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S
I don't know explicitly from the Bible what would be required apart from an actual ceremony validating the marriage. But in most countries that have law systems based on English Common Law (US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK) at one point a couple was considered married if they simply lived together.
J
c
I'd be careful. In the vast majority of cases that is correct. What about a country, where Christians are not granted a piece of paper with a signature on it?
EDIT:
I take back the bolded portion. After having put a little bit of thought into the situation presented by the OP, I think this is a much more complex matter.
Abraham and Sarah, were they fornicators? Did they have a government issued document?
I'm not trying to justify sin. Rather, I am saying that this is not an issue that simplistic blanket statements can be made, while being consistent.
I'd be careful. In the vast majority of cases that is correct. What about a country, where Christians are not granted a piece of paper with a signature on it?
EDIT:
I take back the bolded portion. After having put a little bit of thought into the situation presented by the OP, I think this is a much more complex matter.
Abraham and Sarah, were they fornicators? Did they have a government issued document?
I'm not trying to justify sin. Rather, I am saying that this is not an issue that simplistic blanket statements can be made, while being consistent.
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Marriage has been set in different ways by different communities and tribes. Going against those methods is where sin jumps in. For example, if a couple in Arctic get married by having a pastor join them, then in that case it is biblically legitimate as the pastor has the authority to join them. Marriage is made by some authority which may be a guardian (Like the indians), pastor or the government. God bless
C
Marriage is meant to be a covenant relationship not a contractual agreement. Nor is it meant to be a see how we go deal. This means you need to make commitments and vows before God and man (with or without a legal document) and a marriage ceremony is the easiest way to do this. If a man truly loves a woman he will give her a wedding no matter how big or small it is. Just living together is called fornication no matter how you slice it.
Liz01,
Read the account of the first marriage in Genesis. When Adam found a suitable helper, they were devoted to one another until death. No one else needed to be involved for them to be "officially married". There was God's design for marriage, and Adam and Eve's devotion to one another.
That being said...you do need to understand that a couple living together does not constitute a marriage (John 4:18).
The difference is in the purpose of the relationship. If the purpose of the relationship is marriage then they are married....if it's simply living "together" then it's simply adultery.
Also, what God recognizes as marriage....can be something completely different than what government laws will recognize as marriage. Not all governments respect an individual's right to practice freedom of religion. Whatever those laws are concerning marriage, they should probably be obeyed (Romans 13:1-7).
Read the account of the first marriage in Genesis. When Adam found a suitable helper, they were devoted to one another until death. No one else needed to be involved for them to be "officially married". There was God's design for marriage, and Adam and Eve's devotion to one another.
That being said...you do need to understand that a couple living together does not constitute a marriage (John 4:18).
The difference is in the purpose of the relationship. If the purpose of the relationship is marriage then they are married....if it's simply living "together" then it's simply adultery.
Also, what God recognizes as marriage....can be something completely different than what government laws will recognize as marriage. Not all governments respect an individual's right to practice freedom of religion. Whatever those laws are concerning marriage, they should probably be obeyed (Romans 13:1-7).
B
Hi
Let me chip in something here.
Reading this thread reminds me of my own marriage certificate! Since the day I signed the paper with my wife, we have kept it in some secure drawer in our home. We never bring it out to check or remind ourselves that we are married because that's not what the certificate is for. (Actually, the certificate has tremendous benefits for us as marriage couple in our country but that's not the purpose of this thread so I won't elaborate.)
Been married > 18 years. We stay married because we commit the marriage to God. And more than that, we live as married couple (not as live in partner because there's a difference in the eyes of God). And if we encounter problems in the marriage (which probably run into hundreds or thousands over the last 18 years), we did not rely on the cert to stay together but on God's love and grace and favor.
That said, God's institution of marriage can also be integrated into a country's marriage system, provided the system does not go against the Word of God. And if the system offers benefits for registered couples, why not go along with it? However, I can't speak for every country in this.
And if you want to be a married couple without the certificate but recognized as married couple in the eyes of God, by all means. But you may (I think) run into problems with the law of your country. May God gives everyone wisdom in this issue.
Let me chip in something here.
Reading this thread reminds me of my own marriage certificate! Since the day I signed the paper with my wife, we have kept it in some secure drawer in our home. We never bring it out to check or remind ourselves that we are married because that's not what the certificate is for. (Actually, the certificate has tremendous benefits for us as marriage couple in our country but that's not the purpose of this thread so I won't elaborate.)
Been married > 18 years. We stay married because we commit the marriage to God. And more than that, we live as married couple (not as live in partner because there's a difference in the eyes of God). And if we encounter problems in the marriage (which probably run into hundreds or thousands over the last 18 years), we did not rely on the cert to stay together but on God's love and grace and favor.
That said, God's institution of marriage can also be integrated into a country's marriage system, provided the system does not go against the Word of God. And if the system offers benefits for registered couples, why not go along with it? However, I can't speak for every country in this.
And if you want to be a married couple without the certificate but recognized as married couple in the eyes of God, by all means. But you may (I think) run into problems with the law of your country. May God gives everyone wisdom in this issue.
Scripture says once you have laid with a woman you have become one flesh before Him. That is an indication that the deal is sealed. So for those who have had or have multiple sleeping partners, to put gently, have alot to answer for and repent to repent of.
1 Corithians 6:13b-18
13b)Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
14) And YHVH both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
15) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Messiah? Shall I then take the members of Messiah and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!
16) Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says "shall become one flesh."
17)But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
18) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
1 Corithians 6:13b-18
13b)Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
14) And YHVH both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
15) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Messiah? Shall I then take the members of Messiah and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!
16) Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says "shall become one flesh."
17)But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
18) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
C
I am certain they did, every thing that ever happened in their lives is not written in the bible. People sinned in the bible, just like we do, that does not make it right or change the fact that the bible is against fornication. Cain murdered Abel, does that suggest to you that we should kill people as we please??
First off.... AVINU!!!!! How ya doin sweetheart??
Also, What about the customs of where a person live? Is it not "law" to unite in marriage? How about obeying the law of the land? That is the legal part, but how is someone united as one under God if they are just living together?
Living with someone without marrying them is just common law marriage.
Also, What about the customs of where a person live? Is it not "law" to unite in marriage? How about obeying the law of the land? That is the legal part, but how is someone united as one under God if they are just living together?
Living with someone without marrying them is just common law marriage.