‘Til death do us part?

A few days ago, Pat Robertson asserted that it was acceptable for one to divorce a spouse with Alzheimer’s since “Alzheimer’s is a form of death.”  He continued, “I know it sounds cruel, but if he’s going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her…”

Contrast Robertson’s repudiation of the “til death do us part” marriage vow with the real life story of Robertson McQuilkin whose wife did contract early onset Alzheimer’s and he cared for her for some 22 years before her death a few years ago.

When McQuilkin stepped down from the presidency of Columbia International University and Seminary to take care of her, he did so with these words:

“I haven’t in my life experienced easy decision-making on major decisions, but one of the simplest and clearest decisions I’ve had to make is this one because circumstances dictated it.  Muriel now, in the last couple of months, seems to be almost happy when with me, and almost never happy when not with me.  In fact, she seems to feel trapped, becomes very fearful, sometimes almost [terrified], and when she can’t get to me there can be anger,…she’s in distress.  But when I’m with her she’s happy and contented, and so I must be with her at all times…and you see, it’s not only that I promised in sickness and in health, ‘til death do us part, and I’m a man of my word.  But as I have said…it’s the only fair thing.  She sacrificed for me for forty years to make my life possible…so if I cared for her for forty years, I’d still be in debt.  However, there’s much more.  It’s not that I have to.  It’s that I get to.  I love her very dearly, and you can tell it’s not easy to talk about.  She’s a delight.  And it’s a great honor to care for such a wonderful person.”

Which approach do you suppose most approximates the love of Christ for His bride, the church?