Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Feb, 2012 11:28 PM
Thanks to a question about divorce and remarriage posted on another thread, I felt the need to address those on this site who may be suffering from the weight of guilt and condemnation heaped on them because of their reasons for divorce.
I wrote the following article, "The Stone Thrower", based on actual instances that happened on this site. If you are one of those who have been ostracized by others for having an "Unbiblical Divorce," please take the time to read. May it minister to your heart.
The Stone Thrower
I want to touch on a subject today that has long been regarded in Christendom as taboo . . . and that is . . . DIVORCE. Mention that word around some Christians and their hackles suddenly go up on the back of their neck. They pull out their proverbial stones ready to put to death anyone who they think has been un-biblically divorced. And to my shame, I was one of them�a stone thrower.
We all know the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:3-11. The scribes and Pharisees (the religious self-righteous) had arrested this woman and dragged her before Jesus. One has to wonder how these Pharisees caught such a woman "in the very act" of adultery. How convenient for them. It's amazing the depths of depravity the self-righteous will sink to in order to defend their religious arguments. Did they have the paparazzi spy on her to get some juicy pictures for the whole world to see?
At any rate, they dragged this poor woman in front of Jesus and proudly proclaimed, "Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" (John 8:5)
Zowie!! These men can quote the Word of God . . . at least the parts that suit their fancy.
I like our Lord's reaction. "But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear" (John 8:6b).
Don't you just love it when someone ignores you . . . especially when you're trying to win an argument? But the self-righteous rarely lie down without a fight, and those religious Pharisees were determined to prove that they had the "truth." So they continued pestering Jesus, knowing that the Law of Moses was on their side. It's not a good idea to pester Jesus, especially when it comes to "pointing a finger" at someone.
"So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.' And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst" (John 8:7-9).
This introductory story of the woman caught in adultery has a purpose: I wanted you to have a glimpse of the mentality of a "stone thrower." They are usually self-righteous, ready to condemn, and can quote the Word of God. Ouch . . . I just described me.
I had a clear cut answer for the reasons one might give to justify divorce which I thought was quite Biblical. And in my mind, there was only one reason . . . "But I say to you, that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except for sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 5:32). There you have it�plain and simple. Who could argue with such a statement? It is the Word of God! I thought I had the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth . . . yet the truth is . . . I was ignorant of the ways of God. "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13).
And it was in my ignorance to God's ways that I threw stones at the divorced ladies on a Christian dating site some time ago. As a widower, I was on this site looking for a prospective wife. I was so appalled at the amount of women who were divorced on this site whose reasons for separating from their husbands did not match my view of scripture. In order to protect myself from these "contaminated souls," I purposely wrote something in my profile for those that I would consider as wife material: "You may be single, widowed, or divorced (must be for Biblical reasons only)."
When I would communicate with these divorced ladies, I would immediately ask them to provide details on the reason for their divorce. If they could not give me an answer of infidelity as the reason for their divorce, then I considered them unmarriageable. Yet God has a way of grabbing His child's attention when that child is in error.
One of the ladies on this dating site told me her story of divorce after I demanded it. Her husband was deep in bondage to pornography and had no interest whatsoever in repentance. The man had not physically hopped into bed with another woman, and so in my self-righteousness, I condemned the poor wife for wanting to opt out on the marriage. And the "stones" that I threw created fresh wounds in her heart while she recounted those painful memories of her husband's infidelity as he lusted after porn. According to Jesus' own words, her husband WAS GUILTY of adultery: "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). I ignored that scripture and concentrated only on Matthew 5:32. She lashed out at me, saying that she was glad Jesus did not condemn her even if I did. I have to admit, I was shaken by her story which moved me to tears.
Then there was another lady whom I demanded to give an account for her divorce. I threw "stones" at her as well when she could not give me a reason of infidelity for her separation. In bitter anger, she struck back at me, stating how her husband had broken her nose and physically abused her. I ignored the scripture which reads, "But God has called us to peace" (1 Corinthians 7:15b) and concentrated again on Matthew 5:32. However, her story bothered me very much just like the other woman's.
I began to seek God earnestly. These were only two of the many ladies who shared with me their heartbreaking stories of divorce. There were so many reasons given for divorce and none of them fell under sexual immorality (fornication) as I saw it. I sincerely asked the Lord to open my eyes. Was there any scriptural evidence to support these women's choices to opt out of a marriage other than infidelity? Yes, there was.
