpose of verse 15. Paul instructed them that if the unbeliever departed, they should let him depart. The believer should not try to force himself on the unbeliever who desired to leave. Why should such instruction be necessary? Apparently, some Christians might have been inclined to force themselves on their unbelieving mates because of a deep sense of responsibility to fulfill their marital obligations. The Christian may have feared that if his mate left him, so that he could not fulfill his normal obligations to his mate, his failure to fulfill those obligations would be sinful. Paul, therefore, assured the saints that such was not the case. After saying to let the unbeliever depart, he alleviated their fear, assuring them that if the unbeliever departed, the believer would not be under bondage -- that is, under obligation to fulfill all the normal marital duties. Some interpret the statement that they are "not under bondage" to mean that they are no longer married. However, the word that Paul used in verse 15 did not refer to the marriage bond. He spoke of the marriage bond in verses 27 and 39; but the word he used in verse 15 was one which was sometimes used to refer to a slave bound to his master; it was not used to refer to the marriage bond. In fact, Paul could not be saying that the marriage bond is broken by desertion; for verse 11 shows that the marriage bond is not broken by desertion. According to verse 11, if a woman deserts her husband, he is still her husband; she must either be reconciled to him or remain unmarried. The marriage bond, therefore, is not broken by desertion. Inasmuch as the marriage between an unbeliever and a believer is just as valid as any other marriage (vv. 12-14), the truth taught in verse 11 applies to it as well as to other marriages. We must remember the purpose of Paul's saying that the deserted Christian is not under bondage. People today use this statement to prove that the deserted Christian is free to remarry. Paul was not trying to support that idea; whether the deserted Christian could remarry or not was not the problem he was dealing with. Paul's purpose was to support the instruction that believers should permit unbelievers to depart; he was trying to overcome the reluctance of some to let unbelieving mates depart. His point, therefore, was the believers would not be guilty of a sinful neglect of marital obligations if their unbelieving mates departed, for they would no longer be bound to fulfill their normal marital duties. Paul did not say the deserted mate was free to remarry; and, indeed, such a notion contradicts the clear teaching of Jesus on the matter (Mt. 5:32; Lk. 16:18). -- Via Guardian of Truth XXIX: 5, pp. 137, 141, March 7, 1985 ____________________________________________________ -2- Worldliness by Keith Sharp As a young preacher, I moved with my family from the hills of northwest Arkansas to Baytown, Texas. I was greatly fascinated by the huge vessels that came through the ship channel to the Port of Houston. Tankers and freighters weighing thousands of tons each, which would be totally incapable of any movement on land, moved with ease and grace through the water. Ships belong in the water, but the water does not belong in the ships. Even so, what the Master noted primarily of his apostles secondarily applies to all his disciples. We as they must be "in the world" (John 17:11) but "not of the world" (John 17:16). What should be the attitude of disciples of Christ toward worldliness? Definition To answer this question we must define "worldliness." The term is unknown to Scripture, but the idea is found throughout. In Romans 12:1-2 beloved Paul states the general principle which relates the gospel to our daily lives. He exhorts, "present your bodies a living sacrifice." How do we do so? We must "not be conformed to this world" but be "transformed" into the image of Christ. Rather than being fashioned according to this world, we should be changed so as to reflect Christ in character and life. One who is worldly is conformed to this world. What then is the "world"? John forbids us to love the world or what it contains (1 John 2:15-17). Does he mean we are not to love the material creation of which God is the author? (cf. Acts 17:24). I believe not. Nor do I believe he condemns our love of the people who inhabit the earth (John 3:16). Rather, the inspired penman identifies the contents of the world of which he speaks as "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). The "world" we must not love is sin and its enticements. "Worldliness" is the love of sin and the allurements of sin. But one can be guilty of worldliness without succumbing to that which is inherently sinful. Paul the aged prisoner grieved, "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas simply allowed the love for things of this life to cause his love for the Lord to grow cold. Those "who set their mind on earthly things," i.e., make the things of this life their primary concern, "are the enemies of the cross of Christ" (Philippians 3:18-19). The Christian's citizenship is heavenly, and he must love his country! (Philippians 3:20) The man who values material things above spiritual is worldly. Results What are the results of worldliness? The devastating consequences in the home are dramatically demonstrated in the life of David. David was guilty of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). Though he repented at the preaching of Nathan and was forgiven, God through the prophet warned the king that evil would rise up out of his own house because of these sins (2 Samuel 12:1-14). What grief David suffered in the rebellion of his dearly loved son Absalom, in fulfillment of God's word! Are any words of deeper anguish recorded than those of David at the news of Absalom's death? (2 Samuel 18:32-33) Worldliness will destroy our homes. Likewise, a nation that forgets God and turns to the world has turned to its own destruction (Psalm 9:17; Proverbs 14:34). Even more than terrorists, our nation should fear the consequences of its own worldliness! But of greater importance yet, worldliness will destroy the souls of those who succumb to its charm (Galatians 6:7-8) and, where left unchecked, will destroy the Lord's church (Revelation 2:14-l6). Worldliness is the most destructive force mankind faces. Cure Since this is true, we surely need to know how to overcome worldliness. In past generations many thousands were killed or maimed by polio. But Dr. Jonas Salk discovered a vaccine to prevent this horrible disease. Now that merciless killer is virtually eradicated. We had much rather vaccinate to prevent polio than contract the disease and need the cure. In like manner, let us learn how to prevent the worst killer of all, worldliness. To be protected, we must first change our attitudes to spiritual mindedness. This means to love and seek the things of God rather than the things of this life (Colossians 3:1-4). We must study the Bible to learn the difference between right and wrong (Psalm 119:11). We need to attend the worship assemblies of the saints to be strengthened (Hebrews 10:24-25). And how we desperately need sound, fundamental, Bible preaching from our pulpits that will plainly point out sins and duties rather than the flashy, shallow entertainment that passes for preaching in so many churches of Christ today! (Titus 2:11-15) But for those who are already afflicted with the spiritual malady of worldliness, the cure is essential to eternal life. As an inoculation for a bodily infection is unpleasant but essential, so genuine repentance is difficult but necessary for the sinner to overcome worldliness (Revelation 2:16). If a limb has contracted gangrene, as horrible as the thought is, that limb must be amputated so as to save the whole body. When a member of the church will not repent of worldliness, as difficult as it is and as much as we love him, we still must withdraw from him that we might save both the church and the sinner (1 Corinthians 5:3-6). Conclusion Too many Christians are trying to achieve the impossible, to hold on to God and to the world at the same time. We must choose one or the other (James 4:4). And remember, we will reap the rewards of the choice we make: either spirituality to life or worldliness to death (Galatians 6:7-8). Which will you choose? -- Via Meditate on These Things ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________