Divorce and Remarriage Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Divorce and Remarriage - Research Paper Example For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus† (Galatians 3:26-28). Once a person is a believer, there are no distinctions or special dispensations; no excuses. There are, however, levels of moral law1 which must be applied to any and all situations humans encounter in life. After maneuvering through the hierarchical layers, close analysis of biblical permissions for divorce are: fornication and adultery; life-threatening neglect of basic essentials such as food, clothing and shelter; non-fulfillment of marital sexual obligations; mental or physical abuse; departure of the non-believing spouse; and permanent separation despite attempts at reconciliation.2 If any or all of these conditions are met, the spouses are released from the marriage bond and thus free to remarry without committing adultery. The marriage bond is sacred, but it is not absolute. Biblical law was set up to guide sinners from sin to redemption, and there is always room inside the law for the sinner to return to a state of grace. However, we are by nature prone to sin, so the laws clearly address certain instances in which avoiding the sin of dissolving the marital contrac t would cause us to commit another sin such as putting ourselves in danger or choosing to remain married to a sinner.3 Neither of these is a good alternative, so the law allows for marriage dissolution. Before we can discuss the dissolution of the marriage contract, it is helpful to understand what is implied by the marriage contract to start (which provisions are included in the â€Å"standard† contract and which are added on as addenda during our human interactions). The standard contract is straightforward. A man and a woman join in marriage and become one