Marriage

[Mongo]

This might have been done before, but I'm still new.

On another Christian forum, the subject came up about marrige. One person wanted to know if making a lifeling committment to someone, without marrying them, counted as being married to God or if it was wrong. The account is from the poster's personal life.

I stated that marriage is widely supported throughout the Bible and merely saying you are married doesn't count. That we can chose not to like the answer, but that doesn't mean it's ok.

A moderator insisted that marriage is never stated as a requirement in the Bible and that people only needed to make a vow to each other and before God. Then banned me and claimed I was working for the Anti-Christ (I know, I'm still shaking my head).

So my question to you is - Do you have to be married to another for "relations" to be permissable? You know how I feel.

[Ovedya]

We've had this discussion here before as well.

In my search of the Scriptures I have never come across a particular passage where God requires a certain type of cerimony with certain words to be said, officiated by a minister, etc. However, the Lord never forbade any such ceremonies either. In fact His first miracle was performed at a wedding ceremony.

As far as I am concerned it's strictly a matter of personal preference. If a couple is satisfied that they are married before God withouthaving having held a ceremony or having said vows before a priest, let them be convinced in their own minds. However, I think that it is a good idea to go ahead and have some kind of ceremony simply for the purposes of confirming your dedication before your friends. Besides, marriage is such a wonderful thing, it should be righ that you allow your friends and family to participate.

[Mongo]

I don't know how anyone else feels, but at some point the way things are going, it would seem hypocritical for a Christian to apply for a marriage license from a government that doesn't support the Biblical definition of marriage.

So then I take you're advocating not having to be married, but "relations" is ok as long as you made that committment to the other person?

Or, you trying to hi-jack?

Bad WSB! Bad! No cheesecake for you!

[DaniJ87]

A marriage license merely lets the world know you're married. This is necessary because of the restrictions on the decisions for ill individuals, and tax thinge, etc... not because God thinks you need a license. However, a marriage ceremony, and "officially" becoming married, is absolutely necessary! You must still take the vow of FOREVER- regardless of whether or not you let the government know.

[Mongo]

We've had this discussion here before as well.

In my search of the Scriptures I have never come across a particular passage where God requires a certain type of cerimony with certain words to be said, officiated by a minister, etc. However, the Lord never forbade any such ceremonies either. In fact His first miracle was performed at a wedding ceremony.

As far as I am concerned it's strictly a matter of personal preference. If a couple is satisfied that they are married before God withouthaving having held a ceremony or having said vows before a priest, let them be convinced in their own minds. However, I think that it is a good idea to go ahead and have some kind of ceremony simply for the purposes of confirming your dedication before your friends. Besides, marriage is such a wonderful thing, it should be righ that you allow your friends and family to participate.

Ok, I had the same experience, but when I am my girlfriend lived together for 4 years, we never conceived. The day we got married, in a little chapel with our friends there to celebrate, we conceived. 4 years and nothing, then BAM! I got the message.

[Ovedya]

We've had this discussion here before as well.

In my search of the Scriptures I have never come across a particular passage where God requires a certain type of cerimony with certain words to be said, officiated by a minister, etc. However, the Lord never forbade any such ceremonies either. In fact His first miracle was performed at a wedding ceremony.

As far as I am concerned it's strictly a matter of personal preference. If a couple is satisfied that they are married before God withouthaving having held a ceremony or having said vows before a priest, let them be convinced in their own minds. However, I think that it is a good idea to go ahead and have some kind of ceremony simply for the purposes of confirming your dedication before your friends. Besides, marriage is such a wonderful thing, it should be righ that you allow your friends and family to participate.

Ok, I had the same experience, but when I am my girlfriend lived together for 4 years, we never conceived. The day we got married, in a little chapel with our friends there to celebrate, we conceived. 4 years and nothing, then BAM! I got the message.

I believe that God honors your commitment to one another either way. There is something to be said for a great wedding celebration, though. Weddings should always be done in the company of firends, and especially the church. There's always a corporate blessing when we include the church.

[Mongo]

I was merely saying I don't put any merit in the government's "Marriage license". A wedding ceremony is a good thing.

Sheesh, how could you? They advocate the legal marriage of gays and try to belittle normal marriages as 'the practices of zealous people'. Its like the world is turning completely evil.

Oh wait, it is. NVM.

[Smalcald]

I think from the teachings of Christ Himself we see that marriage is required for a man and women to form a family, and of course sex would be a part of that. Sex outside of that context is called fornication, something else Christ spoke directly about, as did Paul. Christ spoke of marriage often, and He was not speaking about some sort of thing we make up, He was talking about traditional Jewish marriages done before the Church at that time.

I don't see how a Christian could consider themselves married without the formal blessing of the Church and a Christian ceremony of some sort (however you worship or with whoever you worship). I agree it does not have to be big, and it does not have to be expensive, but I think a minister or a priest or a deacon or an elder is required.

But I would be very suspicious of anyone who claims they want to get married but refuses to get a formal marriage license from the state. It seems a pretty convenient excuse to avoid future legal obligations if they decide to leave the "arrangement". The marriage license is what provides the legal binding agreement between two people, it provides the legal remedies in the case either party breaks their promise of lifetime fidelity, if someone is committed to a Christian marriage, it of course would be assumed that this would be no big deal as they would be committed for life, and a state marriage license is easy to get and provides many legal benefits, so why not get one? Unless of course you don't really want the obligations of marriage. As a man, I think this sounds like many lines one could come up with. We don't need that piece of paper baby; we don't need the state meddling in our love, etc, a good way to dodge the commitment bullet.

[ayin jade]

1Co 7:2 But, because of the fornications, let each have his own wife, and let each have her own husband.

Definitely says we are to marry and not just live together. Jesus pointed out to the woman at the well that the man she was living with currently isnt her husband. As for marriage, what I see in scripture is that a marriage ceremony is a public contractual event. A public commitment to a union. It is too easy to try and claim we are married when there is no contractual commitment in the form of a marriage ceremony licensed by the state or given by a minister. Ruth 4 is a good example.

[other one]

Here in Oklahoma, if you lived together for 7 years prior to November 1 1998, you are married.... After that date we have conflicting legal decisions and you may or may not be.... things are in a transition and we don't know which way it will go.

Sam