Other Teachings

A log in the eye of the church: Divorce by Donnie Young

Today I am going to be talking of a log in the eye of the church. This term “Log in the eye” comes from Matthew 7:1-5.

' “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. '

Lets be honest with ourselves. How many of us have heard that a major reason why people have left the church or refuse to join the church is because of its hypocrisy? The specific hypocrisy might change but the story is an old one. This is a problem and unless the church begins to dig the logs out of our own eyes we will only not only give people pause in joining the church but it will also blind us more to our own issues.

We cannot stay blind in our hypocrisy. We must rid ourselves of these logs before we can help other with their specs.

Today I want to talk of a major issue in the church. This issue causes us, as a whole, to be very hypocritical in our message to the world.

Divorce and sexual immorality.

While data and research are complex the reality is that just going into a church and getting to know the people you will come to the realization that divorce is a major issue in the church. I am not talking about the world.... I am talking about professing Christians. Upon further investigation many of the divorces were not even based on sexual immorality. Sexual immorality is the only valid reason to end a marriage according to Matthew 5:31-32.

' “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. '

It is important to note that while this is the only valid reason it does not mean divorce has to happen. Forgiveness is absolutely and option. Also, the “adulterer” doesn't have the right to divorce it is the innocent party that will be blameless in the divorce.

The simple fact is that this is not spoken of enough in the church. It is not hammered home that divorce is a problem of the church. Many other sins are mentioned on a near weekly basis but one that is plaguing the church is often glossed over. Some churches even go as far as to call out homosexuality nearly every week. Yet, here they are with non-valid divorcees sitting in the seats giving an amen.

Homosexuality is a sin. It is part of the same sexual immorality instructions that include adultery.

Are you beginning to see the log? How can we help the world understand homosexuality is a sin while practicing other forms sexual immorality? Many Christians would be shocked to learn that sex during menstruation is also sexual immorality. It is not something talked about even in small groups or a gender specific class. I am talking about the majority. This is something that gets talked about in my circle of brothers and sisters in faith. I do not say this to belittle you. God has worked diligently with me to remove logs so that I can better help others with their specs.

Leviticus 15:24

'And if any man lies with her and her menstrual impurity comes upon him, he shall be unclean seven days, and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean. '

Leviticus 18:19

' “You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. '

Leviticus 20:18

'If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people. '

Ezekiel 18:5-9

'“If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man, walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God . '

Hebrews 13:4

'Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. '

Read the context around the passages and you will see that adultery, idolatry and many other sins are placed into the same category as sex during menstruation. In Leviticus 18 sex during menstruation is in the last list as homosexuality and sex with animals. All these are called “abominations”. I have heard many preachers remind their assemblies that homosexuality is an abomination yet I have yet to hear one name sex during menstruation an abomination as God says it is.

Hypocrisy is a log with many branches in the eye of the church. How the church teaches against sexual immorality is a prime example of this. We must first remove our own sexual immorality from ourselves. Then we will be able to better help others. I have benefited from men and women removing logs from their own eyes so they could help me remove specs from my eyes.

If you are a teacher of God's ways then I expect you to teach against all forms of sexual immorality and not just the ones outside the church. I expect you to also follow these sexual immorality instructions. Not just the ones you understand or agree with. Instructions from God are not dependent on your understanding or agreement. That is not how obedience works.

We have work to do and we have no idea how much time we have to do it. It is our job as followers of Christ to clear the path for his return. Just like John the Baptist. It is impossible to repent if you do not know what you are repenting from. We are called to make disciples of the nations teaching them what Yeshua has commanded. The Messiah lists sexual immorality and adultery as separate things here.

Matthew 15:19

'For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. '

Many want this term to of sexual immorality to mean specific things like homosexuality.

However...

Galatians 5:19-21

'Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. '

Even Paul says “impurity” between sexual immorality and sensuality. He then lists orgies for good measure. I have already listed Hebrews but let us look again at that passage.

Hebrews 13:4

'Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. '

Adultery is sexual immorality. However, sexual immorality is far more vast than adultery, homosexuality and such. To those who know how God looks at sexual immorality it is obvious what the author of Hebrews is talking about.

I say all this because there is a blindness that has taken over the church. A blind man cannot see the pitfall but everyone around him can. Hypocrisy is alive and well in the church. Please, stop falling into the pit while condemning others for falling into a different pit. Because the standard you judge by will be applied to you. Casting judgment on others sexual immorality when you are also guilty... Let us just say that I do not envy those that say all homosexuals are going to hell for their sin when they defile their marriage beds.

If you are blameless in this manner then I urge you to help those see this truth. If you are not blameless in this manner then please pray, study, seek wisdom from the Holy spirit and repent from your sins.

I do not expect anyone to just take my words and believe them. You must look into this yourself. Hypocrisy rarely comes from self reflection. It comes from others pointing at the stick in your eye while you are trying to remove the speck in their eye. Well, I am pointing at a stick in the eye of the church. I see the stick and I see how blind the church is to it. I have done what Christ called me to do in the regard. I can help you. You can help me with any specks in my eye.

Imagine a world where we are actually trying to help each other walk closer to God and His ways. Biblical accountability in love and truth. That is the goal here.

Be blessed and be a blessing.