If easy divorce is the latest church growth strategy for evangelicals, then why don't we just start giving altar calls for unhappy couples at the end of our services?
I'm joking, of course. But the truth is not funny. Check this out . . .
QUESTION: Why did 120 Coptic Christians in Egypt recently leave their denomination?
ANSWER: Because its easier to get a divorce if you are evangelical or Catholic.
Under Coptic rules, adultery is the only valid reason for a divorce but outside the Coptic world, there is more scope for divorce for those in unhappy marriages. According to Al-Masry Al-Youm yesterday, "The Evangelical Church applies the 1938 Coptic personal status law, which permits divorce for nine reasons, rather than being restricted to cases of adultery." One source says these 120 Christians are expected to switch over to Evangelical or Catholic but applications have not yet been made.
In the USA, Pat Robertson just added another valid reason for divorce . . . ALZHEIMERS!.
Robertson stated on the 700 Club that someone would be justified in divorcing a spouse afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease because the disease is a "kind of death". Joni Eareckson Tada, a disability advocate and really wonderful peson (I met her some years ago) is outraged at Robertson's remarks. I don't blame her.
ALSO: Recent studies showed that divorce in USA is higher in the Bible Belt than in the NorthEast.
New Jersey is among those with the lowest for both sexes; states with high rates for both men and women include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Earlier studies from Barna showed that Baptists beat out all the other denominations when it comes to divorce.
Evangelicals and easy divorce . . . What does this say about us? Is Mohler right in saying that divorce is the scandal of the evangelical conscience?
