On the sixth day of creation, God formed Adam from the dust of the earth. God then formed Eve from Adam's side. From this day forward man was to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. The two are joined together by God in a permanent one-flesh relationship. After man fell, the sins of adultery, fornication, polygamy, and divorce altered God's intention for marriage. This was true of those both outside and inside God's covenant community. By the time the Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh, the traditions of Judaism had either changed or nullified God's command for marriage. The Lord Jesus Christ came and stated God's original intent for marriage: 1. Permanence. The husband and wife are one flesh. They are permanently joined in a covenant relationship for life. No person has the legal or moral authority to end what God has joined together. No sin or legal document can dissolve the one-flesh bond. 2. Forgiveness. This is Christ's emphasis in dealing with sin. When one spouse fails, the love of Christ compels the other to forgive. Hardness of heart is the cause of unforgiveness and results in divorce. Because of the biblical teachings of Jesus and Paul, the early church held to the permanence of marriage. Over the centuries, Christ's commands on the permanence of marriage have been either changed or nullified. They have been replaced with the traditions of men. In theory, Christians are taught that they may divorce and remarry if their spouse commits adultery or deserts them. In practice, many evangelical Christians are divorcing and remarrying for almost any reason. The Lord Jesus Christ taught God's original intentions regarding forgiveness and divorce. The Word of God has not changed. ÒWhat God has joined together, let no man separate (Mark 10:9).

Consecutive polygamy (as many husbands or wives as you like but only one at a time) is now an accepted norm in contemporary society. Hardly surprising, since the social, legal, moral and financial restraints holding marriages together for a lifetime have been steadily eroded in a relativist age where anything goes. What is surprising is that divorce and remarriage are becoming as common inside the church as outside, even among Christian leaders and especially in the Evangelical stream. Believers have been outspoken about such issues as abortion and homosexuality though their Lord Jesus said nothing about either. He did say quite a lot about the subject of this book but there is either a reluctance to take his teaching at face value or an eagerness to enlarge his ‘exception’ until it becomes the rule. This volume primarily appeals to those for whom the Bible is the final authority in all matters of belief and behaviour, especially those who preach to, teach and counsel others. The author believes that the church should be leading the world uphill rather than following the world downhill. David Pawson has a worldwide teaching ministry, particularly for church leaders. He is known to many through Christian broadcasting and is the author of numerous books.

"Rev. Raymond J. McMahon serves as pastor at Praise, Power, and Prayer Temple and principal of Praise, Power, and Prayer Christian School in Windsor, Connecticut"--Page 4 of cover

Bible-believing Christians agree that it is essential to act on Jesus' words while the present storm of marital unfaithfulness and divorce swirls around us. Yet there is uncertainty about Jesus' commands concerning divorce and remarriage. Do we truly understand the words of Christ (and Paul)? In Divorce and Remarriage: A Permanence View, the authors explain in detail why they believe that Jesus did not allow divorce for any reason and did not permit remarriage if a former spouse was living. This view proposes that the "exception clause" given by Jesus must be understood in its ethnic and exegetical context if Christ's intent for marriage is to be fully comprehended. The result is a perspective that harmonizes all of what Paul and the Gospels teach about divorce and remarriage. The authors' view is summarized in the following three statements: the one flesh-union created in marriage is permanent until death; initiating a divorce is never lawful; remarrying after divorce is an act of adultery if a former spouse is living.

Western culture is degenerate. Conservative Christians have exerted considerable energy fighting cultural decline, but their efforts amount to minor skirmishes compared to the war that needs to happen with the church and her teaching of divorce and remarriage. The blame for our cultural depravity has generally been directed toward liberalism, feminism, and the homosexual agenda. Contra Mundum Swagger debunks that view. Christians shouldn't be directing their efforts in fighting these battles at first. It's a strategic mistake. Rather Christians ought to destroy the idols in the church that have perpetuated them. Jack Shannon admonishes church leadership who, by allowing divorce and remarriage to happen, have caused God's people to sin and lose their cultural dominance. At the same time, these figures have harshly judged the outside unbelieving world, but judgment begins in the house of the Lord. While the criticisms in this book are often difficult, they're imparted with love. Ultimately, Contra Mundum Swagger doesn't seek to point blame; it strives to help reform. Only by accepting how the church has erred can we take the necessary steps to call her to genuine repentance and rebuild a Christian society that lives by God's Word.