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Danville Enlightener VOL. VIII, No. 4
Your Question Please?One of our young ladies approached me last Sunday night and handed me a list of questions that were on her mind. The sermon on “Marriage” had caused her to wonder about some things, and frankly I think that others might have the same questions. Thus, I will use this forum to answer this young person’s queries. What do the words morality and adultery mean? This is a good question for at least two reasons. (1) Preachers often take for granted that those listening understand the meanings of words or phrases used in sermons; this is not always the case. (2) Many adults who should know the meaning of these words – don’t. Morality comes from the French moralité, and from the Latin moralitatem. It means “of or pertaining to character or temperament (good or bad).” Morality is not a word found in the Bible even though the New King James Bible translates a Greek word with “sexual immorality” (this will be addressed more in a moment). But just because morality is not a word found in the Bible does not mean God is not concerned about our behavior because He is. Anytime the Bible addresses the way we should live or the way we should not live (Gal 5:16-26; Eph 4:17-24; Col 3:1-10) it is discussing morality. Morality means living pure or virtuous. Immoral or immorality describes behavior that the Bible would normally call sin, such as stealing, lying, using filthy language or improper sexual deeds. Adultery is a Bible word, however. It is found forty times in the King James Version of the Bible (twenty-three times in the N.T.). Our English word “adultery” comes from the French word avoutrie, aoulterie meaning “to corrupt.” It translates the Greek word moichaoô which means: “To have unlawful intercourse with another’s wife (or husband).” Adultery is a voluntary corruption of the marriage bed. “Marriage honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge,” (Heb 13:4). A man or woman commits adultery when he/she brings someone into the “marriage bed” who is not his/her marriage partner. When Jesus said “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery,” (Matt 19:9) He gave as the exception sexual immorality (fornication) “porneia.” Interestingly, porneia is a comprehensive word that would include adultery but is not limited to adultery. It can also mean premarital sex, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest and bestiality. Therefore, if a married woman engages in lesbianism or a married man engages in incest either can be put away (divorced) for sexual immorality. Sinful behavior that has defiled the marriage bed. If your wife or husband was drinking, (doing) drugs or smoking and you divorce do you have the right to marry again?Drinking and/or doing drugs, etc. are not causes for divorce. The Bible does not allow for a man or woman to divorce because his/her spouse engages in these types of behavior. Some asked Jesus about divorce under what might be deemed similar circumstances. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (Matt 19:3). Jesus answered their question NO! “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate,” (Matt 19:6). The only cause for divorce allowed by Jesus is sexual immorality (fornication) according to Matt 19:9. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” Thus, one is not allowed by God to divorce his/her spouse for ANY reason other than fornication including smoking, doing drugs, etc. This, then, takes care of the second part of this young lady’s question. Since the divorce was for something other than sexual immorality (porneia) then any remarriage is out of the question. Any remarriage would mean sin is being committed. If two people are divorced for a reason other than sexual immorality their only recourse is to remain unmarried or be reconciled (1 Cor 7:11). That is, do not compound the sin of divorcing without a scriptural reason by marrying someone else. Reconcile to the former spouse and if this is not possible, then remain unmarried. -- jrb "As I See It" David Farragut, the U.S. Navy’s very first admiral, had been commissioned midshipman at the ripe old age of ten for service on the warship Essex. Boys today would be in the fourth or fifth grade, but instead of school David sailed for the Argentine into action against British warships operating along the Pacific coast of South America. This ten-year-old recorded a description of what he encountered in his first sea fight: “I shall never forget the horrid impression made upon me at the sight of the first man I had ever seen killed. It staggered me at first, but they soon began to fall so fast that it appeared like a dream and produced no effect on my nerves.” The Essex had success; it captured other ships. Officers were dispatched with skeleton crews to sail them back to the United States, and at the age of twelve, Farragut got his first command when he was picked to head a prize crew. Was this twelve-year-old up to the task? Consider this, at sea the deposed British captain rebelled at being ordered around by a boy and announced he was going below to retrieve his pistols (this Brit was allowed to keep his pistols as a token of respect). Farragut, a preteen, sent word down that if the captain appeared on deck armed he would be summarily shot and dumped overboard. Needless to say this British Captain stayed below. At fifteen, this unschooled boy went hunting pirates in the Mediterranean. Anchored off Naples, he witnessed an eruption of Vesuvius and studied the mechanics of volcanic action. On a long layover in Tunis, the American consul, troubled by Farragut’s ignorance, tutored him in French, Italian, mathematics, and literature. I think of David Glasgow Farragut from Campbell’s Station, Tennessee when I see how the youth of today are coddled into perpetual childhood. Never made to work, never made to become diligent students of the Bible, many modern youth spend their time playing video games, watching TV or holed up in their rooms. Mention something to parents about the lack of spiritual motivation seen in their sixteen year old and you hear: “The Bible is too hard and the teachers expect too much.” AS I SEE IT, instead of encouraging young people to grow up and become responsible citizens in the kingdom of God, many are retarding their maturity. “Put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity. Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth . . .,” (Eccl 11:10-12:1). |