I recently finished a meeting in West Virginia. During that meeting the local congregation asked me to do a special Friday morning lesson on Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage. After the 90-minute presentation, I took questions for another 90 minutes. They asked me to do this lesson because another brother had spread the rumor that I am a "closet mental divorce" advocate. As the result of the meeting, they now know exactly what I believe and preach. Every gospel preacher should be willing to publicly state what he believes about any subject. Question-wouldn't it be better to ask me what I believe than to accept what somebody else says?

Sadly, this episode has reinforced a fear I've had for some time. During the past few years, much has been written concerning the MDR question. This issue has divided brethren over the past 25 years, but discussion is healthy and good. Still, I see an alarming trend that I wish to share with you.

During the West Virginia question-and-answer session, I tried to warn the brethren that we are going to have some disagreements about the MDR subject. Brethren, will we agree on EVERY application of what the Bible teaches on MDR? Let me give you some examples:

Does the cause (adultery) have to be written on the papers?

Can an adulterous mate put way a faithful mate, and the faithful mate be prohibited from remarrying because he/she is the "put-away" mate?

What if both parties commit adultery?

Can the first mate (the faithful one) take back and remarry the "guilty party" after the divorce?

Does death sever the put-away fornicator's marriage bond?

Can a Christian put away his mate for the "kingdom's sake" and remain unmarried or be reconciled?

Brethren, sound and well-known preachers do not all agree on every one of these points! Does that make that preacher a false teacher? Truth can never be compromised (Proverbs 23:23), but in these instances has it been? I prefer not to go down the hypothetical highway of situations that many use to corner a brother in order to pigeon-hole him into a position. What about a brother who writes about no other subject but MDR? What about brethren who falsely assign a man a position that he doesn't hold because his conclusions disagree with theirs? This has happened to me personally.

Are we doomed to divide on MDR? Yes, if we don't allow each situation to be examined by the local church and the elders where that situation takes place. Why should we divide over hypothetical situations? Let's be certain that our goal is not to defend our favorite preacher, to defend a family member, or to bring a well-known preacher to his knees. Frankly, I'm afraid some of my brethren relish the thought of division on this subject. May God help us to examine our own hearts!