Hardened Hearts? Guard Your Marriage

In Matthew 19: 1-9, Jesus Christ was confronted by the law makers with the concept of divorce, the legal dissolution of marriage. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” (v. 3) and “Why then…did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” (v. 7) they asked.

Moses performed such divorces routinely, quite similar to modern no-fault divorce. Nothing has changed in three thousand years. Marriage is still a challenge, and divorce is still an easy way out. Marriages of Christian lawyers are not immune from this concern.

Every state, except for one,* has a statutory method for dissolving marriage “for any and every reason,” where just one party must initiate the divorce proceeding. No-fault divorce allows any person to deem his or her marriage as “irreconcilable,” or “irretrievably broken,” or to simply leave and end the marriage, unilaterally, even if the other spouse disagrees. Yet statistics show that such divorces are opposed by the remaining spouse in four of five cases.** Although the marriage had been willingly entered into by two people, one can unilaterally terminate it.

In any other legal contract the party who breaks the contract is accountable to stiff penalties. Although the Federal Constitution under the 5th and 14th Amendments requires that “no person be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law,” every unilateral no-fault divorce is always granted, as the “fundamental right of marriage”*** allows for the right to adjust that most fundamental of relationships - even unilaterally. Divorce is the result of a hardened heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.

“Haven’t you read, Jesus replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. (v. 4-6) ...Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not his way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for martial unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (v.8-9).

Hardened hearts lead to broken marriages. Broken marriages led to broken families. Broken families lead to broken societies.

Don’t allow your heart to get hard. Keep your marriage the way it was from the beginning, as God created it, united as husband and wife in one flesh. Guard your marriage, and don’t allow your heart to harden against God’s design.

If you are married, do not seek to be unmarried (I Corinthians 7:10-11, 27). Give God your heart, and your marriage, and he will soften both, for His glory.


~ Prof. Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law



* Only New York State requires bilateral agreement for a no-fault divorce. NY Dom Rel L § 170 Divorce.
** See Michael McManus, How To Cut America's Divorce Rate in Half: A Strategy Every State Should Adopt, Marriage Savers (2009).
*** Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967).

The Snake on the Pole

Read: John 3:14-18, Numbers 21:4-9

Not far from the famous Scripture, “For God so loved the world . . .” in John 3:16, we come upon another passage that is more cryptic: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) What is this “lifted up snake” thing all about?

We find the answer back in Numbers chapter 21. The Israelites were wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt and, as was often the case, they were mumbling and grumbling against God, complaining about how miserable their life was. They were sinful and disobedient (just as we often are). And God brought a well-deserved punishment on them: poisonous snakes that slithered through the camp biting the people. The snakebites were fatal.

The people begged Moses to intercede with God on their behalf, and he did so. God, in His endless mercy, provided salvation from the punishment for sin: a bronze snake was crafted and lifted up on a pole. The bronze snake cured the poisonous snakebites. There was just one catch: salvation was not automatic just because the snake was lifted up. Each individual had to choose to turn his head and look at the snake in order to be saved. Anyone who refused to do so would die.

The interesting thing is that Jesus himself said that his crucifixion would be just like Moses lifting the snake on the pole. Just like the snake, God provided Jesus on the cross to take away the penalty for our sins. And just like the snake on the pole, this salvation is not automatic because of Jesus’ completed work. We have to “look at the snake.” We have to turn our eyes upon Jesus and accept by faith His free gift of salvation.

Scripture doesn’t tell us whether any of the Jews refused to look at the snake, and died instead. Maybe some of them said, “I just don’t believe in bronze snakes,” or “the snake may be right for you, but it’s not my truth.” Today, however, we live in the world in which millions of people choose not to look at Jesus on the cross and put their faith in Him.

Maybe there are one or two who need to hear your testimony today.

~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law

As 2010 Begins . . . (Con't)

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope the Lord is. (Jer. 17:7)

It is in defeat that we often have the greatest opportunity to give glory to God. When the chips are down, the world watches with special interest to see if our faith is real, if it has substance.

Such was the case on Thursday night, January 8 in Pasadena. The 2009-10 BCS Championship college football game had concluded and it was late. The Longhorns of Texas had been defeated by the Alabama Crimson Tide and Colt McCoy, the starting quarterback of the University of Texas, approached the television cameras on the sidelines. After the 2008 season, in which he had been an All-American and runner-up for the prestigious Heisman Trophy, McCoy had decided against entering the pro draft and instead returned to Texas to complete his senior year, determined to lead his team to a national championship. But in what seemed a cruel irony, McCoy, within sight of his goal, had been forced to leave the game in the first quarter. A hit received on an otherwise routine tackle left his throwing arm numb and McCoy spent the rest of the game receiving treatment and encouraging his teammates from the sidelines. Despite the heroic efforts of the untried freshman quarterback who replaced him, McCoy and his team failed to reach the goal they had worked so hard to attain.