God led me to Matthew 19:3-12. The Pharisees were looking for a reason to trap Jesus in His words. Their previous scheme had not worked with the woman caught in adultery. However, if they could just get Jesus to say something contradictory to the Law of Moses, then they could brand Him as a heretic. So they asked Jesus this question, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" (Matthew 19:3b)
Jesus' answer was, and still is, God's original intention for marriage: "Have you not read . . . the two shall become one flesh? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Matthew 19:5b-6).
The Pharisees did not like His answer. For Jesus had taken them right back to Genesis before there ever was a Moses or a Law of Moses so that they could hear what GOD SAYS about marriage. Yet the stiff-necked Pharisees persisted with another question: "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" (Matthew 19:7)
Jesus responds, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so" (Matthew 19:8).
The self-righteous Pharisees were using the Law of Moses as an excuse to bail out on marriages for any flippant reason. And because of this, the Lord had some very strong words for them. "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" (Matthew 19:9).
I can just hear the stone throwers shouting, "See, I told you . . . it's right there in the word . . . 'sexual immorality!'"
Wait a minute. Like Paul Harvey, let's hear "the rest of the story" before jumping to any conclusions. After verse 9 comes verse 10. Even Jesus' disciples, which would include us, were amazed at the words of Jesus. "His disciples said to Him, 'If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry'" (Matthew 19:10). Yeah, I can see their point. If sexual immorality (fornication) is the only reason for divorce, then perhaps we are better off not getting married.
But look at Jesus' response to his own disciples in verse 11. It stands to reason that if the disciples' statement was true, then Jesus would have said something to affirm it as such. He does not!
"But He said to them, 'All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given'" (Matthew 19:11).
What saying? The saying in verse 9 of course. NOT ALL can accept the saying that fornication is the ONLY reason for divorce.
Now notice that Jesus goes on to explain what He meant with the following verse:
"For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it" (Matthew 19:12).
What did Jesus mean by this? He tells us that three different men all became eunuchs for different reasons. One was born a eunuch, another was made a eunuch by men, and still another made himself that way for the kingdom of heaven. They all became eunuchs for different reasons, but who is to say which eunuch is "God approved"? God accepted them all. That's the point!
Likewise, there are many reasons someone might seek a divorce: physical and verbal abuse from a spouse . . . being married to an unbeliever who makes life a literal hell . . . marital unfaithfulness . . . the stress of being married to an alcoholic for 23 years . . . or living with a pornographer who refuses to repent. Which one of these reasons for divorce is "God approved"? That's the point Jesus was making. Just as the eunuchs were acceptable to God regardless of how they became a eunuch, so also is a woman acceptable to God who seeks to be free from an abusive husband, even if infidelity is not involved. You and I cannot see in the heart of that abused person . . . but God can. For God has called them to peace.
And the church has done more harm counselling emotionally and physically battered women to stay in a relationship citing Matthew 5:32 "except for sexual immorality" as the only just cause for divorce. Women have actually committed suicide and murder under the stress of remaining in an abusive situation because their legalistic church counseled them to do so.
You may have heard of the case in the U.S. where a lady killed her husband (a pastor) who had been abusing her for years. God had called her to peace . . . but she never knew it, and one day she snapped. The evidence of abuse was so overwhelming that the courts found this woman not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.
I certainly do not want to imply that people should take their marriage so lightly as to divorce for every whim and fancy. I would not condone that, and neither does the Word of God. Every marriage will have its share of problems which can be worked out with God's help by two committed individuals. Yet there are some women, especially those suffering physical and mental abuse, who have reached the tipping point of no return; and the only thing they can do to preserve their sanity is to get out of that marriage. And ultimately, it is to the Lord they answer to, not you or me. He has called them to peace.
After God opened my eyes to the truth of scripture, I contacted those ladies on the dating site who I had thrown "stones" at and apologized profusely. I was truly grieved that I had been so self-righteous and blind, wounding those precious sisters for whom Christ died.
Now back to the story that I began with. The "stone throwers" had already dropped their rocks and left the scene with a guilty conscience, leaving Jesus alone with the adulterous woman.
"He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?'"
"She said, 'No one, Lord.'"
"And Jesus said to her, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more'" (John 8:10b-11).
HALLELUJAH�MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT!!!
Blessings in Christ Jesus,
Paul Janz
(All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version.)
"The Stone Thrower" Copyright � 2010 by Paul Janz.
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 07:23 AM
Paul you do have error not knowing the scriptures!
Hebrew 14 vs 5. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, YET WAS WITHOUT SIN!
He was accused of breaking the Sabbath yet there was no law against doing good deeds on the Sabbath. He healed peole like the crippled man and said take up thy bed and walk. It was the pharisees that accused and in reality it was them who transgressed the Torah(word) because of Deut.4 vs 2 cause they added to the word of Yahweh.
