The Divorce Myth

An excellent exploration of what the bible really says about divorce. I highly recommend, especially for clergy. Written in an easy to read format that is suitable for all readers.

There's no question that the subject of divorce is a hot potato in the church today. With the divorce rate among professing Christians actually WORSE than among unbelievers, it's an issue that affects nearly every congregation. I myself have two friends currently coping with the pain of pending divorces, and for them this is anything but a mere academic discussion! In "The Divorce Myth" J. Carl Laney tackles the topic of divorce and remarriage with both compassion and a love for Biblical truth. He begins by discussing the foundations of marriage in Genesis, and continues through the Old Testament, concentrating on Moses' teaching in Deuteronomy as well as passages in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi. He also covers Jesus' teaching in the Gospels and the teaching of Paul. This is really the meat of the book, and involves a discussion of what Jesus meant by the somewhat ambiguous phrase "except for fornication" in Matthew. Laney also deals with parallel passages in Mark and Luke, and discusses the reasons why the "exception clause" is left out of those two Gospels. Many will consider his views too narrow (he clearly swims against the tide of most evangelicals), but I found his reasoning to be based soundly on Scripture. Laney closes the book by answering some objections to his view, and discusses how pastors should deal with the issue of divorce, both in counseling couples considering divorce and those who have already gone through it, demonstrating a genuine love for those who have been hurt. Anyone who reads Laney's work should come away with a renewed respect for the institution of marriage, and have a godly fear of violating God's design for it. The book is fairly brief (in fact, I wish Laney had taken more time to deal with potential objections to his interpretations) and is written in a non-technical style. I recommend "The Divorce Myth" for anyone interested in what the Bible has to say about this issue. 4+1/2 stars.

Wait a minute. The author says that in Mt 5:32 and 19:9 porneia = illicit marriage. To say that porneia must mean in both cases "any kind of inmoral sexual act", because the Bible gives us several meanings for the word porneia is a huge mistake. Just because the word "can" means " a usually cylindrical receptacle" should we say that this is the only meaning of the word and that it must mean only this everywhere we here or read this word?.Obvously Not. For Matthew porneia is something different that moikheia, adultery is quiet clear because he also uses these 2 words one after the other (Mt 15:18), telling us that they don't mean the same for him. To say that for Mt porneia can only mean "adultery", "any inmoral act" but not "illicit marriage" as in Qumran and rabbinic world is to run a great risk: to say no to what He really wanted to say. Porneia = illicit marriage. This is the only interpretation that is coherent with the clear NO that Jesus gave to divorce in Mk 10 and Lk 16:18. Let me give you a ficticious example. Johny is a christian and meets Laura who is also a christian. They fell in love and they get married. Time goes by, Johny finds that his wife is not as beautiful as before and knows Joana, and well, he finds her atractive in all the aspects. He decides that he deserves a second chance, and he commits adultery. He tells her wife "Things are not going right, I found someone else, and I have a relationship with this other woman, let's get the divorce, because my plans with Joana are for real. Jesus gives you the right". The wife gives him the divorce. Johny is free, that's what divorce is all about. He marries again (he surely elects a different pastor to perform the new marriage, or maybe not just to prove him that "this time is for real") and yes he can go to church the very next sunday with the new wife, who can be sure about his love, until maybe he finds once again that he was wrong and that the right one was Carla, Jeniffer and go on. Did Jesus allow divorce for adultery? I don't think so, Jesus doesn't let anybody fool him. Let's not fool ourselves, if we want to avoid divorce let's not get married with wrong persons. view point is the only one

Laney's book "The Divorce Myth" is a must-read for the Pastor and Missionary and makes for an excellent text book for Bible College-level family classes.As always, there are many 'modern day' prophets who have attempted to add 'new light' upon the area of divorce and remarriage amongst the redeemed. But Laney aptly produces an expansive & exhaustive study on the topic of the scriptural marriage covenant and reveals the error of the modernists promoting divorce & remarriage. His conclusions are sound, well reasoned, simply to understand & apply and proves once again the necessity of 'rightly dividing the word of truth'.The kingdom of Christ deserves such straight forward and uncompromising approach to scripture.

The book is very well written, and it is based on what the Holy Bible say about divorce and remarriage. J. Carl Laney has not taken scriptures of content in any area. It will answer those questions that Christians would have on the subject of divorce and remarriage. This book should be in every pastor's and minister's library.Rev. Khris W. Klock

Laney gives a thoughtful and understanding treatment of how pastors are tempted to be "pleasers" when asked to perform marriages for divorced people, but does not apologize for upholding God's original intent of one spouse until death do you part. He gives a critique of the pro's and con's on various interpretations of St. Matthew's "except for fornication" clause. His discussion of 1 Cor. 7:10f. cuts through a lot of rationalizations people use to justify another marriage in almost any circumstance. He has a helpful section for situations facing any pastor or counselor related to this area. In the end his position is reconcile with your mate, or remain single. He makes his arguments on the basis of a careful examination of the relevant Biblical texts. Every pastor ought read this book in arriving at a heartfelt conviction on what the divorce and remarriage passages mean for today. It is a courageous book in an all too permissive age.