Brandon,

You are correct in asserting that marriage isn an unbreakable bond in the eyes of God. This is why is it adultery for anyone that is divorced to get remarried, because what God has joined no one else can break apart (my personal interpretive paraphrase). No legal writ of divorce can break the bond that was formed before God.

As to a spouse who is in an abusive relationship, I can only say that if they do divorce, then they must not remarry. This is our churches stand. While we would put a member under discipline for abandonment (divorcing their spouse for other than biblical reasons) I would have a hard time agreeing with the other elders in putting someone under discipline for leaving an abusive relationship, but I would council that they not remarry, based on my understanding of the scriptures.

As far as Jesus' teaching, his only 'concession' was for fornication {sexual impurity that is not adultery). Paul's teaching is probably the closest to this situation, regarding an unbelieving spouse leaving. But note that a believer abandoned or divorced by an unbelieving spouse is still commanded to not remarry. His instruction does not cover an abused believer leaving his/her abusive spouse. I would not put such a person under church discipline, but I could not condone remarriage either.

In Christ,
Matthew

"Those who go down to the Sea in Ships
Who do Business on great Waters;
They have seen the Works of the LORD,
And His Wonders in the Deep."
-Ps. 107:23-24