DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE
by: M. A. Tomlinson
General Overseer (1943-1990) - The Church of God of Prophecy
The following paragraph from “Advice to Members” is fully in line with the Bible, and with the Church’s stand concerning “The Divorce and Remarriage Evil.”
“A member who may have a living companion should never marry another under any circumstances, even if divorced. Neither should a member marry anyone who has a living companion, although such a person may be divorced.”
Divorce is not good, because it creates a set of circumstances that lead to adultery or fornication. The Pharisees tempted Jesus with a question about “putting away,” or divorce. His reply, if taken at face value, answers many questions. Read from
Mark 10:2-9: “And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
A.J. Tomlinson said: “It is too much for people to misunderstand the meaning of Jesus where He says, ‘What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.’ Many interpret this to mean that God joins a man and woman together in marriage as husband and wife. But God does not marry anybody. The laws of the land and the man having authority that says the ceremony and pronounces them husband and wife do that. The thing that God has joined together is the fact that when they are married properly and lawfully they are one flesh.
“Then He said they are no more twain, They are no more two, but one flesh as long as they both shall live. By marriage they become one flesh. Please notice that it does not read, ‘Them therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder,’ or separate. The correct reading is not them, but ‘What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.’ That is, God said they were one flesh when they were married. Since they became one flesh, they have to remain one flesh, because God has not changed it and man is without authority to change it. So when they are married they remain one flesh and married until one of them dies, because God made it so from the beginning that husband and wife are one flesh, and man cannot make it otherwise.
“This makes plain the Scriptures in Matthew 19:3-6. Paul is so sure that no separation can be made that he declares that even if a man is joined to a harlot they are one flesh, ‘For two, saith he, shall be one flesh.’ Therefore, it is the being of one flesh that cannot be put asunder (1 Corinthians 6:16).”
The marriage covenant can be broken by civil law, but this does not put asunder the one flesh that God has joined together. The “one flesh” is for life, as long as both shall live; therefore the covenant is not forgotten, as far as God is concerned. And remarriage while the “one flesh” covenant remains is sin. It is adultery. The Church teaches against this because those who commit adultery cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven (See 1 Corinthians 6:9,10).
Romans 7:2,3 clearly shows that death is the only thing that can dissolve a lawful marriage: “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called and adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.”
Now, for those who are inclined to accept the world’s definition of “fornication,” rather than the church’s stand on this awful sin, it seems good to give here the full account of the manner in which this was settled by the Holy Ghost after several years of study, discussion, and indecision. The following account is taken from A.J. Tomlinson’s article in the White Wing Messenger dated December 2, 1923, following the 18th Annual Assembly. Though somewhat lengthy, it seems in season to include it here:
“When the divorce and remarriage question was introduced through the Committee on Questions and Subjects, there was a new drama introduced. The chairman thought to briefly mention the subject and pass it over as usual with no discussion and no decision; but as he was about to do this, it was clearly witnessed that the Holy Ghost was about to be displeased. The chairman realized this and took up the questions again that had been passed over to the clerk’s table.
“As he did this, he continued the subject by saying that if he should be called upon to express his view of the subject at this time, he would have to say that the only cause for separation and remarriage is that, where one marries another who has a living companion, he can put away the other and marry another and both be members of the church; but if divorced for any other cause and re-married while a companion is still living, they should not be taken into the Church, but that such people should be taken under the watch-care of the Church, if they wish to be, and treated kindly while they are considering the matter and waiting on God to assist them in getting out of the tangle.”
“When this statement was made, it was shown plainly that the Holy Ghost set His approval upon it, and the explanation could hardly be finished until He had taken control; and soon the saints were on their faces in tears of gratitude because the Spirit had at last taken the subject in hand, dealt with it so simple and plain, and yet powerful, after it had been under discussion so long and still remained unsettled.
“To those who were there, it was more than wonderful. It was shown how those who are in the Church and have entanglements in their marriage relation should be excluded; and how careful the churches and ministers must be in dealing with such cases. They must be talked to kindly, told about the decision made by the Holy Ghost and the Bible, and kindly and gently dismiss them from membership, but give them the privilege of attending the services and continue to pray for them that God will show them what to do.
“The sweet, smooth way that the Holy Spirit did this is indescribable. We found ourselves so under His influence that we hardly consider that we had anything to do with it except to accept His decision. The word wonderful does not approach a description of the scene or the peculiarly wise and loving way it was done. Just now while trying to give this information, I find it difficult to describe the wonder working power of the Holy Ghost.”
“There was a sweetness about it that never has been observed in any Assembly in the past. There was a glory, a joy mingled with sadness, that reminds me of the rays of light that come from the brightness of the silvery moon on a beautiful, clear September night. Visions of fire, light, arches of light, flowers, a star, and perhaps other things were witnessed. There was a sacredness upon the platform, a mellowness in the atmosphere, a sweetness all around that brings a hallowed feeling over me tonight as I am telling others about it. No one could speak for some time except as the Spirit directed. When all was over and everyone knew it was God, we felt like we had been on holy ground and in a holy place with holiness all around.”
I wish I could describe the sacredness of those precious moments. Those who were there can do nothing else but accept it as God’s work. This decision agrees with the Bible and the Bible agrees with this decision. And now we would be afraid to make any contrary comments. ‘To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband’ (1 Corinthians 7:2).
“The Scripture forbids a man having another man’s wife, and a woman having another woman’s husband. To do this is fornication, for which they may separate, and the innocent one may marry another and be guiltless. “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery. And this is because he has another man’s wife which he has no right to have.”
