Defining the Controversy
Whenever questions arise that relate to Bible teaching, there are three things we must do. First, we must understand the question. Second, we must determine everything that God has said in His word that pertains to the question. Third, we must then answer the question based solely on what we have found the word of God to teach.
Basically, the question is this: Can one put away their spouse for fornication and remarry after their spouse put them away for just any cause?
Let's use an illustration to show how this can happen. Joe is married to Sally. For the purpose of the illustration, we'll assume they both have the right to be married to each other. After they are married for a period of time, Joe decides to put away his wife Sally. She has not committed fornication. He's putting her away for just any cause. After this is done, Joe marries Lisa. Whether or not he divorced Sally for the purpose of marrying Lisa is irrelevant. Now Joe is in a marriage he has no right to be in. He should be with Sally. So here is the question: Can Sally put Joe away and remarry?
Throughout the controversy that has surrounded this question, certain terms have come up that have most likely hindered the discussion by prejudicing the minds of some against certain brethren before any study has been done. Terms like mental divorce, the waiting game, second putting away, and others have been thrown around. Before we start using these terms, we need to understand what the question is. Then we need to see what the Bible teaches. After that, we need to use the teachings of Scripture to answer the question. After we do that, we can then see if such terms are profitable. More than likely, we will find they are not. But even if they are, they must be used carefully and with the proper understanding.
We also need to understand what this controversy is not about. This is not about whether one may put away their mate for a cause other than fornication, wait for them to commit fornication, then put them away again, this time for fornication. Scripture plainly prohibits this (Mt. 5:32). This is also not about whether a couple can agree to a divorce, put each other away, then whoever is the first to commit fornication, the other then has the right to remarry. This concept is not supported by Scripture either (Mt. 19:9; 1 Cor. 7:10-11).
So again, let us first be sure we understand the question that is at the heart of this current controversy. Can one put away their spouse for fornication and remarry after their spouse put them away for just any cause? Understanding now what the issue is, let us look at the principles and precepts of Scripture that may relate to this topic.
