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| “Splitsville – The Divorce Generation Grows Up” is the title of the cover story of the April 21 Newsweek. “Study sets divorce expense at $112 billion; costlier than war,” was the title of a front page story in the April 21 Washington Times Weekly. It said: “The breakdown of marriage in America costs at least $112 billion a year, owing to expenses associated with health care, criminal justice, welfare and lost income-tax revenue, said a study sponsored by a nonpartisan think tank along with three conservative pro-family groups. ‘“This study documents for the first time that divorce and unwed child-bearing – besides being bad for children – are also costing taxpayers a ton of money,’ said David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values (IAV), the think tank that co-sponsored the report.” “The cost is huge, Randy Hicks, president of the Georgia Family Council, told a Washington press conference April 15. “In the past five years, he said, the United States has spent more tax-payer money on the consequences of divorce and unwed childbearing than on the Iraq war: $560 billion vs. $500 billion.” “The report, which also was cosponsored by Families Northwest, does not call for a reduction of welfare programs or any other services for single-parent families. Instead, it argues that the nation would be wise, economically and would be wise, economically and socially, to invest in strategies that strengthen marriages and families before they break up.” What a great tragedy that even so many of our nation’s leaders and clergymen have not been faithful to their wives and are now divorced. Churches which preach against divorce and living together before marriage are considered old fashioned, conservative, and not willing to change with the times. The Christian opposes divorce, except in cases involving adultery or desertion, not because of the huge cost but because God says in his Word that the only valid reasons for divorce are adultery or desertion (Matthew 19:9). The best way to strengthen marriage is by having prayer, Bible study, devotions and hymn singing in the home. |