Is it the license?
Is it the minister?
Or
Is it a commitment by the man & woman before God with or without the piece of paper making it 'legal'?
I am a minister....and the law says that I cannot marry anyone without first seeing the license and signing it in the presence of the couple and a witness.
But what do you think? What does God think?
Is He more concerned with legalities or with commitment to one another and to Him?
2007-04-05 03:28:46 · 22 answers · asked by primoa1970 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm also born again....and I refuse to marry a gay couple....that's not a marriage.
2007-04-05 03:33:41 · update #1
The US is more concerned yes with the license....in studying to become a minister I'm learning that the vows and the commitment to one another before God are more important. I think God understands commitment but provided marriage as a way to seal that commitment between a man and a woman.
2007-04-05 03:37:07 · answer #1 · answered by Jan P 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In Luke 20:25 Christ said "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."
This says to me that we must follow the laws of the government. In relation to the marriage ceremony, the legalities are necessary for the couple to be able to conduct much of the business of life. The sad thing is that many go strictly the legal route through a judge or a Justice of the Peace and skip any religious ceremony. Leaving God out of the wedding ceremony generally means they leave God out of their marriage and life. The legalities are a necessary part of the wedding but the most important part is the commitment to God and each other.
2007-04-05 11:14:15 · answer #2 · answered by Country girl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that there are different kinds of marriage
and I think that sometimes they work hand in hand with each other
like you....you have the right to perform a religious marriage but only if at the same time you take the steps to make it a civil one as well
in the hearts of the people who have the ceremony it's the one that they chose that is the most important, but in the eyes of the government it's the civil marriage that is key
and with all the diverse meanings of marriage it is only the civil marriage that allows everyone to agree that a couple is truly married
what is required for a Jewish marriage is certainly not what is required for a Christain marriage and vise versa
but we can say that both have a form of legality because of the civil marriage
2007-04-05 10:35:44 · answer #3 · answered by Rhymes with Camera 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is more concerned with the commitment to each other and to him. However, the Bible also makes clear that he expects the laws of the land to be followed - so to get married it would be important to have a legally recognized license.
However, if you live on an island in the middle of nowhere, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't hold you to any legalities, as long as you make, and stick to, the commitment.
2007-04-05 10:34:30 · answer #4 · answered by Andrew G 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God is only concerned with what He says marriage is: One man + one woman = one flesh. Legality dosn't matter. I'm sure there was a ceremony for the Hebrews in Blblical times, but there's no decription of what took place.
Marriage is also about love and commitment, as described in Corinthians.
2007-04-05 10:45:30 · answer #5 · answered by Nels 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
2 people dedicating their lives to each other.
I don't think that everyone needs a piece of paper to be "married", although the paper is useful for legal purposes.
The license makes it legal.
Not everyone believes in God.
My marriage is about my husband and I promising to spend our lives together. It's about providing a good life for our children.
I suspect that every marriage is a little different.
2007-04-05 10:37:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i don't think god needs to have a signed piece of paper. the legal paper is man's idea, not gods.
i think the committment is all god needs, but in this world, you need a piece of paper.
EDIT: i also think you have a right to refuse to marry gay couples. i personally am FOR gay marriage, but i don't think ministers should have to do them against their beliefs.
2007-04-05 10:35:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
By law, it's the license. In the truest definition, it's the commitment between two people -- REGARDLESS OF GENDER -- that love each other and are committed to a lifetime together.
God isn't in the equation. Lots of people who don't believe in God get married every year.
2007-04-05 10:32:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I think a marriage is when two (or more) love each other, and willing to live with each other, to raise children with each other, to grow old with each other. No license, no state nor government, no religion or God can constitute a marriage.
Marriage is free will, free people willing to be together as one.
2007-04-05 10:59:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Marriage is a legally binding contract between two consenting adults that has nothing what-so-ever to do with God unless those being married want it to.
2007-04-05 10:32:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