Lawful Separation

We must not forget, as Christians, that there are cases where people might have contracted marriages which are not valid when placed in the light of God’s Word. Such marriages must therefore be dissolved. For instance, if a man finds he is married to a woman who has formerly had a lawful husband, then his marriage with her is null and void, while the first companion of the woman still lives. He should separate from her, else he would be committing the sin of adultery. The same applies to a woman who finds herself married to a man whose rightful companion is still living. It is her duty to separate herself from the man, in order to make her crooked way straight.

There is also another instance where separation is compulsory, and that is in polygamous marriages. African civil laws give room for polygamous living, and so, many Africans live with as many women as they can have, while their first companions are alive. But when a man is saved, that is, when he is genuinely converted, he will separate from the companions with whom he has been living wrongfully. Living with plural companions is the sin of adultery, when placed in the light of God’s Word, though it has been legalised by man.

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

Also in I Corinthians 6:9,10 we read:

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revellers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

In the time of Ezra, the priest, God demanded that the Children of Israel should make straight their crooked past, especially in this respect. He spoke to them through Ezra saying,

“Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

“Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives” (Ezra 10:10,11).

Christians today, who believe and accept the Word of God and stand uncompromisingly for the doctrines on true marriage, preaching and practising it by renouncing all adulterous ways, are often charged with breaking of homes. But the most important thing is not what people think or say about us, but that we obey God’s commands and do His will.

However, there is one other point which must be taken into account in cases of lawful separation, and that is parental obligations. A man must take care of the children born to him through polygamous marriage, though he has separated from their mothers. In the Scriptures we read:

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (I Timothy 5:8).

In these perilous times, many so-called Christians do not regard it as the sin of adultery, when a man or woman marries again after effecting divorce proceedings or mutual separation with the first and rightful companion. Our Lord made a strong statement on this point which we must take into account when considering the subject of divorce.

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6).

God’s hand of approval can rest only on the union of those who are rightful companions. A man may be married to only one wife and yet commit the sin of adultery, if that one wife is not his rightful companion. Who is a rightful companion? A rightful companion, whether male or female, is one who has not been joined to another in marriage before, or one whose lawful companion is dead.

“For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

“So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man” (Romans 7:2, 3).

Surely, then, we cannot marry one who has been divorced, while the lawful companion lives, and remain true Christians who wish to make Heaven our last abode.