Are baptized people told to renounce adulterous marriage?

[longdistancerunner]

Does anyone have any experience of a practice that I know occurs in other fundamentalists. Have you hear of people baptized into the CoC who are remarried after a divorce told to end the current adulterous relationship if their first divorce was not for adultery and either be celibate or reunite with their true spouse?

[agricola]

I've heard of it but never personally been around any people who actually DID it. I think it is pernicious and evil. It's also weirdo theology - after all, if baptism (etc) pardons all sins then you should start 'fresh' AT THAT POINT.
In other words, if a person divorced or remarried or whatever, BEFORE then, it should be a non-issue. ABSOLUTELY NOT EVEN MENTIONED.

That's my opinion.

[Ivy]

Does anyone have any experience of a practice that I know occurs in other fundamentalists. Have you hear of people baptized into the CoC who are remarried after a divorce told to end the current adulterous relationship if their first divorce was not for adultery and either be celibate or reunite with their true spouse?

Yes, unfortunately I have seen this practice in action. It was truly horrible to watch. The couple did leave and go to a better church situation where their marriage was accepted.

[longdistancerunner]

I've heard of it but never personally been around any people who actually DID it. I think it is pernicious and evil. It's also weirdo theology - after all, if baptism (etc) pardons all sins then you should start 'fresh' AT THAT POINT.
In other words, if a person divorced or remarried or whatever, BEFORE then, it should be a non-issue. ABSOLUTELY NOT EVEN MENTIONED.

That's my opinion.

The way that is addressed is that God’s law applies to nonbelievers, so the transgression of the law is not wiped away by baptism, there is only one marriage and the only thing th a t ends it is death (some claim adultery and there are denominations that say adultery does not allow remarriage

[B.H.]

I think a man by the name of Fuqua argued that the law didnt apply to nonbelievers. Another CoC preacher challenged him on it in a written debate. I dont recall reading it but everyone seemed to think Fuqua lost.

[Ivy]

Cofc view: If something can be made more difficult, make it more difficult.

[B.H.]

Yes, the harder position to hold and practice is always the theologically correct one.

You are forgiven, but still must be punished.

You are to be shown mercy yet still shunned.

If a church does one thing wrong it is false and hell bound, except ours---its just human weakness.

[FCOCER]

I witnessed a couple crazy situations. A new convert was encouraged to reconcile with her ex-husband by one of the elders and his wife. Fortunately, she did not reconcile with the drug addicted abuser.

The other situation was an older couple who were convinced by a visiting preacher of the unscriptural nature of their marriage. So, they divorced, but continued living in the same house because they couldn't afford total separation. They even took separate cars to church and sat on different pews.

[agricola]

I just don't see how they can get away with such claims. Isn't Jesus' death on the cross supposed to wipe away ALL sins? Isn't baptism into Christianity supposed to make a person entirely (spiritually speaking) new like a baby?

This no divorce stuff is VERY THEOLOGICALLY SPEAKING CRAP THEOLOGY, and the CoC college/seminaries have no excuse: it should not be allowed at all.

[B.H.]

The reasoning goes is that if you are a thief and steal a million dollars and later repent and get baptized but have spent the money you still have to pay it back or go to jail. You are pardoned but not parsoned.

if you miss a stop sign and hit someone and hurt them and get baptized you still have to face jail time or a lawsuit.

You may get baptized but your original spouse you divorced for reasons other than sexual faithlessness is still your wife in God's eyes and you have to back to her/him.