If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.
-Deuteronomy 22:22, NIV
When one’s interpretation of “grace” is more strict and less merciful than the plain writing of the “law,” then I suggest something is wrong with one’s “grace” theology.
We see this with plenty of evangelical churches stuck in the pit of “never divorce” land. They will not even lift the burden of shame from the faithful party. Using the word of “grace,” they live and teach “grace” as less than merciful to the victims of adultery.
It would be better for the faithful party to live under Old Testament Law than modern day interpretations of such “grace.”
At least in the Old Testament, there was no doubt about there being innocent versus guilty parties as it comes to adultery. Plus, the faithful party was free to remarry–since they would be widowed.
Now, I am NOT advocating a return to the death penalty for adultery!
I just find it curious that people who are all about grace and mercy will engage in a more burdensome legalism that says divorce (and later remarriage) is never allowed even in adulterous situations. Something is seriously backwards here!
It is past time that we extend true mercy and grace to faithful spouses. They do not deserve to carry such a heavy, legalistic burden.
Mercy says the adulterous party lives, AND mercy says the faithful party is free to start a new life as if the cheater died with their marriage.
We need to come back to the wisdom of the Old Testament Law on that second part. Mercy needs to be extended to BOTH parties.
