Preface
In the February 2001 issue of Charisma Magazine Jack Hayford, gifted pastor, teacher and speaker, posed the question: “Do marriage vows matter?” He went on to say it is a question that sorely needs confronting in the church today. He said “it is confrontation needed to face down a mindset that, if left unchanged, will bring an onslaught of hellish delusions.”
Linda S. Mintle, Ph.D. referred to this statement by Jack Hayford in an article in the June 2001 issue of Charisma Magazine entitled; “When the Vow Breaks.” She said, “It’s time for Christians to rethink divorce. Has the church taken on a secular view? Too often, yes.”
Dr. Mintle went on to say; “That blur between secular and Christian views begins in the mind and heart. When we entertain the lies of our culture, we become disillusioned. Lies built on lies. They work on our feelings and eventually alter our relationships.
Over time we ‘fall out of love’ and excuse those who do the same.”
According to Dr. Mintle, the consequences of such thinking are: “Divorce becomes the solution to unhappiness or lost passion. Marriage is no longer seen as a covenant but as a breakable contract. Happiness is the ultimate end.”
Her solution was clear and simple: “We have entered into a holy covenant, before God; with another person: Good spouse, Bad spouse. Our mindset should be ‘till death do us part,’ not ‘till I’m unhappy.’”
The purpose of this book is to expose, in a nonjudgmental way, where the Church is today in dealing with the divorce and remarriage issue. It will also explain how we arrived at this juncture and give a clear distinction regarding the secular and Christian worldviews on this vital subject. The bottom line will be; whom shall we then believe?
The answer to this question will determine where the church will find itself and what influence it will have in shaping society in a godly, biblical way in the decades to come.
“How be it when he, the Spirit of truth, is come he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you…” John 16:13-15
May God bless you as you study.
Acknowledgements
The time-consuming work of writing and rewriting a book can only be appreciated by those who have experienced it themselves. Those few know well the value of having competent help in a project like this.
Rev. Clarence Lane, our son, was the first person to challenge us to rewrite The Trojan Horse; an eighteen page booklet.
Mrs. Cindy Wilson, Charles Lane and Jessica Lane came to our rescue with computer expertise and patience to see this task to its completion.
Additional extensive help was given by two dear fellow workers and friends, Dr. Edward Ware and his wife, Bonnie, of Aquila and Priscilla Ministries, Deland, Florida. Their unique ministry is one of encouraging pastors.
A former college classmate and retired businessman, Dan Bolhouse has been a continuous support in editing and encouragements. We thank God for the committed talents of these dear friends.
Joseph A. Webb and Patricia L. Webb
Introduction
The Trojan Horse is a legend of the ancient Greeks, which some believe occurred in the 12th or 13th century, and is used today as a simile when describing someone who attempts to defeat another by deceit.
According to the legend, the Grecian states attacked the city of Troy, which is believed to have been in Asia Minor, present day Turkey; to rescue Helen, the wife of Sparta’s king. As legend has it, Helen had been kidnapped by Paris, the son of Troy’s king.
After 10 years of fighting outside the walls of Troy with no success, the Greeks devised a way to gain entrance to the city through trickery. To deceive the Trojans, they built a large, wooden horse on wheels and left it as a gift for the city of Troy. Then the Greeks sailed away.
The Trojans foolishly believed the battle was over and gleefully took the horse inside the city as a trophy; for horses were sacred animals to the Trojans.
As the Trojans were celebrating their victory, the Greek ships quietly returned, and Greek soldiers, hidden inside the hollow horse, crept out and opened the city gates for the invading army.
That night, the Greeks rescued Helen, killed the Trojans, desecrated their temples and burned Troy. Their victory was due to this one deceptive gift; the Trojan Horse.
Today, we see another Trojan Horse having a similar deceitful and devastating effect. This one however, is within the walls of what we call “the Church.”
Church members are being warned about atheistic, evolutionary, amoral, humanistic, rationalism threatening our way of life. Since the leaders feel this threat is coming from outside the church, religious fellowships and denominations are organizing to resist and expose this philosophy. This counter assault by Christian leaders has increased at an unprecedented rate in their determination to stop this godless teaching from corrupting our Christian homes. We should all heartily concur and encourage these efforts being put forth.
Sadly however, while religious leaders are frantically pointing at the danger of rationalistic humanism outside the Church, many of these very same leaders are unknowingly, and we want to emphasize, unknowingly, teaching from their pulpits one of the most permissive and destructive concepts of humanistic doctrine ever devised by man: the present-day teachings concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage. As a result, the divorce rate in the Church is higher today than in the unchurched world. Pastors are now divorcing and remarrying at an unprecedented rate. Prudence therefore requires us to re-evaluate how the Church has arrived at its present doctrinal position on this subject. Where did our present day teaching begin?
We present these facts to you now and pray that you will honestly study to see if this teaching is true. The only request we make is for you to keep an open mind and evaluate everything, to make sure it is consistent with Scripture and Church history.
Francis Schaeffer wrote a book in 1976 entitled, How Shall We Then Live? Schaeffer laid out two worldviews, the secular and the biblical, and compared them with each other; declaring we must all decide how we are to live in the light of these two worldviews.
As you read this book, you will be faced with a similar dilemma. You will be confronted with a humanistic worldview and a biblical worldview concerning divorce and remarriage. As you read you will soon find a new question arises: That question will be, Whom shall we then believe?