Married spiritually but not legally

[Brother-Paul]

Marriage is a covenant between two people....A priest, judge, justice or ships captain would only make it official...Honor your marriage, and as far as the Word is concerned you are married.

1 - The groom approaches his hopeful bride.
2 - He offers her a ring (is they can afford one) and asks her will you marry me, if she accepts they are betrothed, which means they are as we know engaged, they are promised to each other but not yet married.
3 - It is not until they say their vows and the covenant is signed, with witnesses, at that point, the wedding official and legally binding.


Who can officiate a marriage?

This can vary, country to country, it can also vary in the USA state to state, but in general the people you state can do so, so long as they are licenced to do so,


God is the author of marriage, it is He who sets out the requirements, which is a covenant between two people, who make their vows one to another, till death does part them from each other.

Sadly in these days the types of celebrants/officiants has now been watered down to include, anyone with a licence to carry out the ceremony, saved, unsaved, humanist, etc. They can all carry out the wedding if they have a licence to do so.


Marriage—Christ and the Church
Ephesians 5:22-33
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 Saviour 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, 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.”
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.

1 Corinthians 7:1-5
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Peter 3:1-6
1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,
2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.
4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,
6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

1 Peter 3:7
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Colossians 3:19
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Hebrews 13:4
4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

1 Timothy 3:2
2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Acts 5:29
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

God is the author and creator of marriage between a man and a woman.

 

[Brother-Paul]

I think we have two different threads on the same subject. "many or few" is sort of on this same subject.

Possibly some overlap in each, as happens in the threads

But, 'many or few' is really based on the number of souls going to heaven, this thread is about marriage.

Shalom

 

[Brother-Paul]

When we were married it wasn't in a 'church', I didn't have an engagement ring I didn't even have new dress or a bouquet, or wedding cars. Just him and me, my dad, his mum and brother and a couple of cousins. I made the buffet in our front room and then we went to the pub. I'd post pics if I knew how. His family said it would never last but here we are fifty years on and counting. Oh and he was skint so I paid for my ring - £9.99.

So similar to my wife and myself Pearl, it was second marriage for both of us, we had the basics and nothing more. Like you comment sister, so many said it wouldn't last, and that was in 1975.

Would your ring have cost £9, 19 shillings and 11 pence (I think Feb 1971 was when decimalisation came in, in the UK)

May the good Lord continue to best each of you and your marriage sister, in Jesus Name Amen.

 

[PearlB]

Who can officiate a marriage?

This can vary, country to country, it can also vary in the USA state to state, but in general the people you state can do so, so long as they are licenced to do so,

For a marriage to be recognised by the church or in law there must be a registered celebrant. This applies even in churches apart from the Anglican church whose ministers perform that duty. In all other church circumstances there must be a registrar present, either in a church building or a registered wedding venue - like a hotel.

But in the eyes of God there need not be any of this formality as a couple are married/joined by consent and commitment to each other. They may make promises to each other or they may choose not to; but the joining together of their hearts, mind and bodies is the marriage.

 

[PearlB]

So similar to my wife and myself Pearl, it was second marriage for both of us, we had the basics and nothing more. Like you comment sister, so many said it wouldn't last, and that was in 1975.

Would your ring have cost £9, 19 shillings and 11 pence (I think Feb 1971 was when decimalisation came in, in the UK)

May the good Lord continue to best each of you and your marriage sister, in Jesus Name Amen.

I still wear the same £9.99 ring although I know of people who have had blessings and posh new rings for a milestone anniversary. 1971 was the year we married but late on, and we had already been together for over a year by then. When we filled in the census that year we put common law marriage. He hadn't been married before but I had and sadly my ex died of Covid this time last year and his brother a couple of months later.

 

[Brother-Paul]

For a marriage to be recognised by the church or in law there must be a registered celebrant. This applies even in churches apart from the Anglican church whose ministers perform that duty. In all other church circumstances there must be a registrar present, either in a church building or a registered wedding venue - like a hotel.

