Can you give me clarity to this question?

Question

I have heard that laying with a man or a woman without being bounded by marriage, is a sin.
So I ask you what is marriage. Can we conclude that the definition of marriage today is the same as it was in biblical times. Do we really know? Is marriage a union of two people by common law. Is it the declearation of their union in front of loved ones after a blood test, and a signing of a paper?
Or is it the love in their hearts that they share together. SO if this is so how can we say it is a sin. Has the words of the bible been misconstrued so that man can place judgement? Is is a sin to lay with someone with a piece of paper of a marriage, but without love,as so many do today, because of the branding of mans eyes?
Be careful my friend how you answer, most of us can count at least one person we know who lives their life with another not from love, but conveneiance, and status. Dosent god= love
And if two people have love then they have god. And this is the marriage of god, and man.

What do you think, just wondering. And I wish you well.

Answer 1

The definition of 'marriage' varies from culture to culture, century to century, nation to nation. In other words, there is no SINGLE valid defition. It varies. Here's a radical thought: Decide what marriage means TO YOU and to the person YOU LOVE and then act accordingly.

By the way, the same is true for 'sin'. It's all relative to who is talking. Opinions differ and no one can say who's right or wrong.

Answer 2

Modern marriage is not the same thing as in Biblical times. Marriage is different in every culture. The American idea of marriage is all bound up in the legal formalities and I think the true meaning has been forgotten. I know my status has never changed so fast as when I got a marriage license in my in-laws eyes. Before a whore and after a fine upstanding lady. Go figure. The commitment aspect, the love, all the emotional things that make a marriage are overlooked for 'legitimacy'.

Answer 3

Even the government recognizes a common law union of a man and a woman for a period of more than one year, less time in some areas, as legally married status.

The ceremony is for the people and the couple who wish to share their love with friends and neighbors and family. But it is not necessary to have this ceremony and if you are true in your heart and know that this man feals the same and you are both united together for the purpose of procreation and lifelong commitment in your hearts, you are married. The ring the ceremony and all that is nice but its what's in your hearts that count.

You can have the ceremony the gifts the wine the big fat wedding and also have the big fat divorce within the same year if you don't have true love for each other in your hearts. So follow your heart. If you stray from what you have promised, or vowed, that is a sin. and not being true to yourself is also a sin and will bring only misery to all involved. peace be with you

Answer 4

Marriage is a man and a woman brought together in holy matromony, to be as one together until death do they part. When Joseph was to take Mary as His wife, they had a ceremony of engagement and their wrists were tied together to symbolize that promise.

Today we have the ring, and the marriage lisencse, that bonds the married couple together, after the marriage ceremony. Even back in the biblical days, papers of divorcement had to be served if the spouce was unfaithful.

The problem with marriages today is that God is always invited to the ceremony to unite the couple as man and wife, but they always forget to invite God into their marriage and leave Him at the alter. God must be the corner stone of all marriages. With out Him they will fail.

It's not that complicated.

Answer 5

Very good question!

In the old testament, a man would ask the father for his daughter's hand. This was a show of respect, and the husband was duty bound to love her all of his days. It says God granted divorce because "of the hardness of man's heart".

So, if a man takes a woman to bed and lives with her all his/her days, then absolutely, God sees this as holy. With or without a certificate...

But why not CELEBRATE your union with family and friends, make a vow before God to love each other til death? It is symbolic, but a powerful symbol it is.

Answer 6

First, forget religious views -- they are provably irrelevant to this (or any other) issue. Which makes the question of sin also irrelevant. What is left? Marriage is a commitment that two people make to each other. Perhaps they will be able to keep it, and perhaps not, but at least they have declared their intention. Marriage is also a legal entity, which gives certain rights and responsibilities, and these have important civil implications. But it is clearly not a public policy issue if people choose to live together without marriage.

Answer 7

The purest form of marrage was instituted by God... It is a union blessed by God. It dose not require any mans blessing... But, it must be between a man and a woman who are both in submission to God. Shacking up don't cut it with God. As well, a union under the law of man is not a union under God... that is between the law and the ones involved... And, just because the marrage is conducted by a "man of God" dose not make it a union under God... ONLY the union of two, a man and a woman, who are equaly yolked under God is a valid marrage in God's eyes...... Yes, a man and woman can make such a union blessed by God without the blessing of man or man's law... but... if it is a violation of man's law the union it could be concidered a sin in that it is directed that God's people are to obay the laws of man when they do not conflict with God's laws... it gets a bit complicated..but if the marrage is by God's standards it is a valid marrage under God's law. And that is what ultimatly counts.

Answer 8

Great Questions! I think... First, it is GOD who joins people, not governements (who issue the little pieces of paper), and it is a union based on AGREEMENTS between to persons to share their lives (Agreements that those two wish to be faithful to) and it is by the WITNESS of Community that these agreements are entered into (and enforced by expectations of friends and family). In biblical times a woman was property, and a marriage was a contract between her father and the suitor... no more... and yes, it is love that joins us to one antoher and to God, but a love with stated and agreed responsibilities -- not simply strong emotion that leads to sex... love, body, mind and spirit.

Answer 9

Marriage is the union of a man and a woman.They make the commitment to love, honor and take care of one another. They say these vows in front of witnesses. Marriage is a binding and legal contract.

Answer 10

Maybe i'm missing something, but i always thought the whole idea was to promise yourself to the other and keep that promise. Even during times when the feelings of love are diminished, the promise still exists.

Seems to me, the plan is a good one... the promise keeps us commited during bad times and causes us to work harder on the relationship so the bad times end. Then, good times make keeping the promise easier.