The fact that God has used individuals both in scripture (David) and in subsequent history (Carey, Fuller), to further His kingdom are not endorsements of the obviously errant behaviour in which they engaged. Maybe we all ought to be selling our younger brothers into slavery? If not much is said about the Apostles' wives, why would anyone assume they did anything other than treat them lovingly and honorably as scripture instructs us? That would be slanderous. Abandoning a wife is never acceptable for a Christian, much less a Church officer or a missionary. What a perniciously wicked idea! What an insult to the Cross!
Jesus Christ disagrees with this assessment. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters -- yes, even his own life --he cannot be my disciple."
If your loyalty to Christ causes pain and tension with family members, you endure that as a Christian, but remain faithful to the Lord. There is no relationship that is more important, there are no person who deserves greater loyalty. This is what's involved; this is the loyalty, this is the depth of commitment necessary to be a follower of Christ.
Gill on Luke 14:26 is exactly what I am attempting to convey. .
not that proper hatred of any, or all of these, is enjoined by Christ; for this would be contrary to the laws of God, to the first principles of nature, to all humanity, to the light of nature, to reason and divine revelation: but that these are not to be preferred to Christ, or loved more than he, as it is explained in ( Matthew 10:37 ) yea, these are to be neglected and forsaken, and turned from with indignation and resentment, when they stand in the way of the honour and interest of Christ, and dissuade from his service: such who would be accounted the disciples of Christ, should be ready to part with their dearest relations and friends, with the greatest enjoyment of life, and with life itself, when Christ calls for it; or otherwise they are not worthy to be called his disciples. The Ethiopic version inserts, "his house", into the account.
Now perhaps I am wrong, which will not be the last time, but if one had to choose between abandoning an unrepentant rebellious wife vs Serving Christ in a calling, Are we not commanded to choose the later and not be disqualified by this inspired choice?
Robert how do you know it is the WIFE that is "unrepentant and rebellious" and not the husband who may be pursuing a mission for all the wrong reasons?