But in the eyes of God there need not be any of this formality as a couple are married/joined by consent and commitment to each other. They may make promises to each other or they may choose not to; but the joining together of their hearts, mind and bodies is the marriage.

Hi Pearl

All you say is correct but there must be a signed covenant to make it law.

It was the same at the time of Jesus on earth, the future husband asks the future wife if she will marry him, the future wife says yes, their hearts are right. PTL

But then they would go to the edge of the city where the law makers were, they would say their vows to each other, the law maker would prepare the covenant and they would sign it.

There has to be a covenant agreement to make it legal. It was the same in Moses time, there had to be the certificate of marriage, to be able to have receive a certificate of divorce. If there was not a certificate of marriage, there would be no need for a certificate of divorce.

I will add a very important comment by Jesus regarding this, He said,

Divorce
Matthew 19:1-12
1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.
2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’
5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?
6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.
9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.
12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Jesus said it was not like that from the beginning, which sums up what you say, the joining together of their hearts, mind and bodies is the marriage.

That is essential Pearl, PTL.

Jesus explained the certificate of divorce, but did not mention the certificate of marriage; I believe that is for the reason mentioned above, you cannot have a certificate of divorce unless you have a certificate of marriage. Jesus' first miracle was at Canaan in Galilee, it used the wedding then to make a comparison for the church and himself, and what a beautiful example he gave us.

The marriage of two people, the groom and the bride, Jesus and his church, which requires a covenant to be legal.

Jesus gave us a new covenant, note the new covenant, replacing and better than the first included the wine, the description discussed earlier regarding the marriage was that the couple would meet, he would offer her wine, if she accepts the wine the agreement to marry was accepted and the covenant for marriage was prepared. If the marriage covenant was not necessary Jesus would have said so, or would not have used this to describe the marriage between him and the church, his bride.

Hearts have to be right as you describe, that is paramount, but the covenant is an essential part, without the legal agreement the marriage has not been completed.

Now if a couple have lived together for x number of years, thinking they were married, they can repent and will be forgiven.

If they marry at any point after living together and have received a certificate of marriage, no matter how basic a wedding they had, they are married in God's eyes and the law. They can repent of past sins. If they came to Christ, at any point after their marriage, every past sin is automatically forgiven and remembered no more.

Bless you

 

[Brother-Paul]

I still wear the same £9.99 ring although I know of people who have had blessings and posh new rings for a milestone anniversary. 1971 was the year we married but late on, and we had already been together for over a year by then. When we filled in the census that year we put common law marriage. He hadn't been married before but I had and sadly my ex died of Covid this time last year and his brother a couple of months later.

And your ring is still worth more than money can buy, the value is in your heart

Bless you sister

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

1 - The groom approaches his hopeful bride.
2 - He offers her a ring (is they can afford one) and asks her will you marry me, if she accepts they are betrothed, which means they are as we know engaged, they are promised to each other but not yet married.
3 - It is not until they say their vows and the covenant is signed, with witnesses, at that point, the wedding official and legally binding.


Who can officiate a marriage?

This can vary, country to country, it can also vary in the USA state to state, but in general the people you state can do so, so long as they are licenced to do so,


God is the author of marriage, it is He who sets out the requirements, which is a covenant between two people, who make their vows one to another, till death does part them from each other.

Sadly in these days the types of celebrants/officiants has now been watered down to include, anyone with a licence to carry out the ceremony, saved, unsaved, humanist, etc. They can all carry out the wedding if they have a licence to do so.


Marriage—Christ and the Church
Ephesians 5:22-33
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 Saviour 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, 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.”
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.

1 Corinthians 7:1-5
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Peter 3:1-6
1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,
2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.
4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,
6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

1 Peter 3:7
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Colossians 3:19
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Hebrews 13:4
4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually

I agree that for appearance sake they should make it official...We want to avoid all appearance of evil....Still, the covenant was made between the man and the woman..Not between the man the woman and the official.

