Alzheimer's and Divorce

I'm sure by now you have heard of Brother Pat Robertson's extremely questionable stance regarding Alzheimer's and divorce.  Not only did it cause a rustling within the Christian faith, it hit the mainstream media and has caused quite an uproar.

When we heard about what had been said and the stance that had been taken, we were heartbroken to say the least.  That someone of such influence could openly pull down the sacredness of marriage causes our spirits to be grieved.  It is hard enough to declare the awesomeness of God's most holy institution without people with our own faith undermining it.  We were so taken aback that Josh immediately stopped writing the day's blog post and wrote the following to the Christian news agency that reported it to us:

It is so sad to hear that someone that many in the Christian faith have looked up to for so long has chosen to take this position.  And even more sad is the fact that by Brother Robertson’s position will give people one more reason to divorce their spouse.  And once we begin to look for other reasons for divorce, other than what the Word of God allows for, any reason will do.

 

As a believer, I strive to follow the Word of God as it was meant to be interpreted.  Even if it feels like I am experiencing more pain than is fair.  But, the Christian faith has nothing to do with being fair.  Christianity is about righteousness and holiness in the face of a culture that is rapidly decaying.  Jesus dying on a cross was not fair but it is what was needed for our redemption.

 

Marriages today are under plenty of attack from the enemy of our souls without those within our own faith undermining its strength, as well.  Too many Christians in our world today are busy looking for the loopholes within our faith to live the way they want instead of looking for the way that God intended for us to live.  Divorce was given to us only in the case of infidelity.  However, that exception was not the way that God intended for us to live.  Divorce was given because of our own hard hearts, not because it was the way God meant for it to be.

 

Yes, Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease and the outcome of the sufferer is heart-breaking.  And even though it may seem as “type of death” because the one you loved is gone, is not a reason to walk out on the one you committed your life to.  What’s next?  My spouse has dementia?  My spouse has stage 4 cancer?  My spouse has the flu?  My spouse has allergies?  Brother Robertson has placed the Christian faith in a very precarious position because he is so well known.

 

Our marriage to our spouse is meant to reflect the image of Christ and His bride, the church.  Where would our faith be if the One that came to be our ransom decided to come down off of the cross before the price was paid because we were going to forsake and forget Him anyways?  We would be eternally lost if our Savior chose to divorce His bride when she became ill.  I am forever grateful that Jesus did not divorce us but would rather stay married to the backslider.

 

We need to return to the standards of how Christ intended for us to live instead of what is more convenient for us.

 

Josh

 

You see, people forget that marriage was meant to reflect the glory of the marriage and relationship between Christ and His church.  This is a truth that we must come back to.  We must come back to and hold up the standard of marriage for the world to see.

 

Friends, we are an endangered breed.  There seem to be fewer and fewer of us in this day that are willing to go the distance for our spouses.  It doesn't matter the whys...it could be adultery, complacency, or Alzheimer's...the marriage covenant is forever.

 

Josh and Serena