Yahushua the messiah did violate the traditions and legalism of men!!! His accusers clearly based theiir accusations on the additions and subtractions from the manmade Jewish talmud. Yahushua kept the law of Yahweh to the letter!!! He is worthy to be an acceptable sacrifice for our sins his name be praised!!!
Legalism is the rules of men and yes they enslave. Legalism is not keeping the laws of Yahweh. That is a deflective trick used to argue against having to be obedaint.
Obediance is keeping the laws and commandments of Yahweh.
The one who is under the law is the one who says they aren't. This because if you offend in one point you are guilty of it all. We are under the law too as believers but our high priest Yahushua keeps it for us and we are hid in him under his blood. Thats why we don't want to rebel and be spit out by him which would put us not under his blood any longer.
Stoning was commanded by Yahweh for these offenses below:
1. Stoning was only done to adulterers caught in the act by two witnesses. Deut 2 v 23& 24.
2. For blaspheming the name of Yahweh Leviticus 24 vs 16.
3. For touching Mount Sinai Exodus 19 vs 13.
4. For taking accursed things Joshua 7 vs 1-26.
5. For witches nd wizards Leviticus 20 vs 17
6. For breaking the Sabbath Numbers 15 vs 32-56
7.For blaspheming the king 1 Kings 21 vs 10
8. For giving your children to molech Leviticus 20 vs 2
9. For disobeying parents by being stubborn and rebellious who uldn't repent to them and was also a drunkard and glutton. All the men of the city had to carry it out.
10.For worshipping other gods Deut. 17 vs 2-5 and 13 vs 5-10
11. For a damsel not being a virgin on her wedding night - the men of the city carried out the sentence. Deut 22 vs 13-21
12. For animals (like an ox that gores a human) Exodus 21 28
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 07:36 AM
I wouldn't be stoned Paul for telling the truth. You take a verse and build a doctrine=your whole system of belief around one verse or parable such as the woman caught in adultery.
I would advise you to take the whole counsel of Yahweh by studying all of his word especially on a certain matter.
2 Timothy 2 vs 15. Study to show thy self approved unto Yahweh a workman that needed not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.
You give the verse in the book of john that messiah broke sabbath but you didn't read the whole story where he healed people and men were trying to say he did when there is no provision against doing good deeds on the Sabbath.
Let me ask you this Paul:
HOW DO YOU THINK YAHWEH IS GOING TO THINK OF YOU FOR MISREPRESENTING HIM ON THIS PUBLIC FORUM SAYING HE SINNED AND BROKE SABBATH????????? You are not fit to judge him!!!! Saying this is laying a stumbling block to other believers and could hurt their faith in him by them believing he sinned and isn't messiah! Shame on you !!!!!!
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 08:00 AM
Paul,
Read this carefully:
Luke 6
1 AND it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; 4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? 5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. 9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
You see a Pharisee is one who accuses Jesus of breaking the Sabbath WRONGFULLY. Jesus NEVER broke the Sabbath only their view of the Sabbath - which was wrongly interpreted.
So, I ask you, why do you accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath? Are you yet without any spiritual understanding? Are you a Pharisee? Are you a false teacher?
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 08:34 AM
Paul,
It appears that you are consistently trying to trip up the true men of God with your unreasoned questioning. Who else did this in the Bible?
Not to point out the obvious, but you haven't even made a feeble attempt to address any of the issues that have been put before you. In my initial posts, I laid out four points in plain and scriptural terms that refute the content of your article. If you are standing on the truth, then refute my points. If you are apt to teach, then teach!
It really isn't sufficient to simply yell "STONE THROWER" (attack the messenger) without refuting the message. It's just like a homosexual, who when confronted with their sin, simply yells "homophobe". You might convince a handful of fools and simple minded folks with that style but everyone else sees clearly that you are defeated.
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 09:06 AM
BobBobbins says, "Jesus never broke the sabbath. If he had done so, he would not have been able to fulfill the law. Your salvation could not have occurred. I am not sure where you get such ridiculous ideas. That is completely absurd and totally false."
Absurd and totally false? . . .Really? "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said God was His Father" (John 5:18). According to the apostle John, who wrote that scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit . . .Jesus broke the Sabbath.
I wonder, BobBobbins, what justice should God mete out to you for misrepresenting Him with your statement above? Mercy or death by stoning?
Singer4u says, "Paul and Goldenfaith both said in their writings on this forum that Yahushua broke Sabbath. That is impossible! You two should know better than that and to say it is total heresy"
heresy? . . .really? "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said God was His Father" (John 5:18). According to the apostle John, who wrote that scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit . . .Jesus broke the Sabbath.
