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The Supreme Court of the United States is considering two cases that could change the definition of marriage. The first, Hollingsworth v. Perry challenges California’s constitutional amendment, Proposition 8, defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The second case heard this week is United States v. Windsor challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage more »
4 responsesA Special Message from Dr. John Ankerberg
Watch below for a special message to Christians from Dr. John Ankerberg. Go into Every Nation Package Offer The “Every Nation” Collection consists of 15 television series available in DVD and 9 study guides, a “Word of God” sculpture, and a year-long membership into the John Ankerberg Inner Circle of Friends. Members receive our DVD more »
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7 responsesIs It Biblical to Divorce a Spouse with Alzheimer’s? A Theological Look at Pat Roberson’s Public Statement
By Dillon Burroughs According to an MSNBC article released today, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson told his “700 Club” viewers that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s is justifiable because the disease is “a kind of death.” Is this what the Bible teaches? A comprehensive look at the Bible makes clear that there is not a single more »
39 responses39 Responses to Is It Biblical to Divorce a Spouse with Alzheimer’s? A Theological Look at Pat Roberson’s Public Statement
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Refuse to sex. What is the remedy for the husband.
Add nothing to his word, Take nothing away! Pat Robinson has yet again with his arrogance and pride defaced the word of God. We are to be on watch, diligent in our discernment of words that do not match up with Gods Holy Scripture. The 700 club has lost all credibility. Pray for them.
I’d be interested to know how many readers here are familiar with Ezra Chapter 10. In this passage, God clearly orders the Israelite men (many of whom were priests) to “separate” from their foreign (pagan) wives. Responses, anyone?
Toni, yes Ezra 10 talks about the divorce of Israelite men from foreign wives who had led them into idolatry. This was due to the fact that their marriages should not have taken place to begin with if they had obeyed God’s law. This one-time act of reform is important to consider, but should not be used to make decisions regarding divorce today. The Bible does speak about divorce when an unbeliever leaves and in the case of adultery in the New Testament, while again affirming that God desires a man and woman to remain together in marriage for life as the norm.
Dr David Jeremiah just discussed this passage today, how Christians should interpret this passage. You can find in on turningpoint.com
As a Christian having been married for 47 years now, I feel it would be one of the worst nightmare scenarios to be faced with my for my wife to be afflicted this condition. When I hear of anyone with Alzheimer’s I feel a little sting for the situations ALL parties involved are faced with. As for MY view , “I don’t think” I would consider divorce as a viable option looking at it from both the theological or personal side of the issue.
If someone were to come to me seeking advice on this type of an issue I would probably feel somewhat sick and wind up truthfully saying “Lets sincerely pray about this very difficult situation you and your (wife or husband) are faced with”. However, even theologically I could see how, depending on certain conditions, unbeknown to us until we would be wearing their exact pair of shoes, it might be possible for there to be more than one black and white yes or no answer, even from our Lord. I pray my family will never be faced with such an issue personally or even asked to give advice on. My heart goes out to those faced with an issue of this great magnitude.
According to the Bible,the only Reason for devorce is unfaithfulness of the partner.Another reason could be that an unbeliever leaves.
However in both cases God can heal and bring salvation.
So,hang in there,pray and trust God.
Please retire Pat Robertson. Please!
No it’s not, that’s not biblical, marriage is the lifelong commitment. A
Man should lay down his life for his wife just like Jesus lays down His life for church (helpless, weak)
I was at watching the 700 Club, an heard Mr. Roberson make the now infamous statement. I think that we need to hear the question and the response in their entirety. Also, I wonder what the Hebrew elders thought when Moses permitted divorce. After all, Moses knew that God “hates divorce.” He also knew that man’s heart is hard. I believe that this is where Mr. Roberson was going. He said (paraphrased) to prevent the man from committing adultery, he should divorce his wife and move on from there, first ensuring that she was going to be taken care of. He said this because the “man” in question allegedly had sexual desires that his wife could no longer fulfill because, due to Alzheimer’s, she did not know him anymore. My ex wife was mentally ill; she was diagnosed with several mental disorders. I didn’t want to divorce her. I trusted God for miracles, and I hoped that somehow she would get the help she needed. She didn’t want the help, she cheated on me more times than I can count, and she abandoned my children and me when they were only 11 and 4 years of age. My oldest child still hasn’t recovered from the hurt that her mother caused her 11 years ago. Was I wrong for wanting to stick it out and hoping that my wife would get the care that she so desperately needed, but vehemently refused? Am I guilty of child neglect and child abuse because of the harm done to my children, because I was trying to be faithful to my wife? Yes, God does hate divorce. But if the best that the church can come up with is rules when this man is trying to keep from sinning, than that is a problem too! Perhaps someone who has successfully tread these particular murky waters can come along side of him and give him Godly counsel. Condemnation will not help in this area. Jesus did say to “cast all of our cares upon Him because He cares for us.” This brother needs help and our prayers. His wife doesn’t know him anymore! That has got to be painful enough. Pray that God gives him wisdom and love, but knock off the “know it all” stuff … please!