 

[backNforth]

To be "married spiritually but not legally" is the absolute preferred way. In truth, it is is ONLY Lawful way before a Creator God; anything less gives God's glory and your sovereignty in Christ, to the godless State (aka Caesar). "Licensed" ministers? ...from the word licentious, which means morally unrestrained and lascivious. And licensed ministers are Caesar's "agents in the field." But I recall that no man can serve two masters.

I have "officiated" a marriage, and I am no licensed agent of Caesar. Any man of God can assist a couple, but it is not a scriptural necessity.

I realise that the worldly conditioned readers here will rush out, with their pre-fab responses, to kill the messenger; I expect that. They are obsessed with salvation through politics; the power of the lie is strong.

From women who want some kind of worldly security just in case their wayward husband deserts, to men who want to hold on to their trophy wife, the Caesarian contract of the marriage license is provided to appease their lack of faith in God's plan.

And folks give little thought to the occult and/or heathen nature of the objects they involve in their "ceremony," while such traditions of men bring death.

Child Protective Services can legally barge in at gunpoint and take "your" children because you submitted to Caesar in the first instance to get his permission to do what God already said was Lawful i.e. marry and procreate. Marriage is already Lawful before God, but because you were taught by the world to go to Caesar for a "license," Caesar now presumes ownership over you and the product of your union i.e. your as-yet-unborn children. Meanwhile, you're laying on the floor screaming "BUT I GOT RIGHTS! I GOT RIGHTS!" Well, no, you don't. Child Protective Services can legally barge in at gunpoint and take "your" children because you submitted to Caesar in the first instance to get his permission to do what God already said was Lawful i.e. marry and procreate.

I have three totally unpapered homebirthed and homeschooled daughters, ages 18, 16, and 12 years. No birth certificates, no passports, and they boarded an international flight (from USA to NZ). They are not USA citizens and they are not NZ citizens. It is a GIFT that my wife and I gave them.

Marriage was ordained by God (Genesis 2:23-24, Mark 10:6-9, 1 Corinthians 7, 1 Timothy 5:14, Hebrews 13:4). Speaking of marriage, Jesus himself said, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Mark 10:9). Yet, this is exactly what the men of government do today by saying marriage is illegal; they put asunder the institution of marriage! Remember, if anyone does anything today without a license from the government, it is an illegal act; and there's a strong possibility of getting penalized, fined and imprisoned. Marriage is no exception. Marriage is illegal!

If it is God’s Will to bring two souls together in Holy Matrimony, what right does mere man have to say two souls cannot get married, until they ask the government for permission?! Until they pay the government their hard earned money to get a license to exercise God’s Will? Does mere man have authority, at law, to interpose himself, or his purported law, between God’s Will, and to bring punishment on a servant of Christ for exercising God’s Law? Could it be evil to execute the Law of God? Could it?

To summarize, a license requires us to commit idolatry by giving allegiance and preference to the laws of man above the Laws of our Creator - which provokes God to anger.

Who do you place as Lord over your life? Who do you look to for your authority for doing the things you do? What do you claim is your authority for marriage, preaching, fishing, having pets, working, or driving a car? If you have a license from the government to do these things, then you look to Caesar for your authority to do the things you do. If you rely solely upon the Scriptures to do these things, then you look to God for your authority to do the things you do. Either you believe, "I can do all things through the government which strengtheneth me", or you believe, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). You cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13).

 

[Sue D.]

There Is that passage in Mark 12:17 with the verses around it for context.

There Are laws to be followed to be legal in every state / country. We Are to be following the laws of the land unless they go against God's Word.

Your three daughters you talked about. Why would you do that? No passports and they were allowed on an international flight?! Or were they taken back Off ?!

