Dad was always concerned about people. He told of a mother of a large family, “Which of your children do you care most about?” To which she answered, “I care the most about the one who is away from home and the one who is hurting.”
The church has many who are “away from home” and “hurting”. Jesus once told a parable (Luke 15) of a shepherd who had 100 sheep. One of them got lost. He asked his listeners, which of them would not leave the 99 and go and search for the one which was lost until it was found? The challenge has always been for the family of God to act like a family and care for each one. The challenge of the body of Christ has always been to feel the hurts of each member of the body and care enough to reach out and heal.
One area where many have suffered and are in pain, is where Divorce has occurred. Leaders have been hurting as well, not knowing how to deal with this situation which is growing not only in America but also in the church. Evangelism has suffered because of traditional teaching on this subject and has resulted in turning away those who have been divorced and remarried (sometimes two or three or more times).
Dad did his own study on this subject, and communicated with Olan Hicks (well known for his debates on this topic… www.olanhicks.com). He was in agreement with Olan on this subject… believing that those who had gone through Divorce (for non-adultery causes) and were re-married before they became Christians DID NOT HAVE TO SEPARATE, RETURN TO FORMER HUSBAND OR WIFE, OR LIVE UNMARRIED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, in order to become a Christian. He said that there is no example of this being a requirement in the writings of the New Testament.
He believed that CHRISTIANS who sinned by divorcing and remarrying didn’t have to go through another divorce in order to UNDO the sin… He came to believe what I have always believed, that the blood of Christ cleanses from this and all sin.
Non Christians need to repent and be immersed (born again) and commit to be faithful for life. (i.e STOP DIVORCING).
Christians need to repent, confess and pray that God would forgive. Dad NEVER down-played the sin of divorce at all. He knew It hurts, and that God hates it. He understood GRACE, and taught against the abuse of it (Romans 6:1-2). Christians indeed and unfortunately do at times abuse grace. The Christian that repents of this however, can be and is forgiven.
The point of all this is simply this… I ONLY KNOW WHAT DAD SAID TO ME. I CANNOT FIND A COPY OF HIS (THREE OR FOUR PAGE) WRITTEN NOTES ON THIS SUBJECT. WITH THIS IN MIND, I AM ASKING THAT ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE A COPY OF DAD’S NOTES AND THOUGHTS ON “DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE” TO MAKE A COPY FOR ME AND SEND IT TO ME SO I CAN PUT THIS ON THE WEB SITE.
This will be very helpful not only to me, but to all who know the pain, shame and guilt that comes from this sin, and want to continue serving the Lord. This material can benefit our evangelism, by presenting the Gospel with grace and love as in truth. This materials can help many leaders in the church who struggle with ‘what to do’ when faced with this situation in their congregations. This material can help Christians who have suffered through this, realize their sins, and have repented, and want to serve the Lord further without being shunned or considered ‘second class Christians’.
Please help in this search for dad’s material on this subject if you have a copy.
God bless you,
Heaven bound,
Jack Exum Jr.
“Redeemed” is 