Some people get saved as a result of a marriage breakup. Some people are unequally yoked and the other party pulls out. I am appalled at the negativity thrown around by some Christians. Marriage break up is not the unpardonable sin, neither is adultery for that matter. Remarriage is something for the individual to work out between them and God. The other extreme is the worldly view that "marriage is for as long as it suits me", but I don't know too many Christians who take that view.
I keep in mind how God dealt with the adulterous murderer, King David. God did not take his life, even though that was the punishment laid down by the Law. David paid a terrible price, but it was also the child of adultery that ascended the throne.
As far as "eligible", I could have explained that better. I was thinking of the older age groups. I got into the Christian singles scene after my marriage failed. I gave up after while. I suppose it was not important enough to me.
Yep, I agree, but with a couple of caveats if I may, please?
I believe that eligibility for remarriage is not just down to the two people involved, it's also the responsibility of the pastor that might oversee the marriage agreement, and other members of the church where the couple will be fellowshipping, to make sure married couples within their fellowship are properly (have a right to be) married. If one part of the body has a spiritual disease, the whole body is affected. An adulterous relationship within the church, no doubt you will agree, is a serious disease.
Scripture indicates that God will have mercy on whomever He wishes, and conversely He will withhold mercy from whomever He wishes. Yes, He had mercy for David, but David was an exceptional case, ie a man God regarded for most part as being one after His own heart, in tune with Him, and who He had put in charge over His chosen people. I fear some people have broken their marriage vows erroneously believing if they confess that error to God they are good to go and jump into another relationship. That in my opinion, for most of us would be a self-destructive assumption and decision to take.
But besides eligibility for remarriage, there's also a need to assess suitability for marriage too. I, like you, also couldn't find any lady in the church singles groups I socialised with that I was prepared to put my trust in. Their loyalty seemed to be towards their denominational culture first, and Jesus a distant second. Many were divorcees, and most seemed to pay out on their exxes often, and not fess up to the fact that their own shortcomings would have helped bring the marriage down. For most it was all their exxes fault that their previous marriage failed. You'd wonder how much bad baggage they would therefore still be carrying, and you would have to think, probably a lot! So in my opinion they were not suitable for marriage, even if they were technically eligible. That problem was with men and women by the way. That was my personal experience!