I wonder, Singer4u, what justice should God mete out to you for misrepresenting Him with your statement above? Mercy or death by stoning?
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 09:16 PM
Paul you clearly don't read refutations given you by us. I all ready said I wouldn't be stoned! lOL. You are very ignorant of the scriptures. I gave you a list of all the sins necessary for stoning. You didn;'t have to look them up for yourself and I saved you that task and you are still saying you wonder. LOL. You don't have to wonder. No I wouldn't. I am lifting up his name and truth. if you would read that he didn't break the sabbath just thieir interpretation of it. He didn't work Paul on the Sabbath!!! He said be made whole and healed! Doing good deeds. All he did was speak it and it happened . He may have touched them as he did. Id that breaking the Sabbath????
Theres alot of people reading this and their emailing me thanking me for standing up for the truth. You are looking very uneducated to quote your verse from John but not read the story of what took place. I don't see how you could think this??????????? Hello McFly!!!!! Lets use the brain Yahweh gave you!
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 09:37 PM
Singer4u says, "Paul and Goldenfaith both said in their writings on this forum that Yahushua broke Sabbath. That is impossible! You two should know better than that and to say it is total heresy"
heresy? . . .really? "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said God was His Father" (John 5:18). According to the apostle John, who wrote that scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit . . .Jesus broke the Sabbath.
I wonder, Singer4u, what justice should God mete out to you for misrepresenting Him with your statement above? Mercy or death by stoning?
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 10:30 PM
Paul to answer you specifically. John 5 vs 18 is saying what the pharisees were thinking concerning Yahushua. Read all of chapter 5 the whole story.
it doesnt say he broke the Sabbath it says what they were thinking and falsely accusing him of! THEY SAID HE BROKE THE SABBATH BECAUSE HE HEALED MEN ON IT. He asked if they wanted to be healed then he commanded it. didn't even lift a finger.
In John 5 vs 16 the pharisees were trying to murder him for healing on the Sabbath.
In 5 vs 17 He told the pharisees my father works until now and I work. (doing healings) Not physical labor or enguaging in commerce!!!
Then John 5 vs 18 says what the pharisees were thinking concerning Yahushua wanting to murder him all the more for saying what he did in John 5 ve 17 . Then in John 5 vs 19 messiah says he is able to do nothing but what he sees his father doing. Then that he does!!!!
Paul are you even going to read this truth or are you going to look unintelligent and stay willfully ignorant to all watching this forum's content and learning the precious truth spoken here?
You are wrong repent and admit it or stay in your own mind's delusions being deceived and deceiving even if not on purpose its exactly what you are doing to say as the pharisees that messiah broke the Sabbath by healing on it!!!!
If you say messiah sinned and broke Sabbath then you are a pharisee. Also pharisees were not his appointed people. He had prophets before he came. were pharisees prophets per say? They added thousands of rules and commandments not approved by Yahweh that made it hard to follow Yahweh's laws. Yahushua said they made their converts twice the child of hell they were even though they traveled over land and sea for a single convert.
Wait am I throwing a stone or being a pharisee to point out what evil pharisees did to our messiah????
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 10:36 PM
Singer4u says, "Paul and Goldenfaith both said in their writings on this forum that Yahushua broke Sabbath. That is impossible! You two should know better than that and to say it is total heresy."
heresy? . . .really? "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said God was His Father" (John 5:18). According to the apostle John, who wrote that scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit . . .Jesus broke the Sabbath.
I wonder, Singer4u, what justice should God mete out to you for misrepresenting Him with your statement above? Mercy or death by stoning?
Have you been CONDEMMNED by others as having an "UNBIBLICAL DIVORCE" ?
Posted : 2 Jun, 2012 11:00 PM
You are no different that a pharisee Paul on these matters
I tell any who read his very insufficent stone thrower story and even consider believing it it can be a stumbling block to you to lose your salvation and commit adultery and be in an adulterous marriage.
Also if any of you agree with Paul that Yahshua broke the Sabbath then how can he be your messiah?
Beware the leaven of the pharisees Yahusha said!
Beware the leaven that the pharisee want to be Paul is using on this forum with false teachings and wrongly dividing the scriptures.
He is so blinded by the adversary that he says the holy spirit inspired the apostle John to say Yahshua broke the sabbath day. When it is so elementary in its thesis that it's saying the thoughts of the pharisees that messiah broke Sabbath. Yet Paul who refuses to test or study counts his own mind higher than Yahwehs on these matters!
Shame on you Paul!!!!!! I will only expose your
erroneous teachings so that others won't stumble as you have!
