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“Speaking the
Truth in Love” As many of you are well aware, the most recent controversy within the Lord’s church revolves around the notion that certain individuals who have been put away, may somehow “put away” (or sunder a dissolved marriage) for post-divorce fornication and remarry another while their bound mate lives. Regrettably, this teaching is in direct opposition to the unmistakable and indisputable words of Jesus Christ regarding those who are put away in Matthew 5:32b; 19:9b and Luke 16:18b (cf. I Corinthians 7:10-11; Romans 7:2-3). This week Truth Magazine has published a few sound words on this topic, written by brother Connie W. Adams. We are encouraged by brother Adams (associate editor) for writing these timely words (following) for two reasons: 1) He taught the truth in spite of the fact that the principal editor of this journal has been recently publishing articles which are contrary to the word of God. 2) He taught the truth in spite of the fact that he has dear friends and close relatives who are presently pressing that which teaches the very opposite. Because we received only ten copies of Truth Magazine, I have reproduced brother Adams’ words in our bulletin this week for all to read. Please acknowledge and appreciate the simplicity of the Lord’s divine decree regarding those who are put away (cf. II Corinthians 11:3). - Jeff “‘Binding Where Jesus Did Not Bind’ It is just as wrong to loose where the Lord has bound as it is to bind where he has not bound. When it comes to the issue of divorce and remarriage, we must be careful to respect exactly what the Lord has said. There is a good deal of tension now over what is being called ‘mental divorce’ in which a party who was put away for some other cause than fornication may later put away a mate who either marries again or else commits adultery after the fact of the divorce. Jesus said, ‘And whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery’ (Matt. 5:32). The same thing is stated in Matthew 19:9. When we have exhausted all the emotional arguments about fairness, and the intricacies of what constitutes ‘putting away,’ these passages will still say what they have always said. We can minimize the matter all we want to and call this an invention of man, but it still is what the Lord said. We can quibble about ‘who gets to the courthouse first’ and the like, but the Lord still said, ‘Whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.’ It is not binding where Jesus did not bind to say that one who has been divorced is not free to marry for that is precisely what Jesus said. If what is described here does not constitute a mental dismissal, or a second putting away, after the marriage has ended legally and in fact, then I am at a loss as to what to call it. Our own personal experiences in dealing with difficult marital tangles may be interesting, but they do not set aside what the Lord has plainly said.” Connie W.
Adams, Editorial Left-overs GIVE ME THE TRUTH If you are my friend, if you are concerned about my soul, give me the Truth. Do not flatter me. Do not praise virtues while remaining silent about my vices. Do not fear the Truth will offend me. Do not treasure our friendship, our friendly relations above my salvation. Do not think by ignoring my sins, you can help me. Do not think that being blind to my sins will make you charitable. However I may react to it, whatever may be my attitude toward you after you have done it, GIVE ME THE TRUTH! For the Truth, and ONLY the Truth, can make me free from the shackles of sin, strengthen me in the pathway of righteousness and lead me into the joys of Heaven. If I am wavering, weak, lukewarm, indifferent, neglectful; if I have been overtaken in a trespass; if I have been drawn into the pleasures of the world; if I have left my first love; if I have been led astray by error, or if I have done none of these things, but simply need to grow in knowledge and then be edified, GIVE ME THE TRUTH! Bill Crews |
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