DIVORCE HURTS
By:
Pastor Bob & Gloria Paquet
In 1997 the likelihood of a first time marriage
ending in
divorce was 43%. This affected 2.5 million men and women and over 1
million
children. According to Divorce magazine, “Fatherless homes account for
63% of
youth suicides, 90% of homeless/runaway children, 85% of children with
behavior
problems, 71% of high school dropouts, 85% of youths in prison, well
over 50%
of teen mothers.” (http://www.divorcemag.com/statistics/statsUS.shtml) Obviously the consequences of divorce are
devastating. Marriage was originated by God to be a one-flesh
(Gen.2:24),
life-long (1 Cor.7:39; Rom.7:2-3) covenant commitment (Mal.2:14); the
primary
basis of society, providing a safe sanctuary (the family) for one man
and one woman
to live together as husband and wife until death. The family was
intended to
provide all the basic needs of the husband, the wife and the children
(food,
shelter, clothing, love, education, etc). When this covenant
relationship is
broken there is not only a separation but a tearing apart of lives as
each
member of the family finds himself faced with emotional and financial
insecurity, anger, depression, loneliness, and thoughts of failure.
Individuals
often become obsessed with material things (who is going to get what)
and
children are often caught in the middle and used as pawns. The causes
of
divorce vary; however, the most common appear to be poor communication,
financial problems, lack of commitment, change in priorities,
infidelity,
substance abuse, failed expectations, unmet needs, and sexual or
emotional
abuse. In other words, the main reason for divorce is choice and sin.
(http://www.aaml.org/Marriage_Last/MarriageLastText.htm)
we at
Hope Ministries, Inc. is a