You Do realize that you are acting in a rebellious way towards both God's Word and local / federal / civil law?! What kind of example are you being to your daughters? Just because a person can get away With , doesn't mean it should be done.

And then there is Also Romans 13:1-7 starts out "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. vs 2 Therefore who ever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves. " and take time to read the rest of that passage.

 

[backNforth]

There Is that passage in Mark 12:17 with the verses around it for context.
[and]
And then there is Also Romans 13:1-7 ...and take time to read the rest of that passage.

You'll have to do better if you expect anyone to take you seriously. Who would be foolish enough to believe that merely tossing out scripture references proves anything? It is the laziness, the refusal to study to show oneself approved, that is the cause of your predicament. Alternatively, if you will make your point, then I will gladly respond to that comment in kind.

I write this now, not only for SueD, but for the countless others who will read this, who know there is something terribly wrong, who know there is a better way, but who do not know, and were not taught, how to walk that higher path. It is written for those who have relegated themselves to the world of opinion, and hate themselves for it. It is written for those who truly love the truth and are thus sincerely willing to do what it takes to find and remain in that truth.

There Are laws to be followed to be legal in every state / country. We Are to be following the laws of the land unless they go against God's Word.

That is a patent falsehood taught throughout evangelical Christianity. It sounds good, but it's straight out of the pit. And, of course, you provided no scriptural support for your statement. But I do understand, as I was once where you presently are.

Compromising with temporal powers can never lead to redemption. Most "Christians" have accepted the unrighteous code of the State, instead of insisting that the State follow the Laws of Almighty God. Let's examine the difference between the two, between Law and force. The kingdoms of this world use force, for there is no love in what they do. Whereas the kingdom of God uses Law, for love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:8).

There is only one lawgiver (James 4:12). This one lawgiver is the Lord (Isaiah 33:22). Man does not have authority to make laws, but only the authority to make ‘ordinances’ which enforce Laws already in existence, which are the Laws of God. To obey the so-called ‘laws’ conjured up by the worldly governing authorities is to set aside the gospel of our Lord, and place oneself under a separate government, other than His.

Bondmen of Christ are not citizens of any country on this earth, our citizenship is in heaven, and so our first loyalty is to God, not "our" country (Ephesians 2:19, Philippians 3:20). Ours is a better, heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16).

Throughout the scripture, governments have always been the leader in bringing people to sin (Daniel 3:4-6, 1 Kings 12:25:33; 14:21-24, 2 Kings 13:2; 17:21; 21:11,16, 2 Chronicles 21:6,11-13, Isaiah 9:16). God condemned Israel for wanting to be ruled like other nations, by a human king (1 Samuel 8:4-5,20). When they chose to be ruled by a human leader, our Father considered that to be a rejection of Himself because He would not then reign over them (1 Samuel 8:7; 10:19). The people later realized their sin against God when they asked to be ruled by a human government (1 Samuel 12:19). Notice their kings never had any power to make new laws; nor did their best and wisest of kings make any, as in the cases of David and Solomon. And when a return to the ways of the Lord was made among them, as by Hezekiah and Josiah, it was not by making any new regulations, but by putting the original Law into execution; and by directing and requiring of the judges, and other officers, to act according to that Law.

To serve an earthly king, or his government, is to serve other gods (1 Samuel 8:8-9), which is violating the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3). It is wickedness and a sin to ask to be ruled by a human government instead of God (1 Samuel 12:17-19). Our Father condemned Israel for following the statutes of their disobedient government (2 Kings 17:7-8). He rejected those who followed the statutes of governments instead of His Commandments (2 Kings 17:19-20). He specifically said not to follow the ordinances of earthly governments, but to follow his laws, ordinances, and statutes instead (Leviticus 18:1-5). Throughout the history of Israel, the majority of the kings of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 11:4-9, 2 Kings 8:18), which shows that most rulers and governments are corrupt because of their carnal nature (Romans 8:7). The Jews eventually chose king Caesar over King Jesus (John 19:15). Those who do the same are just like them.

