Married in heart?

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dyingeveryday

Guest
#1
First I must apologize for this lie. When I first came here there was an option for married or not married. In the my heart married applies. In the world this is not true and most would say this. We live together as if married. Her former husband has disappeared for many years now. The issues were irreconcilable. She was faithful and he was not. He left them and there has been no way for divorce. She was not worried about this as she never thought of being married again until we met. Without going into to many details about their marriage, I argue was it even legal or marriage in God's eyes? They were married out of pressure because she was pregnant. They were both young, this was many years ago. At the time they were married at the courthouse, he was high on drugs. When it came time for him to say, "I do" he couldn't even utter the words. He simply said or hummed, mmmhmmmm his eyes closed so high on drugs. The way she describes this day is, "how could anyone even be married that way." yet the judge issued a certificate. I have not felt conviction on being here. In fact I believe it is where I am to be and what I am supposed to do. There is law there is grace. There is man's law. This is a public apology and confession. I am asking for forgiveness.
 
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iTOREtheSKY

Guest
#2
Well,I for one don't feel you need to ask me or any other member of this forum for forgiveness. Your personal life is between you & God. I do however thank you for sharing your heart,as I'm sure that wasn't the easiest thing to do. I am sure you'll get a bunch of people offering you scripture on your situation,but I can't really considering what I know. I do know that God is forgiving & long suffering,and I'm not judging you. I guess yes,by law she'd still be married. Is there no legal way to negate the marriage if this man cannot be found..like some sort of abandonment clause?? Well,you've given me something to lift up in prayer for you & her...that the Lord gives you wisdom & strength in this matter. God Bless dude,and again ty for sharing. I'm sure there are other's in the same boat.
 
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
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#3
When things like this happen, when we are human, this is why God sent His Son. We have to be made clean to live with Him in eternity, God sent His Son so we can do that. Our part is to love the Lord with all our heart and all our strength. And repent, to listen to him with faith in all He says. You are wiped clean. You are married as much as it is in your power for both of you to be. You have been made one under God. You would even do more to make it legal in our fleshly world if you could. Please accept the complete forgiveness of any wrong that Christ has given you. It is done.

God Bless.
 
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Powemm

Guest
#4
Dude.. God stepped in through you..and like tore said ..isn't anyone's business but you and Gods..
 
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MissCris

Guest
#5
Thanks for being honest and up-front about this :)

However, like them ^^^ I think this is between you and God.

That's one heck of a sad wedding story, too...yow.
 

santuzza

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2013
1,609
38
48
#6
I, for one, am happy to accept your apology for the lie.

All the other business is between you, your partner, and God. I am absolutely certain there is a way for her to gain a lawful divorce. Look into it NOW. Get it done NOW. Then get married as soon as possible. It's very hard to be a godly witness when it's clear you two are breaking a commandment. I think the fact that you've shared this here is a sign that you want us to support you and keep you accountable. You have both from me. But please, make it right in God's eyes.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,427
2,497
113
#7
You don't owe anyone around here an apology.

You said you've only been saved a short time. As you proceed, God will bring new things to your attention, and convict you about things you didn't expect. So... expect your views, and your convictions about things, to continue to change.
 
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Powemm

Guest
#8
Allow "God" to lead you in this .. Not people .. "He" is quite capable without our input :)
 
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jimmydiggs

Guest
#9
Sounds like adultery to me. If they were married, you're not to disrupt that.
 
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dyingeveryday

Guest
#10
I thank you all for your insight and for taking the time to read this and consider it. I definitely know that my walk and life are between God and I. I also believe in confessing my sins. Although I don't feel a conviction on the situation itself. I did realize that it was deceptive to say what I said despite the way I feel. That is why I posted. What I expected was a barrage of scripture etc.. What I got was people who are truly Christ like. On the subject of a legal way to negate this. We researched this and without his participation this is all we could do. The guy has not been found anywhere and he has had arrest warrants for years now. No one can find him. I believe that I am here and in the right place. As you all said that is between God and I. I am at peace with this situation.
 

KJ22

Junior Member
Apr 14, 2013
19
2
0
#11
She can divorce him by publishing notice in the newspaper, so civil divorce is possible. The other issues aren't for me to judge. Go to God.
 
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jimmydiggs

Guest
#12
If she is not divorced, you're committing adultery. Repent of your sin.

If she is not divorced for reasons given in scripture, then to marry her is yet again sin.

The heart of men leads to sin. Follow the word of God, instead.
 