Gil, thanks for the comments. Though there was and typically is a larger context in such situations, the focus of this response was that any statement that equates a mental illness as “death” in order to make divorce an acceptable option is misguided. This reinterprets the biblical view of marriage and divorce and misleads those struggling with the real pain involved in this issue. Certainly such situations involve much prayer and compassion, but this was a concerning statement we felt worth speaking out on in this context.
What part of God saying, “I hate divorce” does Pat not understand? It is never ok to break the marriage covenant we make with God, what about in sickness and in health, until death do us part? That kind of talk from Pat sounds like compromising with the world. We are not of the world, just in it.
Sad…
I am very wary of much of what Pat Robertson says. I generally just listen to the 700 Club for the CBN News, but sometimes for some interviews. However, I heard his statement about alzheimer’s being a kind of death and it thus being okay to divorce and I totally disagree. I also disagree with his stance that people go to heaven or hell and come back to tell about it. There is no biblical truth to substantiate this. He is constantly pushing his DVD called “Life Beyond the Grave” and it makes me sick. He is also totally false about his healing prayers – he and his staff. He and Gordon and Terry and Kristi can’t heal people and how do they know what illnesses people have and that God is healing them right now as they say. This is false. They also try to teach that if you give to the 700 Club God will bless you right out of your financial problems and you will become rich. Give me a break. I also don’t approve of Pat and Kristi (not sure if the others do or not) watching Dancing with the Stars. This is a raunchy program with dirty dancing and barely dressed women in fake tans. Totally immoral behavior! I have also heard Pat state that it is okay to drink wine on occasion. Don’t know if he does or not, but someone had asked that question and he said he thought it was okay and did not denounce the drinking of alcoholic beverages. I know there must be millions of people who believe every word he said and are not very discerning. Very sad indeed…
Joy, just two comments. This is just how I’ve been taught, and its from the Word of God. The “gift of healing” refers to God Himself giving you a gift, not gifting someone with some special ability to heal the sick. (acts 3 1-16). And secondly, as to immorality,etc. I John 2:15
My grandfather had Alzheimers and my grandmother cared for him through that disease for about 10 years until she was no longer physically able to do so. I remember that she was once asked early on in this struggle why she didn’t just have him put away in a home and be free to live her life and her answer was, “I’ve loved him for 50 years, I’m not going to stop now.”
Wow! Amazing story. Love is a choice. Not a warm, fuzzy, teenage feeling that comes and goes. Your grandparents had that true love this present world knows nothing about. Its always intrigued me how two people could meet as practical strangers, marry, and live the next 50 years together. As I said, love is a choice.
No, No , No the bible teaches until death do us part, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer. alzheimers is a sickness that ends in death. so sad that so many of these fanatics spout their own views. They will all stand before God one day to account for the evil they do.
It may not be so stated in the Word, but what about the wedding VOW made to each other:
“IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH” ??
lol @ Ross…haha! how true.
False teachers teach falsely. Adding homespun nonsense to Scripture like Osteen, Hinn, Copeland etc.. do constantly serves as a stumbling block to unbelievers, the unsaved and is cursed by God. Beware, you word-of-faithers. God is not mocked!
False teachers teach falsely. Roberson, like so many others i.e Olsteen, Copeland, Hinn, etc.., mislead their gullible flocks by “adding” to God’s word with their homespun babbling just to attract viewers to their corrupt pulpits.
If its not in the bible then its not reliable. If its not in the word, its a shiny turd.
Oh my… what a shame that someone like Robertson can ‘reach’ millions of people by tv (and leading them to hell) just ’cause he has the monetary resources…
OMG…
Maybe he’s getting Alzheimer’s….he is forgetting God’s commands on marriage.
Maybe his wife is getting it and he’s planning on leaving her and he needs to justify it.
Ask Pat to watch “Vow to cherish”… it may help him rethink his position if the Word is not good enough…Bible says only “death” releases one from the vow…not alzheimer
We tend to expect perfection except in ourselves. What does scripture say about correcting a believer who is in error ? Has that process been followed ? What has been his response ? What then should be our response ?
I have watched Pat, for approx. 4 years now, and lately he has been uttering absolutely unbiblical babble, I think his son should urgently remove him from the programme. I am very disappointed about the course the show is taking.
Sad and heartbreaking that he could even say this. Who could think this???
no, it is not biblical to divorce a spouse who has alzhemiers. people forget that they made a vow to the Lord and their spouse to go thru good times and bad times for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. I already knew that Pat Robertson was a false teacher. he should get out of the ministry because he is leading people astray.
I use to watch the 700 club with pat many years ago, and Pat is never right regarding scripture. He is also part of the cult “Word Faith Movement” as well. And in his shows, when people get healed etc, Pat and those healed NEVER gives God the Glory they only give the 700 club the glory.
Remember in the bible what happend to the king who took the glory for himself rather than giving God the glory? God killed him!
Lately Pat Robertson has said some pretty weird things. I think he needs to retire. He may be taking too many health supplements that he pushes.
Just more proof he is a FALSE TEACHER!!!
What is going on with Mr. Robertson? This is sad.
We hav known for many years the Pat Robertson is a false teacher. Why in the world are people listening to anything he has to say?! We have been warned numerous times in the word to guard ourselves against false teachers so there are no excuses! Wake up, church!!
What a sad thought!
Pat, please stop giving Christianity a bad name!!!