The whole duty of man is to live by God's commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13), not man's commandments which turn from the Truth (Mark 7:7, Colossians 2:20-22, Titus 1:14). What duty is there to a servant of Christ except to fulfil God's Law (Romans 13:8)? When we pray, we pray to do our Father’s Will, not man’s will (Matthew 6:10, Luke 11:2). God rewards those who place His Laws above man-made laws (Exodus 1:17,20). We are even instructed to avoid going to courts of law before the unjust and unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:1-8). How incredible that the just would go before the unjust for justice! Therein no blessings are found:

Psalms 1:1, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly."
The kings and rulers of the earth are against the Lord, and against his anointed (Psalm 2:2). Governments frame mischief and sin through their laws:

Psalms 94:20, "Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?"
Isaiah 10:1-2, "Woe unto them that prescribe grievous laws and take away the right from the poor."

When a government is ungodly, and people trust in that government, then God will punish those who trust in that government and obey their laws (Jeremiah 15:4; 46:25, 2 Kings 21:11-12, Isaiah 9:16, Ezekiel 11:10-12, Micah 6:13,16). The people will be cursed for trusting in man (Jeremiah 17:5, Hosea 10:13). It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man and governments (Psalm 118:8-9). We are told not to put our trust in human governments (Psalm 146:3). We are commanded to "turn away" from those with certain characteristics (2 Timothy 3:2-5), and governing authorities possess most of these said characteristics! Governing authorities are "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:5). So we are to turn away from governing authorities with these characteristics. They proclaim their own power (force), which becomes a 'law' unto itself. The law is made for evil-doers, not for the righteous (1 Timothy 1:9-10). Therefore, we are to obey God's Law, and whatever laws that man creates are irrelevant to us.

Esther 3:8, "And Haman (the highest prince in the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians) said unto king Ahasuerus (the king of the Medes and the Persians who reigned from India to Ethiopia), There is a certain people (people who were obedient to God's Laws) scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws..."

As we can see, God's children were following God's Law, which were diverse from the government's law, and His children did not keep the government's law! When one reads the book of Esther, one will see how God protected His children when they followed His law and disregarded the government's law. One cannot obey both laws, because one cannot serve two masters.

Your three daughters you talked about. Why would you do that?

I posted that as a teaser, to get your brain thinking. You ask, "Why would you do that?" and I reply, "What true follower of Christ wouldn't???"

No passports and they were allowed on an international flight?! Or were they taken back Off ?!

You were unaware that a passport ("passage of goods through a port" i.e. a dead thing) is not a requirement for international (or any) movement, because you chose to render to Caesar and not to God. As with your first comment above, I would be honored to chat this up with anyone who wishes to learn of, and then walk in, the truth of the matter.

You Do realize that you are acting in a rebellious way towards both God's Word and local / federal / civil law?! What kind of example are you being to your daughters? Just because a person can get away With , doesn't mean it should be done.

That is nothing but veiled shaming borne of ignorance. And it is a sin to deal so presumptuously with another. But I do understand why you would do that. Many will continue to follow that unclean spirit of fear with its master, while others will stand with the spirits of power, love and a sound mind with their Master (2 Tim 1:7).

We are to be overcomers, not politically correct wimps. ...they overcame [the accuser]...and they loved not their lives unto the death (Rev 12:11).

Our Lord never called his people to help build the tower of Babel in the hope of getting a Bible study in the basement. He commanded us to build our own city on a hill.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

1 - The groom approaches his hopeful bride.
2 - He offers her a ring (is they can afford one) and asks her will you marry me, if she accepts they are betrothed, which means they are as we know engaged, they are promised to each other but not yet married.
3 - It is not until they say their vows and the covenant is signed, with witnesses, at that point, the wedding official and legally binding.


Who can officiate a marriage?

