Jennifer and Tom
Jennifer and Tom have been married for ten years. Two years ago, Tom lost his job and was forced to make a career change. This became an extreme source of stress for Tom. Jennifer noticed a definite change in Tom. He has stopped attending church. Over the next year, he started verbally and emotionally abusing both Jennifer and their two children. He never spends time with his kids. And when he does he yells at them and calls them “stupid kids.” Tom’s attitude towards Jennifer is worse. He tries to control everything she does. Each time she goes to shopping he always criticizes how much she spends. She told Tom she would try to get job to try to take the stress of Tom but Tom said that was the stupidest idea he had ever heard. He yelled at her and said “I make the money around here and I always will.”
Six months ago Jennifer had enough. She separated from Tom and began living with her Mom and Dad in Marysville. She started attending our church. While at church, she met a wonderful Christian man, Jim. He is everything Tom is not. He is considerate. He loves the kids and spending time with them. He treats Jennifer like a Queen.
Jennifer confides in you that she and this new beau are considering a life together and that she is thinking about divorcing Tom.
1. Based upon Matthew 19:3-10; Mark 10: 2-9; Luke 16:18; and 1 Cor. 7:8-16 does Jennifer have biblical cause to divorce Tom? If so why, if not, why not?
2. Jennifer is sure that the course she has chosen is God’s will since Jim is such a godly man. They pray together each night. He has begun a Bible study with her kids, something Tom has never done. What would your advice to Jennifer be about Jim?
3. How has the church failed in the case of Jennifer and Tom? What actions could the church have taken to avoid the situation that now exists?
4. What would your advice to Jennifer be about the possibility of divorcing Tom?
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