Christian Divorce Children

Some authorities have conducted informal conversations as well as formal interviews with several Christian divorce children. During these, the authorities ask these Christian children to express their comments regarding the commandment to honor one's mother and father and / or the particular biblical passages like the parable of the Prodigal Son. It has been concluded that the mode in which religious leaders approach these texts and the responses of these children have been grossly different.

Christian Divorce Children and the Fourth Commandment

A religious authority made a ministry student to comment on the Fourth Commandment. She replied that this commandment meant nothing to her. She never looked up to her parents as idols of authority. The image this student had in mind was that her parents were totally fallible human beings. However, this student could not decide whether she had developed this opinion due to the divorce of her parents.

A Roman Catholic reflected that if a child is a believer as well as a kid of divorce, then it is essential that this child contemplates the Fourth Commandment. Such a child must find answers to the following questions.

• Did the parents honor you?
• Did the parents honor each other?
• Did the parents ask you prior to finalization of the decision to divorce?

Another Catholic child disclosed the following information to a religious authority. This Catholic has a tough time with the Commandment. He loves his parents and honors them. However, he has notices that his parents perform actions that he does not believe in. These parents are involved in such actions that make this child very angry. He cannot honor such actions.

There was a very spiritual young man who acknowledged that the Fourth Commandment made considerable sense for him. However, he opined that if one's parents are not honorable people, they should not be honored. His personal opinion about his father was like this – This child's father never though about the persons who relied on him (i.e. the father). The father made a commitment to a lady. He fathered a child. Further, this father could not find a route to honor these two commitments.

The Biblical story of the exile

This story is a theological allegory that grossly explains the complicated experience of children of divorce. By reading this story, one can understand that divorced parents are very busy in rebuilding personal lives. At the same time, the children of divorce feel downgraded to the margins. The divorced parents continue with novel spouses, lovers and / or jobs. Simultaneously, the children do not get the attention from the parents that was felt in the past. Just how the Israelites struggled with exile, these children suffer a mysterious range of emotions.

The biblical story does not terminate with exile. God has promised to deliver from isolation, to restore a sense of wholeness and finally a return home.

Steps taken by churches for children of divorce

• Liturgy
• Counseling
• Preaching and Teaching
• Reaching into the Community

Divorce Papers