I believe an honest-hearted appraisal of the subject of “Divorce and Remarriage” will convince the gainsayers that the Church’s counsel on this vital question is timely and sound.
“A member who may have a living companion should never marry another under any circumstances, even if divorced. Neither should a member marry anyone who has a living companion, although such a person may be divorced.”
Divorce is not good, because it creates a set of circumstances that lead to adultery or fornication. The Pharisees tempted Jesus with a question about “putting away,” or divorce. His reply, if taken at face value, answers many questions. Read from
Mark 10:2-9: “And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
A.J. Tomlinson said: “It is too much for people to misunderstand the meaning of Jesus where He says, ‘What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.’ Many interpret this to mean that God joins a man and woman together in marriage as husband and wife. But God does not marry anybody. The laws of the land and the man having authority that says the ceremony and pronounces them husband and wife do that. The thing that God has joined together is the fact that when they are married properly and lawfully they are one flesh.
“Then He said they are no more twain, They are no more two, but one flesh as long as they both shall live. By marriage they become one flesh. Please notice that it does not read, ‘Them therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder,’ or separate. The correct reading is not them, but ‘What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.’ That is, God said they were one flesh when they were married. Since they became one flesh, they have to remain one flesh, because God has not changed it and man is without authority to change it. So when they are married they remain one flesh and married until one of them dies, because God made it so from the beginning that husband and wife are one flesh, and man cannot make it otherwise.
“This makes plain the Scriptures in Matthew 19:3-6. Paul is so sure that no separation can be made that he declares that even if a man is joined to a harlot they are one flesh, ‘For two, saith he, shall be one flesh.’ Therefore, it is the being of one flesh that cannot be put asunder (1 Corinthians 6:16).”
The marriage covenant can be broken by civil law, but this does not put asunder the one flesh that God has joined together. The “one flesh” is for life, as long as both shall live; therefore the covenant is not forgotten, as far as God is concerned. And remarriage while the “one flesh” covenant remains is sin. It is adultery. The Church teaches against this because those who commit adultery cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven (See 1 Corinthians 6:9,10).
Romans 7:2,3 clearly shows that death is the only thing that can dissolve a lawful marriage: “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called and adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.”
Now, for those who are inclined to accept the world’s definition of “fornication,” rather than the church’s stand on this awful sin, it seems good to give here the full account of the manner in which this was settled by the Holy Ghost after several years of study, discussion, and indecision. The following account is taken from A.J. Tomlinson’s article in the White Wing Messenger dated December 2, 1923, following the 18th Annual Assembly. Though somewhat lengthy, it seems in season to include it here:
“When the divorce and remarriage question was introduced through the Committee on Questions and Subjects, there was a new drama introduced. The chairman thought to briefly mention the subject and pass it over as usual with no discussion and no decision; but as he was about to do this, it was clearly witnessed that the Holy Ghost was about to be displeased. The chairman realized this and took up the questions again that had been passed over to the clerk’s table.
“As he did this, he continued the subject by saying that if he should be called upon to express his view of the subject at this time, he would have to say that the only cause for separation and remarriage is that, where one marries another who has a living companion, he can put away the other and marry another and both be members of the church; but if divorced for any other cause and re-married while a companion is still living, they should not be taken into the Church, but that such people should be taken under the watch-care of the Church, if they wish to be, and treated kindly while they are considering the matter and waiting on God to assist them in getting out of the tangle.”
“When this statement was made, it was shown plainly that the Holy Ghost set His approval upon it, and the explanation could hardly be finished until He had taken control; and soon the saints were on their faces in tears of gratitude because the Spirit had at last taken the subject in hand, dealt with it so simple and plain, and yet powerful, after it had been under discussion so long and still remained unsettled.
“To those who were there, it was more than wonderful. It was shown how those who are in the Church and have entanglements in their marriage relation should be excluded; and how careful the churches and ministers must be in dealing with such cases. They must be talked to kindly, told about the decision made by the Holy Ghost and the Bible, and kindly and gently dismiss them from membership, but give them the privilege of attending the services and continue to pray for them that God will show them what to do.
“The sweet, smooth way that the Holy Spirit did this is indescribable. We found ourselves so under His influence that we hardly consider that we had anything to do with it except to accept His decision. The word wonderful does not approach a description of the scene or the peculiarly wise and loving way it was done. Just now while trying to give this information, I find it difficult to describe the wonder working power of the Holy Ghost.”
“There was a sweetness about it that never has been observed in any Assembly in the past. There was a glory, a joy mingled with sadness, that reminds me of the rays of light that come from the brightness of the silvery moon on a beautiful, clear September night. Visions of fire, light, arches of light, flowers, a star, and perhaps other things were witnessed. There was a sacredness upon the platform, a mellowness in the atmosphere, a sweetness all around that brings a hallowed feeling over me tonight as I am telling others about it. No one could speak for some time except as the Spirit directed. When all was over and everyone knew it was God, we felt like we had been on holy ground and in a holy place with holiness all around.”
I wish I could describe the sacredness of those precious moments. Those who were there can do nothing else but accept it as God’s work. This decision agrees with the Bible and the Bible agrees with this decision. And now we would be afraid to make any contrary comments. ‘To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband’ (1 Corinthians 7:2).
“The Scripture forbids a man having another man’s wife, and a woman having another woman’s husband. To do this is fornication, for which they may separate, and the innocent one may marry another and be guiltless. “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery. And this is because he has another man’s wife which he has no right to have.”
I believe an honest-hearted appraisal of the subject of “Divorce and Remarriage” will convince the gainsayers that the Church’s counsel on this vital question is timely and sound.