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hattiebod

Guest
#13
Not an Ideal start to your relationship! But the most important vital, life saving, life altering thing is your relationship with Christ. You have that right so now, all will be ok :) Phew!! Isn't it so amazing, that He would die for us, that He loves us, holds us...grows us....I can see you growing in your desire to 'get it right' because in your new life, it matters to you. But be comforted, He loves you just as you are. As you give all your life to Him He will take out the knots, straighten the curves, flatten the hills :) He will be a lamp to your feet, a light to your path. You love your lady, so does God. You are both so loved, everything will be Ok....we have the promise of God in that. So, just pray for all to be well. Wait on Him & God Bless you both abundantly. <><
 
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sandtigeress

Senior Member
Apr 29, 2013
526
16
18
#14
marriage in my eyes is not a piece of paper. It is a commitment to share the life (its good times and its burdens) with each other. A Commitment before god and people. You did that, you told god you are a couple and you tell people all the time (by living together as a couple, by telling people this is my SO, my love of many years). The rest is a piece of paper.

But when such a marriage (without the legal part) struggles, not every fellow christian sees that you are/were married,
and people will tell you you are/were not. And you will loose a bit more of your peace of mind.
And yes it is difficult, when there are labels to choose from, and you have to decide which lie to choose, the one about being married (then some people might feel decieved, because they belive the legal contract is necessary) or to lie against your heart
 
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Powemm

Guest
#15
Looking back briefly... I'm so thankful , that in my own adultery towards God with other idols .. Christ "still" came...
He walked me out right in the middle of it.. No shame , no guilt...just pure love.. NO ONE , not even those who judged ..
ever offered "once" to do such a thing ..they came with their lofty glares, their callous words .. But Christ ? oh man!! Nothing compares! ..
 
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jimmydiggs

Guest
#16
Looking back briefly... I'm so thankful , that in my own adultery towards God with other idols .. Christ "still" came...
He walked me out right in the middle of it.. No shame , no guilt...just pure love.. NO ONE , not even those who judged ..
ever offered "once" to do such a thing ..they came with their lofty glares, their callous words .. But Christ ? oh man!! Nothing compares! ..
I suppose thats a "good" way to try and justify sin.

With the woman at the well, Jesus made note of her adultery, and then offered her grace.
 
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Kisses1990

Guest
#17
I've been a long defender of the concept of "married at heart". I believe love is something greater and bigger than a piece of paper. I don't believe you need a judge or minister to make your marriage "official". Obviously you do need one to make it official LEGALLY. But I should hope God would see the bigger picture. Our legal systems are irrelevant. Man made laws do not count in the final scope of things. If two people love each other with all their heart, are faithful, and act as if they are married, I believe their souls ARE married. They don't need a piece of paper in the court system to define their love or to tell them how their hearts feel. You might try to say this is living in sin. I disagree. I think you CAN be married, without being "married". Does this make sense? It's sort of an abstract concept, but it's based in TRUTH. The truth of one's love for another. You don't need a piece of paper for that. Marriage is a state of mind. Marriage is in the heart. Again, not LEGALLY. If you want to make it legal, you have to do it by the books. But if you don't care about the legalities of it, then it doesn't really matter as long as your mind is in the right place.
 
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iraasuup

Moderator
Staff member
Apr 5, 2013
185
5
18
#18
I've been a long defender of the concept of "married at heart". I believe love is something greater and bigger than a piece of paper. I don't believe you need a judge or minister to make your marriage "official". Obviously you do need one to make it official LEGALLY. But I should hope God would see the bigger picture. Our legal systems are irrelevant. Man made laws do not count in the final scope of things. If two people love each other with all their heart, are faithful, and act as if they are married, I believe their souls ARE married. They don't need a piece of paper in the court system to define their love or to tell them how their hearts feel. You might try to say this is living in sin. I disagree. I think you CAN be married, without being "married". Does this make sense? It's sort of an abstract concept, but it's based in TRUTH. The truth of one's love for another. You don't need a piece of paper for that. Marriage is a state of mind. Marriage is in the heart. Again, not LEGALLY. If you want to make it legal, you have to do it by the books. But if you don't care about the legalities of it, then it doesn't really matter as long as your mind is in the right place.

A statement like this, can clearly only come from someone who has never been married.
 
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Powemm

Guest
#19
I suppose thats a "good" way to try and justify sin.

With the woman at the well, Jesus made note of her adultery, and then offered her grace.
Jesus justified me , not the sin :)
 
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Kisses1990

Guest
#20
A statement like this, can clearly only come from someone who has never been married.
I'm happily "married at heart" for nearly 6 years. Not legally. Spiritually. Thank you very much.