Marriage: Is the ceremony important

[Guppy]

My brother and his girlfriend committed fornication. His excuse was, "I am married to her in my heart." Someone brought up the question, "Well, does a ceremony really matter? I mean, if you are committed then one is married in God's sight right?" I am really wondering about this. The reason is because...i am very hurt that my brother and his girlfriend were so selfish and lied to me. She lost her virginity and i am so hurt. I was hoping for a pure sister in law. So what defines marriage? If marriage is a mirror of God's relationship with us....then where does fornication begin? Does a ceremony matter in God's sight?

guppy

 

[ladylovesJesus]

God made marriage as something special when two people join together in matrimony they become one. He made sex to be enjoyed by a married couple. God did not say live together and have sex. One has to go through a physical marriage ceremony to be truly in God's will.

What does the Bible say about marriage. Quite a lot. Here are some scriptures:-
1 Cor.7.Principles of Marriage
1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:
It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Keep Your Marriage Vows

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Ephesians 5

Walk in Love
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know,[a] that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Marriage—Christ and the Church

Ephesians 5.
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body,[d] of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”[e] 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

God bless

LLJ :rainbow: :rose:

 

[Coconut]

Fornication is scripturally defined as sexual immorality. If fornication is defined as (according to traditional catholic teaching) sex before marriage, how then can a married person commit fornication as indicated below?


(Matt 5:32) But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, [sexual immorality] causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

(1 Corinthians 7:1) Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, [sexual immorality] let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

According to my own understanding of the Word, when a man and woman consumate their relationship, 'the act' is the 'marriage ceremony' but not many would agree.

 

[Guppy]

My own personal belief

I really believe that without a ceremony there is no marriage. The reason is because i am sure of what marriage actually means. Marriage is a mirror of God's relationship with us, right? Then when we compare marriage to our relationship with God and how it got that way, we get the answer. Baptism is an outward symbol right? It doesn't save us, but it is commanded. We got saved by an inward act. But an outward act is obedience. Thus marriage is an outward symbol. Furthermore, i think a marriage should be made offical by some kind of authority...here on earth. Does anyone have any other thoughts about this?

guppy

 

[coolchristiangurl]

the ceremony asks God to come down and make these two beings become one. That's my thoughts... simplified in a sentance

 

[None]

ok i am confused about this too. how traditional does the ceremony have to be and does it matter if it is a legal ceremony or not in god's eyes? like when eddie murphy and tracie edmonds had a ceremony in another country but were not legally married

and what does matrimony mean?

 

[rizen1]

My brother and his girlfriend committed fornication. His excuse was, "I am married to her in my heart." Someone brought up the question, "Well, does a ceremony really matter? I mean, if you are committed then one is married in God's sight right?" I am really wondering about this. The reason is because...i am very hurt that my brother and his girlfriend were so selfish and lied to me. She lost her virginity and i am so hurt. I was hoping for a pure sister in law. So what defines marriage? If marriage is a mirror of God's relationship with us....then where does fornication begin? Does a ceremony matter in God's sight?

guppy

I understand your disappointment, but the only thing you can do is pray that they abstain from having sex. You can only give advice but its always their choice.

The point is sex was design for marriage, but not everyone entering is going to be a virgin.

But if in Christ there is no condemnation and you're a new creation,
in the eyes of God you are a virgin, because all sins have been washed away.
God sees the unpure as pure when they are washed in his Blood.

If your brother and girlfriend repents and goes to God all he will see is a new creation.

coconut
Fornication is scripturally defined as sexual immorality. If fornication is defined as (according to traditional catholic teaching) sex before marriage, how then can a married person commit fornication as indicated below?


(Matt 5:32) But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, [sexual immorality] causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

(1 Corinthians 7:1) Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, [sexual immorality] let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

According to my own understanding of the Word, when a man and woman consumate their relationship, 'the act' is the 'marriage ceremony' but not many would agree.

I agree sister.

 

[rizen1]

ok i am confused about this too. how traditional does the ceremony have to be and does it matter if it is a legal ceremony or not in god's eyes? like when eddie murphy and tracie edmonds had a ceremony in another country but were not legally married

and what does matrimony mean?

In the eyes of the Government the marriage can be seen as legal or illegal.
If you go through the laws and the requirements..Eddie and his ex wife may have missed out on some details.

Ceremony without the license...If you dont have a marriage license the marriage is not valid.
In Gods eyes it was a marriage, If there was a minister, they stood before him and said vows ( they were in a committed relationship).

The license ( a piece of paper ) is only for legal purposes...

Lets not get confused with Government requirements and God's requirements for marriage.

 

[Singlemom]

I am not picking on you!

In the eyes of the Government the marriage can be seen as legal or illegal.
If you go through the laws and the requirements..Eddie and his ex wife may have missed out on some details.

Ceremony without the license...If you dont have a marriage license the marriage is not valid.
In Gods eyes it was a marriage, If there was a minister, they stood before him and said vows ( they were in a committed relationship).

The license ( a piece of paper ) is only for legal purposes...

Lets not get confused with Government requirements and God's requirements for marriage.

Rizen.......as I read this post......the silly side of me kicked in............I agree with you 100%

I do have to add that Marriage is between a man and a woman!!!!!!!!
That is the only marriage that is recognized in God's eyes.