"MDR and the 1990 Guardian of Truth"
In 1990, the then called Guardian of Truth magazine believed in
dealing with issues among brethren (they have had a change of policy). In
fact, the January 4 issue was dedicated to "Divorce and Remarriage" issues.
Since I do have much interest in history, both from a retrospective and also
prospective slant (history often reveals the future, as history tends to repeat
itself), I spend some time looking back at tangible events and actions, which I
deem important and precipitous. I appreciated much about the way the
January 4, 1990 issue of the Guardian of Truth (now Truth Magazine)
addressed "divorce and remarriage issues." One preacher told me when I was
a young preacher, "Don, do not write articles because what you write can come
back to haunt you later." I must humbly say that I do not recall having
written one thing that presently embarrasses me. However, I can sure see how
this has happened to many among us. Allow me now to share some reflections about
this particular issue of Guardian of Truth with you, both good and bad.
Bill Cavender had the
introduction article and made a number of good points. Bill stated and proved
from the scriptures that the only one that has a right to divorce and marry
another is the innocent mate who puts away due to the fornication of the guilty
mate and he so stated this without any equivocation or mumbo jumbo. I did
not observe anywhere in this special edition of the Guardian of Truth,
efforts to explain how any put away person could later put away and be able to
marry another or the concept of two putting away actions, the latter of which
can be scriptural. I did not see any arguments attempting to justify
divorce or putting away (apoluo) being isolated and
totally detached from any civil protocol. As I read the material, I did
not even observe intimation that one could privately and mentally or "in one's
heart" put away. It is regrettable that even some of the men who prepared
material for this special edition now spend much of their time trying to justify
unscriptural divorces and "remarriages."
Bill mentioned one thing that
has not transpired, at least not obviously so: "A recent article says that by
the turn of this century possibly seventy-five percent of first marriages will
end in divorce." Based on what was happening in 1990, this was a
reasonable prediction. However, we continue at the rate of about fifty percent
of all first marriages ending in divorce. Are we better off today?
No. Current statistics do not figure in how many in America are now
totally ignoring marriage and are just shacking up. In the 1990 edition of
G.O.T., I did not read much about private or mental marriages, probably
because it was not as much of an issue, especially regarding the church.
However, beginning in about 2000, I started having debates with preachers among
us who advocated that biblical marriage does not necessarily involve appropriate
civil protocol and that we should not talk negatively about two people
("Christians") who decide to set up house keeping without a marriage license
(see addendum 1). What a chaotic doctrine, as people try to decide and
determine whether or not they are really married or just in a state of
fornication. However, since many have subsequent to 1990 now openly
accepted various nuances of mental divorcement relative to divorcement, it was
predictable that many are now accepting various nuances of "mental marriage."
In the basic vain being
mentioned, Steve Wolfgang had the overwhelming assignment of approaching
"divorce and remarriage" from the historic prospective. Steve ably
mentioned and documented how in 1910, for every 100 marriages there were 8. 8
divorces, 13. 4 in 1920 and 17. 5 in 1930. Indeed, "We have come along way,
Baby." We, today, continue to witness the decay and deterioration of society and
now the Lord's church as the once American family is vanishing and churches
accept adulterous marriages and invent false doctrines to try to justify
adultery and fornication and extending fellowship to these people. Steve
correctly noticed how that various publications reflect the fact that as divorce
increased, attention was placed on this growing problem. "In the early
twentieth century, rising divorce rates were reflected," wrote Steven, "in the
increasing number of articles on divorce and remarriage by members of churches
of Christ. The Gospel Advocate Index, for instance, lists 31
articles on divorce for the first quarter of the twentieth century; but the next
decade, from 1925 to 1935, exceeds that number considerably." It is now sad that
as "divorce and remarriage" is reaching pandemic levels, that some present day
publications such as the re-designed Truth Magazine has adopted the
policy of avoiding the issues and letting others address such matters!
(See addendum 2.)
To Elmer Moore was given the
important assignment of "definition of terms." Elmer wrote regarding marriage:
"...this covenant is ratified when whatever is legal
in society has been met (Rom. 13: 1)." (Guardian of Truth, January
4, 1990, pg. 2.) Regarding divorcement, Elmer stated, "A divorce takes
place when this marriage covenant has been dissolved. In our present
society a divorce occurs when a legal decree has been issued. This seems to
accord with the Bible use of the term (Deut. 24: 1)." Today, seventeen
years later, many do not know when a marriage begins and what is the act of
putting away or divorcement (see addendum 3).
