Page 57 - Christ and Culture Textbook

Survey of Major Positions
A. “Realism” - couples get divorced and will get remarried. It isn’t realistic to expect them to
remain single. Cooperate so as to maintain influence in their lives.
B. New Creation View - past divorces are excused due to regeneration (2 Cor. 5:17)
C. Evangelical Consensus – divorce and remarriage are both permitted for unrepentant adultery
and desertion by an unbeliever. Most scholars believe that persistent adultery (73%) and
desertion by an unbeliever (63%) constitutes ground for divorce and remarriage.
D. Divorce approved for fornication, but no remarriage is permitted - the position of the
exception clause is interpreted to mean that divorce is permitted for unrepentant adultery.
E. Betrothal View – The exception clause refers to adultery during the engagement period.
F. Incestuous Marriage Prohibition – The exception clause refers to incestuous marriages
22
prohibited in Leviticus 18.

Marriage is sacred by Ravi Zacharias

9.4 Let’s Practice…

1. In what ways do you think marriage has changed in the last twenty to thirty years?

2. How do you think the society’s view of marriage has influenced the outworking of a typical
Christian marriage today?

3. What are some barriers to successful marriages?

4. What should characterize a wife’s submission to her husband? What should characterize a husband’s
treatment of his wife?

22 Ibid.,305.

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