I used to have a post on here discussing the higher divorce rates in the Bible Belt. Unfortunately, it got lost in a move between blogging platforms. In it, I commented on several reasons I thought that the divorce rate was higher in the Bible Belt than it was for the “ungodly” parts of the country.
I recently ran across a post from the blog “Politics of the Cross Resurrected” which discussed a resolution the Southern Baptists passed at their convention dealing with divorce.
That resolution believes that Southern Baptists should:
1. Realize “how damaging Southern Baptist accommodation to the divorce culture is to our global witness for Christ.”
2. Confront “the spiritual wreckage left in our Southern Baptist churches by our own divorce rates and our silence about the same.”
3. Acknowledge that “areas where Southern Baptist churches predominate in number often have higher divorce rates than areas we would define as ‘unchurched’ and in need of evangelical witness.” (This is correct. Mississippi’s divorce rate is 82 percent (13,000 divorces vs. only 15,900 marriages). Arkansas’ rate is 63 percent; Kentucky, 59 percent.) [Emphasis added.]
4. Confess that “Even the most expansive view of the biblical exceptions allowing for divorce and remarriage would rule out many, if not most, of the divorces in our churches.”
5. Admit that “The acceleration in rates of divorce in Southern Baptist churches has not come through a shift in theological conviction about Scriptural teaching on divorce but rather through cultural accommodation.”
As both a Southern Baptist and a divorcee (but happily married now, right dear?), I commend the convention for passing this resolution. I am concerned, however, that, as with many things in life, there will be some people who take it too far. I am especially concerned about the first provision, that “accommodation to the divorce culture” has damaged Souther Baptist’s witness. I hope that some churches will not take that as license to exclude divorced persons from their congregations.
I have been a member of a church before that prohibited divorced persons from serving in any positions of church leadership. I understand that there is biblical support for this, but I can also tell you from first hand experience that it makes divorced persons feel like second-class members of the church. I am worried that this resolution may allow some churches to feel that they can even exclude divorced persons from joining or excommunicate existing members.
I personally feel that my law practice is a ministry, especially in the areas of divorce and family law. While God may hate divorce, God is, above all else, a God of love and of second chances. I try to help people going through a divorce remember that.
At my own church, we have a saying, “No perfect people allowed.” As long as churches remember that they are full of sinners, this resolution should be interpreted in the proper light.
What are your thoughts? Do you have any positive or negative experiences with divorce and the church?
Related posts:
- Don’t Divorce Your Children from the Church One of the questions people face when going through a...
- Divorce in the Armed Forces The Associated Press reports today that the divorce rate has...
- Is It Too Easy to Get a Divorce? Many people think it is too easy to get a...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