Colly Caldwell had the task
of dealing with I Corinthians chapter seven. A growing number of preachers among
us believe that Paul is teaching in I Corinthians 7:
11 that divorce may (with divine approval) occur for reasons
other than fornication, just as long as there is no subsequent marriage,
etc. In fact, the then editor of Guardian of Truth has now become
renowned for teaching more than one cause for acceptable divorce, even such
causes as divorcing for one's "emotional health." Colly wrote in clear and
sound terms:
"Third, Paul
repeated the 'command of 'the Lord' that 'a wife is not to depart from her
husband' (v. 10). Some have found comfort in Paul's next phrase, 'even if
she does depart.' The Christian, they say, may divorce without sin for
cause other than fornication if there is no subsequent sexual activity....The
statement 'but even if she does depart' (v. 11) does not free one to disobey the
command of verse ten..." (Ibid., pg. 12).
Regarding the doctrine of
multiple or more than one cause for divorcement, Ron Halbrook was vocal back in
1990. Under "Christ's teaching," Ron unequivocally wrote: "Man not
permitted to put away wife for conduct short of fornication" (Ibid., pg.
6).
Today, some of us are being
labeled as divisive, trouble-makers because we continue to boldly teach only one
cause for acceptable divorcement, the cause of fornication (Matt. 5: 32, I Cor.
7: 2f.).
As I reflect back on the 1990
special edition of the Guardian of Truth
magazine, I see many subsequent changes, both in attitude, doctrine, and
practice. Where blatant false doctrine, as such, has not entered,
unity-in-diversity has influenced, in too many cases. The present day
Truth Magazine, for instance, is a hodge podge of compromise and false
fellowship ideas. Connie Adams, a man who still teaches the truth on such
subjects as "divorce and remarriage" is now Co-Editor, along with Mike
Willis. Some of the staff writers now openly defend Mike Willis' teaching
of more than one cause for divorcement or, at least, Mike's right to teach such
without serious objection, challenge, or refutation. Again, it would
appear that to avoid all the embarrassment over inconsistency, doctrinal change,
moral indecision, and false ecumenical fellowship, Truth Magazine has
simply decided not to do any more of what they used to do, as seen in the 1990
special edition, deal with issues. Yet, many continue to scratch their
heads, others have their heads buried in the proverbial sand of cowardice, and
say, "What is all this fuss over, anyway?" (See addendum 4.)
Addendum 1:
In debating this issue, while conceding the possibility of two
people being biblically married in a state that provides common law
marriage circumstances, I have questioned why two Christians who simply desire
to move in together, even if they claim they are "married," would do such a
thing. I have also shown that as a rule, even in this circumstance,
many states that provide the common law marriage situation require
certain requirements, even time requirements.
Hence, two people may be viewed as in fornication,
looking at it from this slant, while they wait to fulfill the state time
requirement.
Addendum 2: In
volume 51 of Truth Magazine Editor Willis wrote: "We
have reached the conclusion that most of the doctrinal issues facing
brethren will be fought through the Internet rather than through the papers. We
are adjusting our approach to reflect this conclusion."
Addendum 3: I
contend that there are certain components or elements, if you please, that
constitute both the marriage and, conversely, divorcement act. They are:
Mental resolve, appropriate declaration of intent, and compliance with
applicable civil protocol (Mal. 2: 14, etc., Rom. 13: 1f.). If we attempt
to eliminate any of these matters, we encounter problems. I have incurred
a number of preachers and also people going through divorce to whom they have
provided instruction, who believe dating another is allowable, before the final
civil resolve or dissolution of the marriage. Why not, if the marriage has
been severed at the point of mental resolve or simply moving out of the house?
Addendum 4:
While I commend the January 4, 1990 issue of Guardian of Truth for
dealing with the "divorce and remarriage" issue, I do not sanction the
organization and structure of the magazine or the Guardian of Truth
Foundation. I believe both to be examples of privately supported
entities to preach the gospel, a work belonging to God's collectivity, the local
church, I Tim. 3: 15. In 1990, the Guardian of Truth Foundation
constituting a privately supported "missionary society" was not as evident to
some as it is today. When the Foundation started sponsoring or offering
their own gospel meetings or "lectureships," I think all doubt or room for
quibble was removed.