DIVORCING GRACIOUSLY AND REMARRYING HONOURABLY: AN AFRICAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH RESPONSE

Abstract

To the Christian community marriage is a mysterious miracle. Therefore, the thought of a divorce is intolerable, unattainable and unrealistic to the majority. However, this miracle of two human beings becoming one should not be seen as starting or happening at the altar but during the living relationship that moves through a series of distinct phases. These phases are psychological, emotional, consummation and maturation. To believe that the two are meant for each other and what God has joined together nothing should put asunder, is absolutely valid, but may not make sense in today’s rational world. In the first place, God may not have anything to do with the coming together. An error in selection of mates could have occurred, and so incompatibility which may require termination and selecting again. Errors may be due to both human and environmental factors. This study sought to show that the commonly held notion that love is blind may not be factually proved and the errors in marriage may be human and environmental. The high rates of marriage separation, divorce and re-marriages show that there are occasions when both divorce and re-marriage are desirable even among Christians.