The Christmas party scene is upon us. So last night my boss and went to a party run by Zentech. During the dinner, one of the women excused herself. She later told me that she had to check that her two primary age children had been safely picked up by their father, who lives in Australia. She will use her annual leave to be with them in Australia for the last three weeks of the (six week) school holidays.

Which she is not looking forward to. Divorce sucks. For all of us. It is a cancer within our church. It devastates the children in our society. It has affected me. And it is killing our churches.

Revelation 3:1-6

1″And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:

“I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. 3Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. 6Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

Ouch. This is aimed at the church. We have to look and consider what are the issues of this age, and reform, publicly repent, and note the correction. Without repentance there is no revival. And there is rot inside the church. There always is: the doctrine of Catholicism or universality implies that there will be those who cause conflict and dissension, who actively inhibit the preaching of the gospel.

This is a matter for prayer and reflection. This costs. Particularly for those forced to be single through divorced and widowhood, where the culture of the world (which is over sexualised) argues for rapid moves to fornication, and does not seem to consider the idea of courting, discernment and having one’s sexual life under a covenant (of marriage).

If Jesus would destroy a temple, and threatened to destroy Sardis, he is capable of destroying us.

Matthew 24:1-5

1As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

3When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet

Well, what is my position and response? Last night I felt solidarity with my dinner companion. We both, as a metaphor, have that T-shirt. Dealing with your ex is not easy… and I cannot see myself ever becoming best mates with any partner she has. (And what she does is no longer my business. The covenant is broken and dead. Any spiritual head-ship is broken. And in the end, we will both be held accountable).

This morning I am missing companionship. The boy is asleep (in Dunedin) or in Auckland. And I tell myself that the issues and pain we have when raising children is but a season in our life. For the Psalmist reminds us that we are ephemeral.

Psalm 90

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn us back to dust,
and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past,
or like a watch in the night.
13 Turn, O LORD! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands —
O prosper the work of our hands!

One of the ways that divorce destroys is that we see the work of our hands — our possessions — being fed to the family court, and the love of our lives — our children — being torn from us. It hurts.
The idea that divorce is something that is a phase from which you will recover and move into a better relationship.. is wrong. But it is in the church.

And like Moses, we need to pray for mercy… and preservation.

PHOTO COMMENT.
The photo was taken by a logitech webcam. It is the camera you have with you that matters.