Please help settle disagreement in my family. A state marriage is not logical due to specific legal issues which can affect the children from his previous marriage. Thus, the desire is then for a commitment ceremony instead. There is a pastor to perform the ceremony-there will just be no marriage license.
Is a commitment ceremony valid in eyes of God - or only a marriage ceremony with a marriage license from the state?
Does the bible state we must be married in eyes of God AND government. If so, where? If not, where?
2007-03-22 03:14:06 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I asked for biblical references - the other crap is already resolved with lawyers (they are not stupid!!)
Again - biblical proof requested one way or the other!!!
2007-03-22 03:48:34 · update #1
Though it seems that you have made a point. It only seems so! Besides the points below, there is also the point of love and how to protect lovingly the spouse and the children legally!
Whatever is legal in a particular country may vary, and there may be times where the church enforces the law of God over the law of the country. However, in most cases Christians must obey the scripture below.
Please read Paul's admonition about obeying the lawful constituted authorities:
Romans 13:1-4 13 Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. 2 Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves. 3 For those ruling are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad. Do you, then, want to have no fear of the authority? Keep doing good, and you will have praise from it; 4 for it is God's minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is God's minister, an avenger to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad.
2007-03-22 03:32:44 · answer #1 · answered by Fuzzy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The marriage ceremony in scripture usually lasted about a week. There was a legal document for it in the OT.
The license that we have today is just a legality. A man and a woman can be married by anyone in the eyes of God with or without the license.
Unfortunately, we cannot do much without the license....insurance.....taxes...etc.
2007-03-22 03:19:16 · answer #2 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God does not require you to get a marriage license from the state. A church wedding, and a marriage license are two different things that usually take place at the same time.
That is why the Catholic Church requires an annulment after a divorce. The divorce breaks the state-recognized contractual relationship, and the annulment addresses the issue of the marriage in God's eyes.
2007-03-22 03:26:55 · answer #3 · answered by Patrick (Midwest) 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People take these things to seriously. If legal issues affect the logic from a previous marriage then do the commitment ceremony and get it over with.
2007-03-22 03:22:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only a very stupid person would settle for just a commitment ceremony. State laws protect wives and children. If the marriage fails, the property is divided equitably and custody is established. If there is no legal marriage, the courts will not get involved. You could lose everything.
2007-03-22 03:21:03 · answer #5 · answered by notyou311 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Romans 13:1-2
Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves.
If a marriage license is required by state law for the marriage to be considered valid, then it is required by God according to the above cited scripture.
2007-03-22 04:36:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
usa's regulations have been based on the principals that underlie the ten Commandments, not all the regulations listed for the era of something of the Bible. #a million government won't tell human beings what god to worship #2 government won't tell human beings the thank you to worship their god #3 government won't demean or belittle a individual's ideals #4 government won't tell human beings while to worship or forbid them to worship (This became the unique meaning of separation of church and state) #5 appreciate for authority and regulation #6 appreciate for existence #7 Honoring of contracts which incorporate appreciate for the kinfolk unit #8 appreciate for inner maximum belongings #9 reality in speech and action. #10 enable persons to take benefit of their exertions ( those are elementary concepts that permit society to exist and prosper) Our Founding Fathers had great perception into what might make a great usa, too undesirable we now not opt to stay with their lead.
2016-11-27 22:00:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The state marriage is primarily for tax and inheritance / next of kin purposes. I don't think God cares about the state sanctioning, but you need it for health insurance, the right to make dcisions for your spouse should he or she become incapacitated, and for tax filing purposes.
2007-03-22 03:20:11 · answer #8 · answered by ZombieTrix 2012 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically the bible says that if you are not his first wife then you are not his wife.......try bringing that one to your family.........the bible is really more of a guidebook than a rulebook....pray on it and meditate...you will find your answer
2007-03-22 03:19:09 · answer #9 · answered by discouragedmom 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
who cares as long as got some afterwards, right
2007-03-22 03:17:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