Thoughts on Apostasy and Adultery

I've been thinking a lot lately, which sort of happens when no one else really wants to talk to you.

I read the Bible last summer. Not parts of it: The whole thing, from cover to cover. Something struck me throughout the Old Testament. The people would always manage to get themselves in trouble, then they would call on God, "Hey, God! We could use a little help over here right about now!"

God, being Good, would give them a Hand, then tell them, "You know, if you want to avoid these sticky situations, I've got some rules for you. You just have to listen to them and obey me."

Then the people would say, "Sure, God, whatever you say." Then not too much later they're going, "What has God done for us lately? What could he do that a really nifty golden calf couldn't." Then the same old stuff happens again and they are crying. "Help us, God! We'll be good! This time for sure!"

It got to the point where God called the people of Israel "An Adulterous Woman," implying that He was the Husband, or the Bridegroom, as Christ later calls himself.

This got me to thinking: When Christ discusses divorce in the Gospels, He says that it should only be under cause of adultery. This is later contradicted by the Apostle Paul, who says that a believeng spouse should allow a nonbelieving spouse to go, if that is their choice. I think that when Christ is talking about adultery, he may be discussing it in the traditional sense, but I have a strong suspicion that there is another layer there: I think that the equation of adultery and apostasy in the Old Testament should be carried into the New.

If a spouse goes away from the church, it is then permissible for them to divorce, under New Testament laws. There are a couple of places in the New Testament where Christ Himself says that they are blessed who have lost their spouses in order to follow him, implying that that is, in itself, sufficient reason to allow a dissolution.

More than that, I think an abusive spouse is breaking the marriage covenant via the abuse. Breaking that covenant should allow the abused spouse to render it null and void. The abuser has made a promise not only to his spouse, but to Christ, and has broken it. Could that be considered apostasy? I suspect it could and should be, which would then render it fit grounds for the abused to negate that contract.

I know  Christ loves us, and if we are to be sealed to someone for all eternity, would he really want us to remain with someone who abuses and despises us? Or who thinks our church and religion are stupid and wrong?