Cage Free Theology
"Cage Free Theology" is a weekly Bible Q&A discussion with two Baptist, Calvinist, and Premillennial, pastors.
As Spurgeon said, there's no need to defend a lion in a cage; simply open the cage door and the lion will fend for itself! We don't defend a preconceived system of theology, we just let the Bible speak for itself, and we go wherever a literal hermeneutic takes us.
The hosts are pastors Clint Archer (MDiv, ThM, DMin, PhD) and Will Brannon (MDiv, DMin), based at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama.
They both trained at The Master's Seminary and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and between the two of them they have nearly 30 years of full-time ministry experience. Much of that has involved fielding questions from new believers, old believers, and unbelievers, and then sharing what the Bible has to say on a wide array of topics.
They will cover subjects with their engaging and light-hearted banter, including explaining theology, offering interpretations of various difficult Bible passages, discussing counseling scenarios, and even the nuts and bolts of ministry and expository preaching. (Clint occasionally digresses about how animals should live cage-free while Will reminds him of the appeal of meat!)
Each episode addresses one main question, without rambling or irrelevant interjections, to equip listeners to answer questions they have, or questions they get asked by friends. Subscribers get to send in their questions too!
Jesus came to set us free, so beware of manmade cages!
Cage Free Theology
Episode #073 What Does The Bible Actually Say About Divorce & Remarriage?
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What does the Bible teach about divorce and remarriage? It’s a question that brings immense heartache, pastoral complexity, and cultural confusion. In this episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon unpack the big-picture biblical principles governing marriage, its lifelong design, and the very narrow conditions under which the Bible permits its dissolution.
Clint kicks off the conversation with a jaw-dropping look at his very first marital counseling case in South Africa involving a Zulu believer, an unbelieving husband, and sudden polygamy—a perfect example of just how messy real-world relationships can get.
In this episode:
-The Blueprint: Why a biblical understanding of divorce must begin with God's original creation design for marriage in Genesis 2.
-The "First Domino": A deep look into how "no-fault divorce" undermines the true nature of marriage and the gospel just as much as broader cultural shifts.
-The Narrow Exceptions: An analysis of Jesus’s words in Matthew 19 regarding sexual immorality (porneia) and Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 7 regarding abandonment by an unbeliever.
-A Pastoral Compass: Real talk on how physical abuse functions as abandonment, the vital role of local church elders, and why you shouldn't use a podcast to make your final decision.
Pastoral Advice For Three Groups:
-The Single Person: Why it is far better to stay single for life than to marry the wrong person or unequally yoke yourself to an unbeliever.
-The Married Couple: Why a miserable marriage isn't fixed by divorce, but by fighting for redemption, pursuing wise counsel, and mirroring Christ's love for the Church.
-The Divorced Believer: A message of radical grace, complete forgiveness, and the path forward for those carrying the weight of a past unbiblical divorce.
A Note To Our Listeners: Marriage and divorce cases are incredibly nuanced. If you are currently facing a difficult marriage or considering separation, please do not walk alone. We urge you to take your specific situation to the pastors and elders of your local church who know you, love you, and can offer personalized, godly counsel.
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👇 Jump to moments (chapters):
0:00 – What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?
0:29 – Clint’s jaw-dropping first counseling case
3:21 – Why John MacArthur wanted an extra book in the Bible on divorce
3:39 – You need your local pastors, not just a podcast
4:37 – What is a biblical marriage?
5:46 – Adam, Eve, and Genesis 2 trivia
7:04 – What is a divorce?
9:05 – Is a "spiritual marriage" enough?
10:40 – Why no-fault divorce is the "first domino" to fall in culture
12:08 – Understanding Moses and the Deuteronomy 24
13:53 – Jesus on Matthew 19
21:56 – 1 Corinthians 7 and abandonment
27:17 – Is physical abuse functionally abandonment?
30:01 – Pastoral applications: advice for singles, married couples, and those with a past divorce
