[censored] from Texas,<P>With your background could you (or anyone else reading this thread) give me your insight/interpretation to this statement, if there is one:<P>"Whoever breaks the covenant of marriage first sets the other one free."<P>I heard the statement made on the radio over a year ago by Dr. Laura who is Jewish. I did not feel safe in asking anyone their thoughts because I just want knowlege/facts. Kind of a tough one to get opinions on and not belted over the head for asking, kind of like politics. <P>Is the statement a belief of a certain religion, broader than that or just baloney?<P>I do work with a person who graduated from college with a B.A. in Religious Studies. She is wonderful to talk with and she doesn't look at me like I have horns when I ask questions (boy do I ask questions) but I haven't ever asked her this one.<P>Thank you for your time,<P>Ragamuffin

Interesting statement, makes it sound like marriage is jail time..........setting the other one FREE.<P>

Here is just one of many 'views' on this subject.<P>From a biblical viewpoint, there is only one clear exemption for someone to remary without any 'strings attatched'...and that is if one spouse dies. The other is totally free to remarry.<P>Under Old Testament Law, if a spouse committed adultery, they were to be stoned to death. Hence, freeing up the other spouse to re-marry.<P>Under the New Testament, even though that law was not to be carried out anymore, some would suggest that since the 'sin' is horrendous enough to be punishible by death, then in some sense, it still 'free's the other person to be divorced and remarry. <P>The idea is that the 'spirit' of the law...would free that person to find another spouse. But, I believe the true spirit of the NT is for forgiveness and restoration to be carried out.<P>And that is my two cents worth on it.<BR>

Ragamuffin:<P>I appreciate you asking me. However, I do not claim to have all the answers. However, I will share my feelings on this statement.<P>No, it isn't baloney and it is somewhat Biblical. It might be a 'paraphrase' of <BR>I Corinthians 7:15 (I Cor 7 is called the "Marriage Chapter").<P>"..But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us to peace"<P>First of all, I used to believe that the term unbeliever used in this verse meant 'an unbeliever in Christ, a non-Christian'.<P>However, I saw a broader scope here as it applied to my situation. My wife/I are both Christians, yet after a 4 year separation (she left); we divorced in March of this year.<P>I tried to restore with her, but she wasn't interested. I filed for divorce in March and she signed (no fault).<P>What I see in this verse is: "if the unbelieving depart...." - this could also apply to "the unbeliever in the marriage".<P>In other words, my wife no longer believed in our marriage, therefore I called her an unbeliever (relating to our marriage covenant).<P>As the verse says...if they depart, the brother or sister (husband or wife)is not under bondage.<P>What I see here is, I am free to remarry and I am not under bondage because my wife left.<P>In other words "whoever breaks the covenant first, sets the other free". In other words, the other person is no under bondage (I Cor 7:15).<P>Also, I saw a new side/definition for the term adultery. Whenever we think of the term adultery, we tend to think of 'sexual' adultery.<P>However, the word adultery simply means 'unfaithful'. My wife, though she didn't commit sexual adultery in departing and remaining separated from me for 4 years, ignoring all of my efforts to restore; was 'unfaithful' to our marriage vows.<P>Hope this has been of some help and thanks again for asking.<P>[censored] from Texas (Fort Worth)

lighthouse,<P>Thank you for answering the thread. I appreciate you taking the time to give your view.<P>[censored] from Texas,<P>Thank you also for your answer and the amount of time you invested to help answer a strangers question.<P>I ran across some words that contributed in my asking about 'breakers of covenants': "talk with the wisest people you know, consult those who've lived successfully through similar circumstances".<P>Reading your posts to Renae convinced me of your wisdom.<P>My mind, heart and spirit thank you for sharing your views with me!<P>Ragamuffin<P><BR>

lighthouse,<P>Thank you for answering the thread. I appreciate you taking the time to give your view.<P>[censored] from Texas,<P>Thank you also for your answer and the amount of time you invested to help answer a strangers question.<P>I read "talk with the wisest people you know, consult those who've lived successfully through similar circumstances". Reading your posts to Renae convinced me of your wisdom.<P>My mind, heart and spirit thank you for sharing your views with me!<P>Ragamuffin<P>[/B][/QUOTE]<P>

lighthouse,<P>Thank you for answering the thread. I appreciate you taking the time to give your view.<P>[censored] from Texas,<P>Thank you also for your answer and the amount of time you invested to help answer a strangers question.<P>I read "talk with the wisest people you know, consult those who've lived successfully through similar circumstances". Reading your posts to Renae convinced me of your wisdom.<P>My mind, heart and spirit thank you for sharing your views with me!<P>Ragamuffin<P>

(sorry, I double posted)

Ragamuffin:<P>Thanks for your response. I am so honored by your kind words.<P>In whatever you are facing....He is with you.<P>[censored] from Texas