I was born out of wedlock and my mother was formerly married to a man, of which wasn’t my father (I was born after their divorce). They had an unscriptual divorce (of which she said was his idea), and now he has remarried. In her repentance in becoming a Christian, do I have to seperate in one instance or another from my mother, since I am one born out of wedlock? Also, does I Corinthians 7:11 allow her to stay single if their is no reconciliation? Sorry. Since learning more about marriage, divorce, and remarriage, I have been desperate in getting the complete truth for myself and others. [Name & Location withheld at the discretion of the Editor]
For your part, being “born out of wedlock” attaches no spiritual fault or sin to you. Babies, irrespective of the circumstances of their births, arrive on planet earth sinlessly perfect. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezek. 18:20). Guilt for sin comes later in life; “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezek 28:15). The fact that you were conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5) was sin shared by your biological parents. If your mother had never repented of that sin, she still would have been your mother, just as despite the sin of one spouse (perhaps even to being withdrawn from by the church) spouses still have marital responsibilities that are not diminished. Yet, even family are obligated to convey disapproval rather than approval toward delinquent Christian family members. However, if your mother’s repentance upon becoming a Christian (expressed or not expressed publicly) included all previous sins, including fornication that led to your birth, God has chosen to forget the sin (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17), and so should you as best you can.
Under the New Testament, divorce and remarriage is forbidden except in the case of fornication or death of a spouse (Romans 7:1-3; Matthew 19:9). At least one spouse in every divorce is guilty of the sin of divorce; divorce is forbidden under Christianity (1 Corinthians 7:10). If, though, a divorce occurs not because of fornication or adultery, the spouses are required to reconcile or remain separate (1 Corinthians 7:11). If reconciliation is not possible, the parties to the interrupted marriage are required by inspired, apostolic command to “remain unmarried.” If your mother included in her repentance when becoming a Christian, or at some other time, any responsibility she may have for the divorce, she is forgiven by God. In the case of an “unscriptural divorce,” she must remain unmarried to continue to be pleasing to God.