As McCoy came alongside the post-game interviewer, the concern and disappointment among his many supporters was palpable. The dream of a national championship had vanished, and his yet unevaluated injury left a question mark hanging over his future prospects as a football player.

However, there was no question mark hanging over McCoy's Christian faith. Asked to tell the television audience what it was like to watch his team play for the national title from the sidelines, McCoy gave the following memorable answer:

I'd have given . . . I'd have given everything I had to be out there with my team. ....But I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know, if nothing else, I stand on the Rock.

It is easy for us to praise God when life is going our way - when the jury finds for our client or our daughter is named high school valedictorian. But when setbacks come, let us not disdain to take a page from Colt McCoy's playbook. Our misfortune may afford us the opportunity of demonstrating costly faith to a watching world.

Lord, as another year begins, You are my Audience of One. Teach me to see an opportunity in every event, whether it seems "good" or "bad." I want to be one who trusts You in all the times of life, especially when praising You costs something. Like Colt McCoy, I know that if nothing else, I stand on the Rock.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Relationships and Priorities: Master, Mate, Mission

When Christ reminded the expert in the law with “the greatest commandment in the Law,” He was spelling out for us all how to live our lives.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 37

This passage lays out the priorities of life, or what I call Master, Mate, Mission. And a new year presents a perfect opportunity to readjust yours, if needed. Every day presents challenges in keeping the proper priorities in every area of our lives. For each of us, regardless of calling or position, the very first priority in our lives needs to be Christ, our Master. That means spending time with God as the priority above all others, keeping Him above all else, indeed, “loving Him will all your heart, all your soul, all your mind.”

The second part of the greatest commandment deals with the rest of our priorities: “loving your neighbor as yourself.” These could be characterized as the other relationships in your life. Included in these are those in your family (spouse, children, parents, siblings) and your mission (calling, vocation, church, etc.), or Mate and Mission.

The key to all of life is having your priorities in order. For lawyers who work from 6am to 11pm to meet billable hours, or to achieve the best outcome in the case, and for law students inspired by their calling, this warning should be taken all the more seriously.

If you are married, your order must be Master, Mate, Mission. This means God is first in your life, your spouse and children are next as your first neighbors, and your calling is your third – in that order. Too many lawyers and law students fall prey to being consumed by their mission, to the detriment of their master and mate. A married individual must keep this order of priorities, in obedience to Christ as the greatest commandments, and to thrive in life (I Corinthians 7:33-35). When children come along, the order is even more important – Master, then Mate, then children, then mission. As a woman and a lawyer I know how easy it is to put your children above your husband, a sure mistake in priorities, or to put work before family. Women are good at multitasking, but we must keep these priorities. It is equally if not more important that men guard these priorities, keeping certain that family, wife then children, come before work. Men and women know how easy it is to let mission crowd out master and mate. Guarding these priorities is the key to thriving.

A single person, by contrast, is not (yet) weighed down with family concerns (again I Corinthians 7:32-35), and can keep a different order: Master, Mission, Mate. This means that as you keep your Master first, you are free to make your neighbor the mission. And, as you are carrying out your mission, if God desires He will bring along your mate in the process of your mission, in His perfect time, as part of His perfect plan for you. This means that as a single you are free to thrive in your mission, not needing to “look for” that mate, knowing God will choose a mate for you, if it is His will, in His perfect timing, as you are carrying out that second commandment, “loving your neighbor as yourself.” This is the secret to thriving in obedience to Christ.

Relationships and priorities: Master, Mate, Mission or Master, Mission, Mate. The key to all of life is having your priorities in order, the Greatest Commandments.

~ Professor Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law

The Necessity of Joy

Joy is most needed when things are tough.

Paul prays that the Colossians may be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. . . .” (Col. 1:11). Here, endurance and patience go hand in hand with joy. Peter, too, speaks of a “joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (I Pet. 1:9). This joy comes with grievous trials and testing, as if by fire (v.7). And Nehemiah’s famous admonition to his people that “The joy of the Lord is your strength” was delivered to a weeping people, spiritually broken upon the reading of the law.

