Love is the number one reason for marriage, even if you celebrate Valentine's Day. Yet Americans for Divorce Reform (ADR) estimates that “probably 40 or perhaps even 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce if current trends continue” (Colleen). The ADR also shows that divorce rates between Christians and non-Christians are indistinguishable Even worse, Christians who divorce their spouses are distorting the Bible to justify their actions. Christians must be held to a higher standard regarding divorce and must stop distorting the Bible to appease their conscience. To fully understand divorce, we must examine marriage, understanding the connection between two people. In the Bible, marriage is the union of a man and a woman as "one flesh." Although the precise meaning of one flesh remains debatable, we can confidently say that God places a high priority on the connection between spouses, going beyond the physical world, becoming spiritually connected in the eyes of God. The marital union is made complete when it is consummated because God emphasizes the importance of sex within marriage and abstinence outside “Let marriage be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and every fornicator” (Hebrews 13: 4). Likewise, the seventh commandment, of only ten, is “thou shalt not commit adultery” (Deu. 5:18 NIV). The Bible further emphasizes this connection by saying that a man who rapes a woman who is not engaged to another man must marry her, never divorcing her as long as he lives (Deu. 22:28-29). God also uses marriage as a comparison between Christ and the church, describing Christ as the groom, and the church as his bride...... middle of paper...orce' declares the Lord” (Malachi 2:16 NIV ). God has strong and clear feelings about divorce that need to be emphasized to couples seeking divorce. Our secular culture has infiltrated our relationships and emphasized the importance of emotional love and individualism, corrupting our view of divorce. We must reverse the current trend of Christian divorce by establishing the correct biblical standard for divorce, while emphasizing the importance of marriage and the bond between the couple. By following the correct biblical example for our marriage, we can restore what God has planned for us, separating us from our culture of sin. Works Cited Arnold, Colleen. “Divorce Rates.” Page on divorce reform. Americans for Divorce Reform, Web. February 21, 2010. .Lewis, C.S. The Screwtape Letters. New York: Macmillan, 1958.
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