Divorce

A former pastor is drawing SS benefits, but is limited by the "special needs" of his oldest daughter (down syndrome) who receives a great amount from the family benefits for her support. She gets approximately 2/3rds of the typical retirement benefits the SS awards under the family plan. So their own living expenses are not covered, and they must also further supplement her because there is no condition in which she can be independently living.

He found out that if he and his wife get divorced, the wife would get full benefits which would allow for the total income into the family to be raised. Therefore, the lose currently suffered under the SS family plan would be much less than it currently is.

They have consulted with multiple estate planning and specialists in the SS, and each has given the following suggestion:

Get divorced.

Here in the states, the marriage is both a Spiritual vow taking, and a legal signature and witnesses on a license.

Should this former pastor and wife divorce (by the state legal system) and yet remain married in the eyes of God?

Would you view this as being deceitful in order to "bilk" the government out of money?

Would you view this a legal and a way to get the compensation that is rightfully theirs?

Your thoughts?

 

Would doing that be really trusting in the Lord to somehow provide though?

 

Would this not be a solution provided by the
Lord?

 

Could be, but seems like doing a deal when Abraham told a half lie about his wife being his sister!

 

So it hinges on the ethics of drawing a benefit set up or scaled for the divorced/single parent while still considering yourself "married in the eyes of the Lord."

 

Yes

 

I hate divorce...probably why I never got married.
To me, the marriage vow is sacred, and my treatment of it before God is a duty I am not allowed to treat lightly.

Having a nice lady that was actually Scripturally available ( single, never-married sisters don't exactly grow on trees ) was another factor in me not getting married ( thus far ), as divorce is the breaking of an earthly covenant between a man and a woman...a covenant made for life ( Romans 7:1-3 )...a covenant that is a picture of Christ's unending love for the church.

To answer the OP's question: YES.


No, do not divorce, no matter the "benefits". Don't get married for earthly benefits, either....Marry in obedience to the Lord and trust Him to handle the details, including financial ones.

Divorce only as a last-resort of a spouse who breaks those vows by engaging in "activities" that are reserved for the covenant of marriage.

I don't agree with divorce and re-marriage, either, unless the original married couple gets back together.

 

I agree with TC the deceit is not in the couple wanting benefits for their child... I have two handicapped children I know... It is a horrible thing that the state punishes the child and withholds benefits because it doesn't fit their law they made but sometimes they don't abide by the laws they made... Would wanting for the welfare of your child be a sin?... They paid into SS and yet the state say to reap the SS you paid into and get the benefits for your child you must be divorced?... They are still married in Gods eyes because God knows the whole story and not just the state side... If the state would do their part they wouldn't have to get divorced... Brother Glen:)

 

Before I answer that, I must admit that changing AFDC to cover unwed parents instead of widows/widowers has seemed to have led to an exponential increase in unwed parents. So care must be given when mapping out our nation's safety net, lest we encourage behavior that we don't want.

I had an uncle who was never married to his second wife. As far as I understood it, they wouldn't have been able to make it without the social security payments she received from being a widow. So I'm not unfamiliar with these situations.

But it seems deceitful to me to declare before the church that you're married in the eyes of God, and then mark down unmarried on a government form.

So, I would hope that the safety net could find a way to assist those in need without seemingly punishing behavior that we as a country should encourage, like having children within the institution of marriage.

 

no

Should single men be discriminated against?

 

It's deceitful. Let each person be convinced in their own mind. I believe such action would grieve Holy Spirit indwelling and could lead to worse.

 

So if I want to “fake” marry a man because I’m getting paid to provide him citizenship papers, lying to the government about it is alright.

It is also alright to lie to my employer and have have my employer pay for my fake spouse as well.

It’s also alright . . . .

Marty

 

Could you re-read what you posted?

You argued that the couple should lie to and decieve our government - not me. However, since you don’t like my hypotheticals it seems like you are coming around to agreeing that decieving the government is not appropriate.

Marty