Remarrying

[servant512]

Praise God brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus....

Can a divorced woman be allowed to remarry with the blessing of the church? be it she being an unbeliever or believer? And vice versa also to a divorced man's situation?

If such an instance happened, is the Pastor responsible for any biblical violations?

Thank you.

[Chaplain Bob]

After many years of studing the subject I am convinced there are no Scriptural grounds for a divorce in a God-ordained marriage.  When Jesus was talking about divorce in Matthew I believe He was talking about thase we would call "engaged" today.  If a man learned his fiancee' had sex with another man he could give her a "bill of divorce" and call off the wedding.  That is what Joseph was planning to do with Mary until the angel straightened him out.

I believe the rules Scripture lays out for marriage are for God-ordained marriages ("what GOD has joined together") and not just any marriage.  The reason the divorce rate is as high in the Christian community as in the rest of society is because many Believers run to the altar and ask God to bless THEIR choice rather than letting God choose their mate (if He wants them to marry at all).  Therefore, it is my opinion that not all marriages are of God. 

So what needs to be determined is whether the marriages the couple you mention came from are God-ordained.  If not then they are not bound by God's "marriage laws" in which case the pastor is not liable for violating any of God's laws.  If they came from God-ordained marriages then they must follow God's "marriage laws.  In that case the pastor should not marry them.