Would Donald Trump’s marriage be accepted in a CA church?

[Josh]

Suppose Trump decided he wanted to join an Anabaptist church. After meeting all other requirements and passing the traditional seeker “hazing”, the last thing to deal with would be his marital status.

Key facts:

His first wife is deceased.

His second wife is still living.

His third wife is also living, with him.

Discuss.

[RZehr]

I've known people in this similar dilemma.

[Josh]

I've known people in this similar dilemma.

Did they have children from all 3 marriages? I’m always impressed with someone who is optimistic enough to go for round 3.

[Ken]

I've known people in this similar dilemma.

What is the “dilemma”?

Trump is thrice married and twice divorced. He was never a widower.

[sojourner]

Suppose Trump decided he wanted to join an Anabaptist church. After meeting all other requirements and passing the traditional seeker “hazing”, the last thing to deal with would be his marital status.

Key facts:

His first wife is deceased.

His second wife is still living.

His third wife is also living, with him.

Discuss.

I guess I never considered such a situation.
I used to have a neighbor that was never married previously. He ended up marrying a divorced woman. After several years and two children, they also divorced.
Eventually he joined a CA church. If I remember correctly they church leaders told him they would not be comfortable officiating a wedding if he decided to remarry. He is still single to this day.
I believe most CA churches would hold this position.
Val Yoder goes into greater detail on these issues.
I believe he says that the early church would not allow remarriage if subsequent marriages had taken place.

However, not all CA agree. A while back I was speaking to a CA preacher. He does not have charge at a church. He stated that he didn't know how a person could be bound to an illegitimate marriage.

Personally, I don't feel like the Bible is crystal clear on this. While I wouldn't condemn such a person I think the church does well to take a strong stand on it. You know, "Give the devil an inch and he'll take a mile"

[Soloist]

The simple answer is no.

If he tried to make some sort of argument for an exception clause, I would say that was more likely valid for his wife, not him.

[temporal1]

.. an Anabaptist church ..

i would expect to see every response here from “no problem” to “he must separate and not remarry”.

this range, some range, would probably be the case for most contemporary Christian denoms; Catholics might be more complicated, with annulments, marrying outside the faith, etc. (the latter might be the case for the current president, Catholic-Presby.)

i appreciate these discussions.
before MD, i knew nothing of cA, cM practices of separating married couples when ex-spouses are living.
no matter one’s beliefs, i think it’s well to be aware of these practices, to respect them, even if understanding-agreement aren’t possible.

the point is, seeking what is right in God’s eyes, not our own.

being informed is very important. yet, in the world, great effort is made to prevent being informed.
true in Jesus’ time on earth - true today!

Truth is feared and hated. It must be sought and valued.

[RZehr]

I've known people in this similar dilemma.

Did they have children from all 3 marriages? I’m always impressed with someone who is optimistic enough to go for round 3.

No. just the first marriage.

[Ernie]

In short, Holdeman's and Apostolics would accept his marriage and the rest of Plain Anabaptists would not. Is that correct?

[Ernie]

Is there a scriptural basis for the position that what one did before becoming a Christian and joining the church is different for remarrying after becoming a Christian and joining the church? I can understand the reasoning, that those without the Spirit of God can't be held to the same standard as those with the Spirit of God, but I am curious if there are verses/passages that are used for this position.