This can vary, country to country, it can also vary in the USA state to state, but in general the people you state can do so, so long as they are licenced to do so,


God is the author of marriage, it is He who sets out the requirements, which is a covenant between two people, who make their vows one to another, till death does part them from each other.

Sadly in these days the types of celebrants/officiants has now been watered down to include, anyone with a licence to carry out the ceremony, saved, unsaved, humanist, etc. They can all carry out the wedding if they have a licence to do so.


Marriage—Christ and the Church
Ephesians 5:22-33
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 Saviour 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, 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.”
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.

1 Corinthians 7:1-5
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Peter 3:1-6
1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,
2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.
4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,
6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

1 Peter 3:7
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Colossians 3:19
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Hebrews 13:4


1 Timothy 3:2
2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Acts 5:29
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

God is the author and creator of marriage between a man and a woman.

The ring is the signature on the covenant....God did not say anywhere that I know of that there MUST be an official of any type to certify a covenant between a man and a woman....The ring is the signature, the ring is the official seal of the covenant. Its the ring that tells other men to stay away, this woman is taken. As you say "God is the author of marriage, it is He who sets out the requirements, which is a covenant between two people, who make their vows one to another, till death does part them from each other." and its man who loves to complicate things with ceremony and pomp, My wife and I got married on June 1. Just the two of us. We knelt down and made our vows to each other. Then two days later we stood in front of a JP who said 'Dearly beloved blah blah blah yadda yadda I pronounce you man and wife...etc....We were no more married then than we were on the first....but now we had a piece of paper that cost us ten bucks. We are still married forty five or so years later...Who was the one who married us? We knelt before God our God. and we were MARRIED
:

 

[PloughBoy]

People was getting married before the Bible was even written, People was getting married before The "New testament" was written, People was getting married before they could read or write, people was getting married before there was Paper or papyrus. So people was getting married over 2,000 years before the New Testament , And people was getting married before the writings of OLD Testament. People was getting Married before Moses, People was getting before "Abraham". People was getting married before they knew what the word Married was. And matter of fact, Men took women, Caveman style! "Me Tarzan you Jane" for there was no LAW? "Me like'm, Me take'm" You do remember, for those who have watch TV, "Mating time on WildKingdom"


NASB 1977
"That the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose."
Red head, blond. brunette, White one, Black one, Red one, Yellow one, Pale one, Dark Olive one, Big legget one, small legget, tall , short, skinny, Healthy one, 20 years old, 30 years old, 60 year old old, 200 years old , 500 year old one, even 600 year one would be nice and Mature.
The Bible did say: "Whomever they chose"! Not only could your create a family You could create a whole "Tribe"!

"Me Like'm, Me take'm"!

 

[Brother-Paul]

From the beginning

Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Then as we read in in the OT, we read of many having many wives.

An man taking a woman into a tent and when they came out they were married

Moses allowed divorce, that man could get a certificate of divorce. Jesus corrected this to say Moses allowed this due to the sinful nature of man (in marriage). He went on the say... it was not like that from the beginning, Adam and Eve, husband and wife, blessed by God, no marriage certificate at that time.

But, marriage certificates had become practice from the time of Moses, through The Law.

Having considered, as Jesus said, what it was like from the beginning, Adam and Eve, were married in God's eyes, there was no need for a certificate at that time, Adam and Eve were the first humans on earth, there was no such thing as paper or papyrus, it wasn't until the Law that it became carves in stone, so to speak.

So we see even from Moses to Jesus on earth, all sorts of practices are noted, but it doesn't mean they were right, far from it, like em take em, multiple wives, etc. But it wasn't like that from the beginning Jesus said.

Moving on to the time of Jesus what do we note? Why did Jesus come to earth as God man, Son of God? He came to bring Salvation yes, but not was not the point I was aiming at, he came, did he not, to correct the errors of the Jews and bring them back to God, bring them back to God and what God had planned, from the beginning.

