This book grew out of the author's feeling that an inordinate amount of guilt is levied upon divorcing Christians because of rigid, legalistic understandings of "once married, always married" held by the church. He sets out to reexamine what the Bible says about the permanence of marriage and the possibility of divorce to determine whether or not the interpretations of Scripture that give rise to such positions reflect biblical teaching.
In a comprehensive study of marriage in the Old and New Testaments, Efird sees a shift between the Testaments with a greater emphasis on monogamy and more attention given to the relationship per se in the New Testament.
An underlying thesis of the author (which is often alluded to but never re ally developed) is that a real marriage takes place when two people become one personality joined by God. Such unity is indivisible, and divorce is not possible.
Efird implies that where such unity does not exist divorce is possible. He believes that those instances in which the Scripture permits the possibility of divorce are an acknowledgment that not every marriage will result in the couple becoming one.
He feels that both Jesus and Paul maintain the high ideal of marriage but leave open the possibility that there may be certain situations that are unsuitable for the well-being of the couple, and that in those circumstances the relationship should be dissolved. "The question for the church today," says the author, "is whether there is a real marriage if this growing together does not take place." For me this teaching raises more questions than it answers, because "real marriage" can be defined so subjectively.
Summarizing the biblical teaching on remarriage, the author . suggests it is scanty if we accept the biblical idea that persons are more fulfilled in a family situation. He states that "it seems legitimate to conjecture that the remarriage of divorced persons is not only permissible but perhaps desirable."
The cumulative effect of the book is a softening (if not removing altogether) of what the author considers the too-rigid teaching of many churches on divorce and remarriage. He argues that the importance and significance of marriage needs to be emphasized. Couples should be assisted in making wise marriage choices and keeping their marriages strong. When they fail, they should be forgiven by the grace of God and allowed another chance to make things right.
While some couples may need to separate because of exceedingly great difficulties in their union, Efird's re-exegesis of Scripture seems to dilute the marriage bond and thereby pave the way for greater levels of acceptable divorce and remarriage among church members. Our efforts must ever be to give greater emphasis to the gospel in marriage. That emphasis will not result in weakening the covenant, but in providing the means to fulfill it.
