Remarriage for a Christian

[Snooky]

Can a divorced Christian remarry if the divorce was not biblically sanctioned?
( No adultery)

Also, wondering if the marriage vows were valid in the first place, since one partner was not a christain.

Really need an answer to this. The beliefs of my childhood (Catholic) run so deep its hard to read the Bible in a new light. (No longer can continue believing in some Catholic traditions/beliefs. I am NOT anti-Catholic, but my conscience is steering me in a different direction)

Thank you very much

[Sparko]

one spouse not being a Christian and asking for a divorce IS a biblically sanctioned divorce.

1 Cor 7: 12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

[Nazaroo]

If Sparko's claim holds up then there hasn't been a real switch here except in terms of the community one recognizes as the 'Godly' one.

In O.T. it was not really permitted to marry outside of the 12 tribes according to some lawgivers. So such a marriage was often ruled invalid (see Ezra /Nehemiah for instance) but I think Jesus would have upheld those marriages, because divorce would lead to fornication.

Again, the ideal and example to hold up first is the teaching of Jesus. If Paul has modified it under circumstances of intermarriage with unbelievers (before or after a conversion) then it appears that marrying outside of the 'faith' is invalid once you are a Christian but valid if you were married before conversion, although Paul forsees problems and possible involuntary divorce by the non-believer.

Apparently the 'faith' takes precedence even over marriage. What Jesus was ruling upon appears to be a lax 'divorce' system in which Jewish men could divorce or threaten divorce at whim, and 'trade up' old wives for new.

Where does it leave us? Jesus (or at least Paul) have redefined marriage in terms of a new 'faith community'. But in Paul's time, there was only one 'church'. While Roman Catholics might insist this is still true today, most other Christians (Protestants and even other catholics) don't see it that way. If Christians can marry 'between' denominations, much as Israelites could marry 'between' tribes (within the larger Israel) then we are probably okay.

But if Jesus and/or Paul would excommunicate 'apostate' or 'heretical' Christians, then many 'marriages' would be invalid, or at least require modification.

But today a bigger issue is that of virginity. Is a marriage between non-virgins even valid at all?

Peace,
Nazaroo

[spiritmech]

What does it mean to be biblically sanctioned? The only obvious mention I can think of is to not marry a non-Christian. Which doesn't give you much help when choosing a wife. Some help, but not enough
sm

[Dee Dee Warren]

Who asked for the divorce? Is the former partner now remarried?

[Faramir]

Can a divorced Christian remarry if the divorce was not biblically sanctioned?
( No adultery)

Also, wondering if the marriage vows were valid in the first place, since one partner was not a christain.

Really need an answer to this. The beliefs of my childhood (Catholic) run so deep its hard to read the Bible in a new light. (No longer can continue believing in some Catholic traditions/beliefs. I am NOT anti-Catholic, but my conscience is steering me in a different direction)

Thank you very much

I say no, at least until such time as the other party is dead, re-married, has had sex (how would you know without a re-marriage, but hey). Only adultery and death free the spouse to re-marry. (With the exception Sparko mentioned of a non-Christian asking for a Divorce post conversion of the Christian. I am also assuming that Paul is assuming that a Christian would not marry a non-Christians after thier conversion)

[Sparko]

If Sparko's claim holds up

um. it's not MY claim. I just quoted Paul. It's his.

[Snooky]

Thank all for replys...You've really made me think. Ok. more info. My ex was not/is not a Christian, and he did have affairs during the marriage. (Divorce his idea)He has remarried.

Not sure where that leaves me. Since pre-marrital sex is out. And accordingly to the way I'm reading couple of your replys, a new marriage is out??? Which, is why I asked if the marriage was valid in the first place.
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"But today a bigger issue is that of virginity. Is a marriage between non-virgins even valid at all?"[/B] quote of Nazarro.
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Wow. Naz.. thats very thought provoking. I had not even gone there. The person that I choose to marry would have to be a widower, or a virgin? for the Lord's blessing?
Appreciate all your thoughts

[spiritmech]

Just get married again. I'm divorced as well. I'm waiting til I get married again to have sex.

No one but Catholics have a definition of a valid marriage. Unless you intend on returning to the Catholic Church you should be able to marry again with not much problem.
sm

[DesertBerean]

But today a bigger issue is that of virginity. Is a marriage between non-virgins even valid at all?

Peace,
Nazaroo

What do you mean here? Virginity means never having had sex. Are you questioning if widowed people should remarry either?

[DesertBerean]

Can a divorced Christian remarry if the divorce was not biblically sanctioned?
( No adultery)

Also, wondering if the marriage vows were valid in the first place, since one partner was not a christain.

Really need an answer to this. The beliefs of my childhood (Catholic) run so deep its hard to read the Bible in a new light. (No longer can continue believing in some Catholic traditions/beliefs. I am NOT anti-Catholic, but my conscience is steering me in a different direction)

Thank you very much

I know a former Catholic. She was Catholic during her first marriage; but her husband was the perfect example of the Hispanic guy who thought it was OK to run around with women but not OK for his wife to do the same. She was faithful to the end, when he divorced her, and still he said she couldn't remarry and still take communion. Her priest told her she could still take communion if she did remarry. I don't know much about the Official Stand of the Church, but that's what happened in her case.

[Dee Dee Warren]

It appears that all avenues have been exhausted and you are free to remarry but only in the Lord. Christians should not marry nonChristians.

[Rusty T]

If you no longer consider yourself Catholic, that doesn't mean that you are not (in an eternal sense) still subject to the Church's discipline in this area. Of course, you don't see yourself as such, but I did want to make that statement.

rusty

[Sparko]

snooky, if your husband had affairs that means you are free to divorce and remarry. Also since your husband was an unbeliever and he left the marriage and got a divorce you are again in the clear. Biblically you have nothing to worry about.

Like Darth Xena said, your only condition is that you are supposed to marry only a Christian this time around.

[Snooky]

Sparko and Darth Xena:
I know you both are right.. the problem is my Conscience...It's terribly hard to go against beliefs that are were so ingrained by 12 yrs of Catholic Schooling....( I know so why did I marry an unbeliever?...chalk that up to teenage rebellion)....I've read all the verses in the Bible too, maybe I just needed you all to tell me I was correct in my interputation.
A big thank you to all...
Snooks
FYI....Desert: As far as I know, Cathholic will excommunicate If I remarry.. In their eyes the marriage is still valid. But that doesnt matter to me, as I left that belief system way before my Divorce...