Divorced from God
Our reading
from Mark is a tough one really. It’s
tough because it addresses a topic that is not only painful, but also a reality
in our lives today – divorce. Depending
on what source you use, the divorce rate in the
The issue of divorce is a heated issue because it typically calls into question the integrity of one, if not both of the spouses involved in the broken marriage. Divorce also calls into question the authenticity, authority, and sanctity of the marriage vows. Divorce shakes-up our feeling of stability and security in our most intimate relationships. Divorce is a scary prospect because it calls into question some of our most cherished and foundational values. And it appears from our reading in the Gospel of Mark, the issue of divorce is not simply a modern issue, but one that we share with societies from the past.
The Pharisees, educated Jewish leaders, came to test Jesus with a question about divorce. They simply asked if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus answered them with a question, which was a typical way of debating at the time. Jesus asked what Moses said on the issue. Mosaic Law simply stated that a man could divorce his wife after he had written her a certificate confirming the divorce. Then Jesus started to teach…
What strikes me about this passage is not so much that Jesus seems so strict about the issue of divorce, but that Jesus addresses the human condition first to explain why divorce is legal in Mosaic Law. Jesus said, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you.” What does Jesus mean by “hardness of heart?” Sin, the fall of creation, a separation from God. Divorce is allowed because we are not perfect, because we do not love as God loves, because we break our promises and vows. Look at marriages that end in divorce today. Something happened in those relationships that did not let one or both of the spouses truly be complete. I’m not talking about “falling out of love.” No, God is pretty clear that true love is eternal because it comes from him. I’m talking about our sinful nature. A propensity to separate ourselves from God and from each other. Our tendency to hurt each other. God allows divorce within Mosaic Law as an act of grace because we can’t care for each other like God cares for us. We can’t love each other the way God loves us. But Jesus doesn’t simply leave this discussion on divorce by confirming Mosaic Law and pointing out that we live in a fallen creation. Instead, he goes on to discuss a more excellent way.
Jesus reminds us of our origins – he reminds us of creation. He reminds us that God created humanity as male and female and that we were to be joined together as one. Our original state was not to be separate but unified. We were also created to be in communion with God as well as with each other. But with the fall of creation, we find Adam and Eve estranged from God, and even with each other. Remember, Adam tried to blame Eve for his infidelity to God. By reminding us of our original created state, Jesus comments not so much on human marriage, but on humanity’s marriage with God.
The problem with human marriage is that it is comprised of two imperfect individuals. Humans are notorious for breaking commitments. God, mercifully, does not break any promise. Human marriage can have divorce because, due to our sinful nature, our relationships can become hurtful. Our relationship with God cannot become hurtful. God’s love is true. God’s grace is life giving. God makes us whole through the death and resurrection of Christ. God’s relationship with us is pure. On the other hand, although we all fall short with our part of our relationship with God, we cannot hurt God. There’s nothing we can do to hinder or destroy God’s life. As such, there is no divorce for our relationship with God. In order for a divorce to occur, there must be an irreconcilable break in the relationship. With God, there cannot be an irreconcilable break.
But that is where the charges of adultery come into play. You see, adultery is an act of infidelity. In order for there to be infidelity, there must first be an established relationship. To say that one commits adultery after a divorce is to say that the divorce really didn’t sever the relationship. We, as humans can decide to turn our backs on God. We can claim to disown God. We can convince ourselves that there isn’t even a God. We can even say that we divorce God. But God doesn’t turn his back on us, disown us, doesn’t stop the truth of our existence, or even divorce us. Because of God’s perfect love, the relationship remains even if we attempt to leave. Because of this, even if we claim a divorce from God, it is not legitimate. Therefore, we are responsible for any act of infidelity to God that we commit despite our desire to completely sever our relationship with God. We were created to be in relationship with God whether we like it or not. We can’t deny the reason for our existence.
But the truth remains that our tendency as humans is to turn our backs and leave when things don’t go our way. In our Old Testament reading we find Job’s wife encouraging Job to “fall” into this tendency when she instructs him to “curse God and die.” Essentially she’s suggesting that Job divorce God. And she’s right about the second part – without our relationship with God, we will die.
But Jesus’ instruction concerning divorce and our relationship with God is not simply an instruction for our personal relationship. Studies have shown that children are intensely affected by the divorce of their parents. Jesus comments on the little children again, as he did in the previous chapter. Just as he said concerning divorce that “what God has joined together, let no one separate,” he also didn’t want the little children separated from him. Last week I mentioned that the “little ones” or “little children” could also refer to new followers of Christ. This week is no different. Our attempts to divorce ourselves from God can be seen and truly effect new believers. When the Church allows itself to be divided by individual, worldly agendas, we cease to truly be the bride of Christ and start to divorce God. New believers will see this and it will become a hindrance for them as they seek to deepen their relationship with God. Essentially, without even knowing it most of the time, we stop them from coming to Christ.
At creation, we were made to be in relationship with God. God had joined us with him and to each other. At the fall, we tried to divorce ourselves from God and each other. Because each human is imperfect, divorce is possible between us, even though that is not our created state. Although we attempt to divorce ourselves from God so that we might pursue our own desires, we can’t fully sever that relationship because of God’s pure love for us. And so even when we think we’ve divorced ourselves from God and the Church, we’re still responsible for not only our infidelity, but also for how our attempt to divorce God affects others.
We all attempt to divorce ourselves from God at one time or another. That’s sin. But the joy that we share despite our repeated attempts to divorce God is that because of God’s divine grace, his perfect love, our relationship is never fully broken. God allows us to return to our marriage, to our baptismal vows, even in the face of our adultery.
Where are we, both as individuals and as a Church attempting to divorce God? Where are we being unfaithful? Where in our lives do we need to exchange our adultery for God’s divine grace, God’s perfect love? These are tough questions, but God always makes the trade when we offer it.
SDG