Parker/Broking Debate on Marriage/Divorce/Remarriage

 
 
Proposition: 
The Bible teaches that when Matthew 19:6 marriage ends in divorce,
the only party with scriptural authority to marry another is one innocent of
fornication, who put away a spouse guilty of fornication.

My position from the outset is the same as it is now.  And that is  that the Guilty 
Party (the one who guilty of fornication)can marry again without sinning (Matt. 
19:9). 

Darrell has not proven otherwise.  He has tried to say that the  FORNICATOR 
continues in adultery when he marries again.  He says that because of the tense 
that this must mean continuing action.  For the  most part this argument has been 
abandoned by most Bible scholars  because this just does not hold any water 
based upon the text.  Even  those who once made such arguments no longer do 
(See Mac Deaver and  Olan Hicks debate). 

I have repeatedly asked Darrell one question that he never answered.   I hope that 
says something to you and to Darrell.  I offer it again  for your consideration as 
well as Darrell's. 

The man made tradition that Darrell adheres to is that ADULTERY is  having sex 
with someone other than your spouse (or something similar  to that).  It is because 
of this definition that Darrell proclaims  that the Guilty Party is Living in Adultery 
when he marries again. 

My question to him and to any who hold this position is simple.  If  this is true, 
WHO IS THE GUILTY PARTY STILL MARRIED TO WHEN HE  MARRIES 
AGAIN?  I even simplified it as best as I could so that  Darrell could see his 
inconsistency.   

For clarification, lets do that one more time. 

Let us say Tom and Susan are married.  Sue learns that Tom has committed 
fornication.  She then divorces him.  Sue then has the right to marry again (we 
agree on this point)and she does in time. 

Tom meets a lady after a few years.  Her name is Debbie.  She has  never been 
married before.  Tom and Debbie get married.  Darrell says  they are Living in 
Adultery.  If this is true then Tom must be  married to someone other than 
Debbie.  So I asked Darrell to tell us  who Tom (of course it could be any name)is 
married to?  Darrell never  answered the question. 

Darrell says Tom is in ADULTERY.  I can accept that if Darrell will  tell us to 
whom Tom is married.  Is Tom married to Debbie?  Darrell  says no.  They are in 
ADULTERY.  Okay Darrell, who is Tom married  to?  Is Tom still married to 
Susan?  Darrell refused to answer.  But  I know why he did not answer.  She has 
married someone else and we  both agree she is free to do so.  So the question 
remains, who is Tom  still married to if he is indeed Living in Adultery with 
Debbie?   Silence from Darrell.  Is Tom even married to God?  Darrell was still  silent.  
The reason for Darrell's silence is that Tom is married to  no one else but 
Debbie.  There is no living in adultery.  Part of the  problem that Darrell has is his 
definition of ADULTERY.  If one  reviews the exchanges one will see this is the 
case.     

To put it plain and simple when we say that the Guilty Party can not  remarry we 
are adding to God's word.  And when we examine the logic  behind Darrell's 
position it is clear that it will not hold water. 

In closing I would like to state two things; 

1.  God wants all of us to be faithful to our spouses.  He wants one  man and one 
woman for life.  That should be our goal.  However, sin  enters in to the picture 
sometimes and we need to be careful and not  go beyond what God says.  Should 
someone commit fornication? Of  course not.  But when it does happen we start 
from where we are and  go forward.  We must learn that we cannot unscramble 
scrambled eggs. This exchange came about because I had made a positive 
reference to  Joe Beams organization, Family Dynamics.  This organization has 
saved  many marriages.  I would recommend anyone seek their help if you are  
having marital problems and even if you are not having problems, they  can help 
you strengthen your good marriage.  You can find them on the  internet or go to 
Grace Centered Magazine and you can get information  there.     

2.  I also recommend that you get the following resources; 

a.  What The Bible Says About Marriage, Divorce And Remarriage by  Olan 
Hicks 

b.  AN In Depth Study of Marriage And Divorce by John L. Edwards (publisher-
College Press) 

c. Maxey-Broking Debate (You can find this on Al Maxey's website,  
www.zianet.com/maxey or you may go to BereanSpirit@yahoogroups.com  and 
access it through there). 

d.  The Divorced & Remarried: Who would come to God by Homer Hailey 

e.  Divorce and Remarriage-The Hicks Deaver Debate (Olan Hicks and  Mac 
Deaver). 

Thanks Darrell for asking for this exchange.  I am sure you agree  with me that we 
hope this may help someone who is searching for some  answers on this topic. 

Offered in Love, Gerry Parker   

Affirm:  Darrell Broking
Deny:  Gerry Parker