So this tells me, correct me if I am wrong, divorce is wrong, multiple wives is wrong, like em, take em is wrong, have sex in a tent come out married is wrong.

So what is marriage?

It is what you say @Admon Mikha'el, as it was from the beginning. But by Law a certificate is required, it was required at the time of Moses, it was required when Jesus was on earth also.

Shalom

 

[Brother-Paul]

All scripture is God breathed, but I think we all at times forget, Jesus came also to correct the views and ways of the Jews, therefore some items mentioned in the OT are examples of that time.

We must look to see if Jesus has accepted or condemned the items before taking them as Gospel.

Examples include as discussed here, marriage and divorce.

Shalom

 

[Sue D.]

@backNforth -- just in case you're waiting for a response from me, regarding your post -- I won't be responding -- it's pointless. You're free to believe anything you want to.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

From the beginning

Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Then as we read in in the OT, we read of many having many wives.

An man taking a woman into a tent and when they came out they were married

Moses allowed divorce, that man could get a certificate of divorce. Jesus corrected this to say Moses allowed this due to the sinful nature of man (in marriage). He went on the say... it was not like that from the beginning, Adam and Eve, husband and wife, blessed by God, no marriage certificate at that time.

But, marriage certificates had become practice from the time of Moses, through The Law.

Having considered, as Jesus said, what it was like from the beginning, Adam and Eve, were married in God's eyes, there was no need for a certificate at that time, Adam and Eve were the first humans on earth, there was no such thing as paper or papyrus, it wasn't until the Law that it became carves in stone, so to speak.

So we see even from Moses to Jesus on earth, all sorts of practices are noted, but it doesn't mean they were right, far from it, like em take em, multiple wives, etc. But it wasn't like that from the beginning Jesus said.

Moving on to the time of Jesus what do we note? Why did Jesus come to earth as God man, Son of God? He came to bring Salvation yes, but not was not the point I was aiming at, he came, did he not, to correct the errors of the Jews and bring them back to God, bring them back to God and what God had planned, from the beginning.

So this tells me, correct me if I am wrong, divorce is wrong, multiple wives is wrong, like em, take em is wrong, have sex in a tent come out married is wrong.

So what is marriage?

It is what you say @Admon Mikha'el, as it was from the beginning. But by Law a certificate is required, it was required at the time of Moses, it was required when Jesus was on earth also.

Shalom

And we are to obey the law of the land. So this girl is married but needs to obtain some kind of official paper. A ten cent ring would suffice until he can get her one they like.

 

[PearlB]

And we are to obey the law of the land. So this girl is married but needs to obtain some kind of official paper. A ten cent ring would suffice until he can get her one they like.

I don't think the law of the land says that people living together should have an official paper. You only need that if you want to claim certain benefits etc. But I agree about the rings - if they want rings that is - but rings are not vital.

 

[B-A-C]

I don't think the law of the land says that people living together should have an official paper. You only need that if you want to claim certain benefits etc. But I agree about the rings - if they want rings that is - but rings are not vital.

I suppose it depends on the country.

Here in the US you can be recognized as "domestic partners" if you aren't married.
However you have to have a marriage certificate to be recognized as "married" by the US government.

Some states (such as Texas) do have common law marriage. (You live together 30 days, change the name on your drivers license)
But this isn't recognized if you move to another state.

But you do have a point, the government recognizes same sex marriage, so that's not always "the standard".

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

I suppose it depends on the country.

Here in the US you can be recognized as "domestic partners" if you aren't married.
However you have to have a marriage certificate to be recognized as "married" by the US government.

Some states (such as Texas) do have common law marriage. (You live together 30 days, change the name on your drivers license)
But this isn't recognized if you move to another state.

But you do have a point, the government recognizes same sex marriage, so that's not always "the standard".

Yes, by common law a couple living together for 366 days, one year and one day are legally married...If they split she gets half of all.