In 1974, a significant change occurred in the Worldwide Church of God regarding the doctrine of divorce and remarriage. Previously, it was taught that the only lawful reason for divorce permitting remarriage was fraud, but this was revised. Divorce, with the possibility of remarriage, is a liberty available under certain circumstances, though it must not be abused. Scriptures indicate that divorce allowing remarriage is possible, contrary to interpretations of Romans 7:1-3 which suggest marriage can only end with death. Our Savior clearly states in Matthew 19 that there is a reason for divorce that permits remarriage, showing a more nuanced position than a strict prohibition. At the time of Christ, differing views existed among the Jews on divorce, with some advocating liberal grounds and others restricting it to adultery. Jesus' teachings in Matthew 19 seem to align more closely with the stricter view, yet additional scriptures suggest He was more liberal than initially apparent, emphasizing the need to consider the entirety of God's Word. The term 'fornication,' used by Jesus as an exception for divorce, encompasses a broad range of sexual sins beyond premarital relations, including various perversions as understood in the Greek term porneia. This broader interpretation indicates that grounds for divorce may include not just sexual misconduct but other forms of violence against the marriage covenant, such as abuse or deceit, which make the relationship untenable, lacking peace, and destructive to God's purpose. God hates violence against the marriage covenant, as seen in Malachi 2:16, where violence—whether physical or otherwise—abuses the marital contract. This violence, committed by either or both spouses, often leads to divorce. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 and Exodus 21:10-11 show that God permitted divorce and remarriage under the Old Covenant, despite His original intent for marriage to be permanent, demonstrating His flexibility and mercy in untenable situations. Jesus' symbolic marriage to Israel under the Old Covenant illustrates the challenges of a union between a converted and unconverted partner, often leading to failure due to the unconverted spouse's attitude and conduct. This highlights that a marriage ideally requires two converted individuals to meet God's intent, and even with one converted, it falls short. The basic cause for a lawful divorce permitting remarriage is unconversion, or hardness of heart, as Moses permitted divorce for this reason. Unconversion can manifest in various ways, not solely through sexual sins. Violence against marriage may include non-sexual abuses like lying, stealing, or refusal to provide love and care, all of which violate the marriage contract. In I Corinthians 7, Paul addresses marriages between converted and unconverted individuals, advising that if the unconverted spouse is unwilling to live peacefully with the converted, causing stress and lack of peace, the converted is not bound and may seek divorce, as God calls us to peace. Human nature can complicate such situations, with unconverted spouses remaining in destructive marriages for selfish reasons, even when they have emotionally departed from the relationship. The converted person must be brutally honest, recognizing their own potential responsibility for marital strife, as God holds them more accountable due to their knowledge and access to His Spirit. If striving to uphold God's law, He grants mercy through divorce to ensure peace and the opportunity to be in His Kingdom.

The word "divorce" traces its origins to the Latin term "divortere," meaning to turn aside or deviate, which evolved into "divortium," the noun form indicating a turning in another direction. This etymology reveals divorce as an act of diverting a marriage from its intended path, deflecting it onto a new, often destructive course. God intended marriage to be a lifelong relationship, foundational for creating families and a prosperous society. Divorce, by breaking this relationship, undermines that institution and makes achieving God's purposes for marriage difficult or impossible. In the Roman Republic, where the term originated, divorce was initially rare and valued marriage and family highly, only allowing divorce on grounds such as a wife's adultery. Over time, reasons expanded to include infertility or drunkenness, and eventually, women could also initiate divorce. This loosening of marital bonds coincided with a cultural decline into decadence, illustrating how divorce can divert a society from its moral values toward destruction. Scripture presents divorce as a diversion from God's purpose for marriage, leading down a destructive path for individuals and society. God hates divorce, as stated in Malachi 2:16, because it betrays the covenant of marriage. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:31-32, restates God's original intent, declaring that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. His authority surpasses common understandings of the time, emphasizing that divorce outside this exception violates God's design. In Mark 10:1-12, Jesus expands on this teaching, explaining that Moses permitted divorce due to the hardness of the Israelites' hearts, as they lacked the spiritual capacity to uphold lifelong marriage. However, God's original intent was for marriage to teach unity and oneness, reflecting a deeper spiritual union with Him. Divorce halts this purpose, stopping the growth God desires through the marital covenant. Jesus reiterates that God joins husband and wife together in a divine covenant, not to be dissolved lightly by human will, as doing so mocks the covenant and demeans God's high purpose for marriage. Malachi 2:10-17 further illustrates the treachery of divorce, equating faithlessness in marriage to disloyalty to God. The men of Judah forsook the wives of their youth, marrying foreign women and introducing false religions, showing betrayal on both personal and spiritual levels. This treachery diverted God's purpose of producing spiritual children through marriage, leading to societal chaos as God stepped back, allowing them to reap the consequences of their actions. God warns them to take heed to their spirit, as breaking faith with their wives or with Him yields no good outcome. Finally, in I Corinthians 7:15, Paul addresses situations within the church where an unbelieving spouse cannot dwell peacefully with a converted member. In such cases, if peace is unattainable and hinders spiritual growth, divorce may be contemplated, as God has called us to peace. This principle underscores that chronic, severe marital problems restricting the pursuit of righteousness may warrant separation, though reconciliation should always be sought first. Divorce should never be an easy out but considered only when necessary for spiritual health.

As steeped in Judeo-Christian values as it is, America is a nation that should know better, yet for at least three generations, the sanctity of marriage has steadily declined among its people until today, when divorce is routine. Back in earlier times, divorce was still shameful, and most families did not want their sons or daughters to marry a divorced person. However, as society secularized, divorce lost its stigma until no-fault divorce laws swept across the nation. According to recent data, 20% of marriages are disrupted after five years and about one-third of marriages after ten years. As of 2020, the current divorce rate is 2.3 per 1,000 population, while the marriage rate is 5.1 per 1,000, meaning that just under half of marriages end in divorce. God declares in Malachi 2:16 that He hates divorce, emphasizing His desire for stable family units. True, not all fathers are good fathers, and God makes provisions for such cases in His principles on divorce, but more often than not, a father in the home creates a better environment for raising children than a home that lacks one.