Divorce By Post

The following appeared in one of the popular daily newspapers on the 1st of April last

"A truly astonishing social change ... has taken place in Britain overnight. Without tumult, shouting, or public debate, undefended divorce has become a simple registration procedure. From today it's more complicated to sell a house than to end a marriage."

Even 12 years ago, society deemed the dignity of marriage to be such that its breakdown was always presided over by a High Court judge, with barristers, never mere solicitors, in attendance.

Now all we need do is fill in our application form, post it off and for the price of a stamp our marriage will be officially tossed in the dustbin for ever."

Undoubtedly, this arrangement will lead to an increase in the divorce rate in the United Kingdom, with its inevitable consequences in public morality. The stigma attached to divorced persons has gradually disappeared during the last few decades. Nevertheless, the unsavoury publicity of divorce proceedings has acted as a brake in some cases. The removal of this deterrent is a sad reflection of the decay in Britain of Christian standards of marriage. We are left with the result that in an undefended case it is now easier to dissolve a marriage in the United Kingdom than in the Soviet Union!

The moral strength of any nation is based in its homes. When the home is broken by divorce, and there are children from the marriage, these often become mere pawns and suffer serious moral damage in their formative years. Much of today's juvenile delinquency is attributed by sociologists to the increasing number of broken homes. No-one with any concern for the moral fibre of Britain can view with complacency this growing problem. The long-term consequences of further undermining the sanctity and permanence of the marriage bond will be catastrophic. When the matrimonial state becomes a mere contract to be dissolved by mutual consent, marriage vows are meaningless.

The Christian gospel, now being largely discarded for substitutes history has proved to be delusive, goes to the heart of human relations. Many first century heathen homes were transformed by its healing touch. It has the same power today. "It is not too much to say that the perfecting of home is the masterpiece of the gospel in its work of social blessing. Nothing on earth is so beautiful as a perfect home, and it takes the name of Christ and the grace of His Spirit to produce the full phenomena. The home is the school of mutual unselfishness and duty, where love is continually learning its true work, namely, the finding of its happiness in the felicity of another" (H.C.G. Moule).

Public morality rises or falls with the progress of the gospel; committed Christians are "the salt of the earth". Their purifying influence not only touches home-life, it extends to business, and commerce where probity and honest dealing are vital to a well-ordered society. The grace of God not only brings salvation; it instructs:

"The grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world" (Titus 2:11,12).

It follows that God's people can best serve the nation in these decadent days by godliness of life, and by renewed fervent prayer for spiritual revival. There is always the danger of paralyzing apathy among Christians as iniquity abounds. Let us face our solemn responsibilities; for unless there is a genuine return to the fear of God, history will repeat itself, and increasing anarchy and violence will be the fearful harvest. For nations, as well as for individuals, the inexorable law applies:

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7).

Faith that lives

"Think not the faith by which the just shall live

Is a dead creed, a map correct of heaven,

Far less a feeling, fond and fugitive,

A thoughtless gift, withdrawn as soon as given;

It is an affirmation and an act

That bids eternal truth be present fact." (Robert Browning)

unknown | May 1977
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