News flash: He’s at it again. The charismatic prophet of Judea has launched a scathing rebuke against the upcoming royal wedding. Saying it is unlawful and dishonoring to God.
On the basis of God's law, John opposed the wedding of King Herod who wanted to marry the divorced Herodias, his half-brother's wife. In that same spirit, I to would like to make a simple case against Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage.
It's a mistake many simply will not spot because we've allowed standards to drop and have become blind to lawlessness.
There was another English King, Henry the 8th who wanted a son so badly he divorced his wife and went for a younger lady. Knowing it went against biblical law he attempted to fabricate a case for attaining his divorce (Ironically sighting the same law John the Baptist referenced against Herod’s affair - Leviticus 20:16, but for a different end).
Now there were other political, economic and social factors including the clash between Catholicism and the Reformation etc, but long story short, Henry created his own church which allowed him to divorce and remarry.
He went on to marry 6 women, some of which were beheaded. Henry’s legacy lives on, with a church that no longer values the institution of marriage and has in effect co-signed a culture of divorce on demand.
Let’s take a step back about 60 or so years ago to another royal wedding that never happened, in the house of Windsor. The queen's sister, Margaret, fell in love with Group Captain Peter Townsend and he proposed to her one year after divorcing his wife.
The media were taken with the latest celebrity couple. But they could not get married. Why? Well, the Church back then would not marry them because he was a divorcee.
“And?...” Says someone, “what's wrong with that?”. “Don't you believe in second chances?” says another.
In the Kingdom of God, it is illegal to marry someone, divorce that person and then remarry someone else whilst the “ex” spouse is still alive.
“Here comes the legalistic religious spirit” sighs another.
Bare with me guys. I know many church leaders practise and preach divorce and you know many good Christian couples who are divorced and happily remarried. But the facts still remain that the King of kings made this very clear.
“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Luke 16:18
When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
Mark 10:10-12
So in conclusion, no I will not be celebrating the royal wedding (I wasn't invited anyway). Rather I will mourn the disregard for God's law today amongst even his own people.
I will think of Meghan's previous husband which she suddenly abandoned after a two-year marriage.
I will think of the stats that tell of the impact of broken homes producing broken children and contributing to a broken society.
And I will think about the young Prince who is about to repeat the pattern set for him by his parents.
God. Hates. Divorce.