These passages tell us something about joy. For one thing, it isn’t natural. It’s not happiness or glee or giddiness. It is supernatural: the joy of the Lord, a deep rejoicing which affirms that he is King of all, Lord of all circumstances, and deliverer of his people. We rejoice because our hope goes beyond our circumstances, not because things are going well. For another thing, joy always takes the long view—the eternal perspective. Our lives are God’s instruments in light of His plans for eternity. If we truly believe this, we have joy.

Although Christmas is over and the new year has begun, it is worth remembering that the advent of God incarnate to deliver his people is what makes an eternal perspective—joy itself—possible. He came to deliver his people; not just from Egypt, not just from Babylon, but from death itself—forever. The baby born in the manger IS the “good news of great joy for all people.” We rejoice in that supernatural gift! We sing praises to God; we eat and drink and give gifts in joyful celebration. And we do all this, despite knowing that this innocent baby will one day suffer the humiliation and death that we deserve. The joy of Christmas is that very inexpressible joy, filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

~ Mike Schutt, Professor at Regent University School of Law, and Director of the Institute for Christian Legal Studies

As 2010 Begins . . .

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. (Jeremiah 17:7)


Only a few who read these words will recognize the name Hunter Lawrence. In certain parts of the country his name is now well known, but before the 2009-10 Big Twelve championship game, he was just the field goal kicker for the University of Texas football team. On that December night, he was called upon to kick a field goal on which his team's entire season, and hopes of a national championship, hung. There was exactly one second left on the game clock - a second added back by referees who at first had thought that time had run out on the Texas team. Lawrence's team was behind by 2 points. A 46 yard field goal loomed.


Predictably, as Lawrence and his holder readied themselves for the snap, the opposing coach called for a time out. Calling for a time out under such circumstances is a time-honored practice sometimes referred to as "icing" the kicker - give the kicker too much time to think about what is riding on the kick - time, perhaps, to choke under the psychological pressure of the moment.


Less predictably, Lawrence's holder, Jordan Shipley, settled Lawrence down by reminding him of the Bible verse that had been the team's motto for the week, Jeremiah 17:7, Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Timeout over, Shipley received the snap and placed the ball for Lawrence, who proceeded to drive it through the uprights half a football field away. Longhorns by 1 point, right to play in the national championship game secured. Lawrence was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates. Later, he credited his friend Jordan Shipley with providing the word in season that made all the difference.


Lawyers can identify with the pressure Lawrence was under. Thorough preparation and years of experience do not make one immune to the heavy, sometimes lonely, responsibilities of representing a client when the stakes are high. Like kickers, some lawyers live for such moments; others would prefer to avoid them. Regardless, a lawyer knows that his or her mettle will be tested, and only one side will win. And one cannot expect a do-over.


As 2010 begins, almost all of us face challenges that, if we are honest, we find daunting. Perhaps the challenge for you is professional. Or it may be relational or health related. Perhaps the very thought of this challenge makes you a bit jittery. If so, receive this verse as your word in season: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.


Grace and peace in the coming year from your brothers and sisters at the Christian Legal Society.


Lord, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. My heart is at rest because You, not the things of this life, are my Hope. Use the events of the coming year to teach me to trust You more fully than ever I have in the past. Thank You for bringing me to this very place.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Are We Christians, or Herodians?

Read: Matthew 2

Jesus was born in the sleepy little town of Bethlehem, located almost in the shadow of the Herodium, the magnificent fortress/palace constructed by King Herod the Great. The contrast between Herod’s luxurious palace and the humble stable of Jesus couldn’t be any more dramatic.

When Herod heard that a new “king of the Jews” was to be born, he was terrified of losing his power and wealth (if not his life). He was willing to take any measures to eliminate this contender to his throne:

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16

It didn’t work, because God took Joseph, Mary and Jesus to safety in Egypt. And the slaughter of all those little Jewish boys was so senseless, so unnecessary. Herod didn’t realize that this Jesus would grow up to say, “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” and “My Kingdom is not of this world.” Jesus came not to claim political or military power, or to promote insurrection against the governing authorities, but to bring people to God and reign in their hearts. Herod could never have understood this; to him, the only kind of rule that mattered was physical rule with all its trappings.

Do you live like a follower of Christ, or of Herod? Sometimes we who claim the name of Jesus seem so focused on implementing our legal and public policy goals that it’s not clear which kingdom we are serving. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t work for god-honoring laws and support political candidates with good values – but since the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, our first priority must always be to share the Good News of the Gospel with a world full of people who desperately need to hear it. Everything else is secondary.

At this Christmas season, may we keep our focus on the filthy stable, not the magnificent palace, and proclaim the internal, life-changing Kingdom of Jesus above all else.

~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law