Featured Limitations for divorced men

How many times was she arrested for abusing you? How many of your bones did she break? How many times did you have to go to the emergency room because of her abuse?

Disagreeing with you is not "abuse."

 

I agree that sometimes there can be a couple of interpretations without a clear cut solution. Good point.

Brother, I don’t want you to take me wrong here because I agree that Keener is an educated man and a scholar of the New Testament. But I keep wondering why Keener? He seems so far from your beliefs. I don’t mean this to be anti-Keener at all, but only to look at how he lines up with your interpretations and with the doctrines of your church because as a Charismatic he seems more in line with your ex-wife's church than yours (and you worked so hard finding this one).

Keener graduated with a BA from Central Bible College (“the Assemblies of God national university”), a M.A. and M.Div. from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Duke University. He is a professor at Asbury, which is “rooted in the Wesleyan tradition” (which forms a part of their statement of faith).
Here are a few places that may highlight this difference in interpretation you mention:

Keener teaches that spiritual sign gifts such as the gift of tongues are for today (some Christians “contrary to 1 Corinthians 14:38,…despise the gift”).

Keener teaches that “those once converted could fall away.”

Keener teaches that God calls both men and women as pastors and leaders of the church. He dismisses what many would refer to as “gender roles” by explaining that Paul was implementing a “short range solution”. What was happening, per Keener, is that these women were (due to their culture) uneducated and were teaching falsely. So Paul commanded a sort range solution – don’t let them teach, and a long range plan – let them learn, so that they could adequately become pastors, teachers, and leaders. He was, per Keener, liberating women and elevating them to that position which has traditionally been denied them.

You have spoken out against charismatics in the past (I remember you addressing this topic when we discussed the “Strange Fire conference”). Much of the issue was hermenutical approaches to Scripture. But Craig Keener is a charismatic. He even wrote a review of MacArthur’s book, Strange Fire, condemning MacArthur as “suppressing some biblical truth”, of having “clearly overstepped the bounds of reason” and his selective use of history. Kenner objected to MacArthur’s criticism of the Catholic Church, and of Oneness Pentecostals (who deny the Trinity). And he concludes that MacArthur “has abandoned the task of discernment” in his condemnation of all sign gifts today.

I don't know if you knew this of Keener's approach to Scripture or where he stands on issues. But his interpretation of divorce seems to fit well into his interpretations of other biblical teachings (church discipline, gender roles, etc.).

So my question is why Keener?

 

Does he also teach Lordship Salvation? You know, if a person claims to be saved but lives in sin, in open rebellion against God, abandoning his family (But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.) and committing a fraud against his wife by divorcing her without scriptural reason? Then cruises dating sites planning to commit adultery by marrying again even though his "divorce" was fraudulent?

You know. That type of Lordship Salvation you believe so strongly in?

 

Well, there is a Mr. and Mrs. Pastor.

There is also no statement of faith on their website that I can find.

 

Thanks for the recommendation. I am not going so far as to say that remarriage is forbidden. I do not believe that divorce is somehow the "ultimate sin", and I have seen far too often people who have been blessed by God with second marriages. I don't think that this is God's plan for marriage, but I believe it is going to far to say you can never marry.

I did read a few of Keener’s articles on the topic. I disagree with his method of reading Scripture. I can’t help but see his idea that Paul’s commands on these issues are merely short-term solutions applicable only temporarily to the few addressed as basically the same error as consigning select commands as addressing the culture contemporary to the first century church and therefore applicable only to those long dead.

What I do appreciate about Keener is that he has a fair amount of consistency to his view. This may be one problem that you may face, brother, is when it comes to other doctrines. If the hermeneutical approach is correct concerning divorce, then it is correct concerning other types of doctrines. We can’t switch to suit our conduct. What I mean is that we need to be consistent. You cannot hold the view of divorce you are currently stating and be consistent (honest in your method) without also applying that method of interpretation to other areas and commands (you won’t be able to deal honestly and still reject sexual immorality in the church, gender roles for church leadership, etc.).

I’m not trying to get into your business, but am just urging caution when it comes to changing your theology. You have seemed to lean towards Reformed Baptist a while now and I’m not sure that you are fully aware of the consequences of the hermeneutical approach you are considering. I am not sure that you can be consistent and remain the same kind of Baptist that you are now as this approach you are entertaining also allows for various modes of baptism other than literal immersion.

As always, I do wish you the best and am only trying to look ahead at things you may want to consider. I’ve seen many of my friends fall away from sound doctrine because they embraced what they thought was a minor change to accommodate something in their lives. Turns out that little tiny change was an escalator change. They tripped up and just kept on falling and falling and falling because one thing just led to another.

I probably won’t get that book because it is a subject of very little interest to me. I’ve been married for 27 years and have a good understanding of those passages in “question”. And if I don't know something I can just ask my wife and she will not hesitate to tell me . I do hope that you find peace in this situation.

 

AKA -- Permissive will of God

Well, at least this is a start -

Why settle for second best - Do you believe that God can preform miracles?

Than pray for her.

You did the divorcing - unless you did something to stop the divorce.
Just wondering - the church she attends - What is her pastors stance on this?