marriage divorce

The Church

Marriage & Divorce

All Bible believers accept the fact that parents are obligated to bring their children "...up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). Few, so it seems, actually understand the tremendous responsibility that rest upon their shoulders when they bring children into the world. The refusal to provide for one’s children spiritually as well as physically is clearly denounced by scripture: "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (1 Tim. 5:8). Indeed it is chilling to realize what parents teach or fail to teach their children may have a direct bearing on their eternal soul’s well being! The principle of Deuteronomy 6:6-7 is certainly applicable to Christians, as far as instructing God’s word to their children. "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riseth up." The greatest joy of a parent is set forth by John: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 4). What parents do by way of teaching their children the truth will have a direct bearing on whether or not they walk in truth!

The future of the Lord’s church, to a great degree, depends on what our children are taught at home! As one looks back in history he quickly sees that the church as well as the home was strong because of not only what was taught from the pulpit and classroom, but what was taught at home. Today, many are so preoccupied with their jobs and the pleasures of life that they have abandoned their God-given role of properly training their children. Beloved, look at Mark 8:36-37 and ask yourself, "What shall it profit me, if I shall gain the whole world and lose my children?" What are you giving in exchange for your children? Mom, dad, turn off the television, lay aside the newspaper, magazine or book, cancel all appointments, call the family together, open up the Bible, and teach your children what the Bible teaches about...

One of these days your children are going to ask, "What’s the difference in the church of Christ and the Baptist church, or the Methodist or Pentecostal church," etc.? Are you going to tell them there is no difference; that there are "Christians" in all churches; that we are all going to heaven, but merely taking different directions, or, will you open the Bible and teach them the truth? Will you teach them that the Lord’s church, the church of Christ, is not a denomination; that it was established on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ, as it is recorded in Acts 2; that there is only one church (Mt. 16:18; Eph. 4:5) and that all of the denominations do not make up the church; that Christ is the only head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23); that God has no children outside of His family the church; that when one obeys the gospel as they did in Acts 2:37-38 that God adds them to the church wherein are the saved (Acts 2:47); that we cannot and must not fellowship the denominational world (Eph. 5:11; 2 John 9-11); that one should never be ashamed of the only church one can read about in the Bible - the church of Christ (Rom. 16:16); that one should love the church as Christ did (Eph. 5:25)?

A young boy asked his mother if he had more than one mother or father. That which prompted his question was so many of his classmates having parents which had been married more than once. Divorce has lost its sting not only in our society but even in the church. Unscriptural divorces and re-marriages have become common place. So many pulpits are silent when it comes to God’s teaching on marriage, divorce and re-marriage! We need to be reminded that God expects parents to teach the truth on any and all Biblical subjects! Such would fall under the guidance of Ephesians 6:4, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." What exactly will you teach your children about marriage and divorce? Will you teach them the permanency of marriage as set forth in Matthew 19:9; that God expects them to live with their mates until death with the exception of fornication, and even then they should strive to work out the problem and to keep the family in tact? Will you teach your children that God will not accept unscriptural divorces and marriages; that baptism does not make an adulterous union holy? And will you teach your children that they should marry someone that will help them and their children go to heaven? What exactly are you teaching your children?

–Ivie Powell