If previous marriages doom you to hell then why doesn’t obesity? Folks are added to the church overweight, they remain in the church overweight, and they die in the church overweight. Are these folks on their way to hell for lack of self-control just like the one who can’t and won’t be forgiven for a previous marriage? What’s the difference between marital repentance and repentance of a lack of self-control?
With all due kindness, nevertheless, this is a prejudicial series of questions melded together into a larger question with a decidedly stacked deck in defense of unscriptural marriage practices. We will, though, address the “question,” piece by piece, under the assumption that someone desires an honest, biblical answer.
First, the word “obesity” means, “a condition characterized by excessive bodily fat,” and the word “overweight” means, “1 : weight over and above what is required or allowed. 2 : excessive or burdensome weight” (Merriam Webster’s). Therefore, “obesity” and “overweight” are subjective terms relative to conflicting standards touted by uninspired men, rather than being biblical words tied to specific biblical instruction. Even definitions in the medical community for obesity and being overweight have changed from time to time and continue to change from time to time. Granted, some people may fit the questioner’s profile above and be unquestionably unhealthy. Yet, it is an overgeneralization that all fat or heavy people, by someone’s subjective standard, are sinners condemned to hell. For one thing, there may be a number of genetic, medical or environmental reasons that even an obese person may be so, aside from “lack of self-control.”
What the questioner presumes and for which no biblical citation was provided is that being “overweight” by some human standard is sinful. Now, if the questioner desired to put forth a study on “gluttony,” that would be a different matter, though still a long way from proving the premise that all fat people are going to hell. In addition, if it were the case that everyone perceived as obese or overweight by the questioner were going to hell, that would not justify also rebelling against God regarding other areas of biblical instruction (i.e., biblically unauthorized marriages).
Secondly, the questioner does not comprehend the nature of biblical repentance. Repentance is a stoplight! Biblical repentance requires the one who repents to stop doing the activity for which he is repenting. This repenting or stopping begins on the inside of a person in his mind or Bible heart, and it works itself outwardly until one’s behavior in that matter conforms to divine instruction. Hence, John the Baptist advised some who attended the baptisms that he was administering, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8 NKJV). Let me illustrate. Does a thief have to stop stealing and provide restitution of the things he has stolen if possible, or does “repentance” permit him to keep the stolen Cadillac? Does a penitent murderer have to stop murdering, though of course, he cannot restore the lives he has taken? Does an adulterer who repents need to stop practicing adultery? Simply appealing to civil law, which directly conflicts with New Testament instruction, does not change what God calls adultery into a marriage that God is obligated to recognize as okay. Whenever there exists a conflict between the law of man and the law of God, we must obey the higher law of God. “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:29).
Thirdly, the phrase “can’t and won’t be forgiven for a previous marriage” is a grossly unfair and equally untrue accusation against God. This is comparable to accusing God of being unjust, saying that a thief, a murderer or an adulterer “can’t and won’t be forgiven” while one is still thieving, murdering or committing adultery. Yes, it is true that forgiveness is not available to those who will not repent or stop doing the activity for which he or she claims a desire for forgiveness. Saying, “I’m sorry,” while continuing the sinful activity is not equal to repentance. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). If someone is sufficiently sorry for disobeying God, he or she will repent, but without true repentance, there is no redemption from the guilt of sin. The thief must stop stealing (Ephesians 4:28). “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
Attempting to circumvent New Testament instruction regarding marriage, divorce and remarriage or any other teaching, irrespective of the means employed, will not work out well eternally for those who do so (Matthew 7:21-23). Remove the emotions and the human subjectivity to view God’s objective and absolute truths about every topic that is taught in the New Testament. Only then will we be on a firm foundation rather than upon shifting sand.
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. (Matthew 7:24-27)
Works Cited
Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. CD-ROM. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 1993.
