2 of 2

The apostle Paul says that marriage represents, in earthly relationships, the mystical bond between Christ and his church. It is "a profound mystery" (Ephesians 5:32). And the Lord knows the bond between Christ and his church, played out in real lives, can get messy. Should we "remove the marriage"?Divorce happens—too often and not always for the right reasons. It is grievous and frequently carries ongoing destructive repercussions. It is something the Christian community should hesitate to gloss over. Rather than Amy Grant telling her (mostly Christian) audience, including youth groups, that she is looking for a date for New Year's Eve as her way of acknowledging her new circumstances, it would be appropriate if she, and we, took a time out. Those smiles, the pictures in glossy Christian magazines, and the shimmering gowns can fool us into forgetting the wreckage. Two families have been torn apart against their wills.

Whether Amy Grant and Vince Gill have found happiness amid the pain of others is a matter between them and their families, their church communities, and the Lord. But her dressing up and our propelling her public ministry, without taking time for serious reflection, violates what should be the Christian conviction about the sanctity of marriage.

Wendy Murray Zoba is Associate Editor for Christianity Today. Related ElsewhereCCM's post-divorce interviews with Amy Grant (in its December issue) and Gary Chapman (in its January issue) are insightful both for what the singers say—and for what they don't.

The People magazine article referenced above, titled "Finally a Duet | After painful divorces, and years of speculation, Vince Gill and Amy Grant confess they are in love," is available here, but only to AOL members.

See also Amy Grant's "coming out" article in The Tennessean, "Grant picks up pieces after divorce, with the help of soaring career—and Vince."

About a year ago, World magazine commented on the impending Grant-Chapman divorce in an article titled, "Ministry or vocation? | Public reaction to the possible divorce of Amy Grant and Gary Chapman shows confusion."

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

February 7 2000, Vol. 44, No. 2