God's Non-Negotiables

In many business negotiations there are what is called non-negotiables, those items that are not up for discussion under any circumstances. For some employee - employer relationships, when negotiating an employment contract, vacation time may be a non-negotiable. Salary, benefits, expenses, etc., may all be up for discussion, but vacation time is not.

I began thinking about this while reading the book of Matthew. Specifically chapter 19:3-12. The topic is divorce and the Pharisees are asking Jesus about it. Jesus said it was "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but in the beginning it was not so." (v. 8 ESV) Jesus goes on to allow only one reason for divorce and that is immorality.

Two observations: 1) Apparently Moses allowed multiple reasons for divorce to accommodate the people's stubbornness. (Deut. 24:1) 2) Jesus now brings them back to the original intent from the beginning and allows only for immorality. Not specifically adultery, but immorality. [The Greek word is porniah. It can be translated harlotry, including adultery and incest, and fornication. I suspect it is where we get our word pornography today. ]

He does not specifically say what Moses did was wrong, but apparently Moses, God's spokesman, was "interpreting the constitution" of their day to fit the expectations of the people, not the expectations of God.

What exactly are God's non-negotiables? As we look around the world today, everyone seems to be adjusting their belief system to accommodate someone or something. There is an attitude of "surely God won't" do this or that based on an individual's, a group's, or even a nation's behavior. So have we watered things down to the point that there are no absolutes? No, non-negotiables?

I am not equipped to answer that question, except to say, "I am not equipped to answer that question." Are you?