Me and my wife have been together for 10 years, now here's our story: for our own reasons we went to hawaii and on the beach we exchanged vows and rings and our witness was the Lord. We have no marriage certificate. Our life together has been good. Someone brought it to our attention that we are not married because we do not have a certificate. How is this? If our vows were taken and spoken before the Lord who honors marriage then how can it be that what we have done is wrong? Does this mean we are not married and are committing adultry? Serious answers only please. God Bless.
2007-06-03 10:38:38 · 21 answers · asked by gentrymic 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am not asking about legal issues. I want to know only about in the eyes of God.
2007-06-05 03:23:44 · update #1
You are not legally married, no. Marriage is a state issue. You need a license from the state you get married in.
It's easy to correct though, just file for a license where you live now and get married again. Many people marry again as a re commitment so it's not uncommon..
2007-06-03 10:43:39 · answer #1 · answered by RU SRS? 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because you used God as a witness does not mean that you are married in the legal sense of the word. If something was ever to happen to your wife or to you, the other cannot file for benefits because you are not legally married. You will have a hard time in the legal system trying to get marriage benefits because you have no legal proof that you are married. The person that said you are not married is correct. You are not married in the legal sense. You need to go get a marriage license. You need that legal security with some things. If you choose not to do this, that is your choice. Being married in the eyes of God is another story. That is between you and God. That is something you need to pray about. I cannot and will not make a judgment about that. Pray about that, but I suggest you get the legal thing taken care of.
2007-06-03 20:42:33 · answer #2 · answered by One Odd Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legally, it is called common-law marriage. Common law marriage is recognized only in the following states:
Alabama
Colorado
District of Columbia
Georgia (if created before 1/1/97)
Idaho (if created before 1/1/96)
Iowa
Kansas
Montana
New Hampshire (for inheritance purposes only)
Ohio (if created before 10/10/91)
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
As far as, being married in the sight of God, Islam requires 2 witnesses to the vows.
To commit adultery, one or both must be married to another person. If 2 unmarried people have sex together with the commitment to each other forever, then it is fornication.
If the intentions of your hearts were to be committed to love and care for each other for the rest of your lives in the sight of God, I believe God honors this. God/Allah knows best.
God willing, you will find peace in this situation.
2007-06-11 01:55:18 · answer #3 · answered by Pam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Marriage is consumated by intercourse. If your wife is not a virgin you are not bound by your vow. Marriage is instituted by God not man. Did Adam, Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses, and so on have "certificates"? What God has joined together let not man put asunder. A man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and they two shall be one flesh. Live holy and you won't have a problem- those that judge you now will have no say on judgement day.
2007-06-09 21:53:42 · answer #4 · answered by copperhead89 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a) Even if you were not married you would not be committing adultery... you'd just be shacking up.
b) You're not LEGALLY married as you have no marriage certificate.
c) Was a clergyperson present at your wedding? Were there any other human witnesses? This may present, again, some legal problems.
I'm assuming you and your wife chose this particular type of wedding well aware of the legal issues involved. Legal issues and spiritual issues are not equivalent. In the eyes of God, you're married. Legally, you're not.
2007-06-03 17:47:44 · answer #5 · answered by LadeeLuvleeLox 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe you are in fact married in the eyes of the higher power and in the eyes of the world. in the legal sense marriage was just created by the establishment at the begining of time to further control daily life
does God worry about a paper?
whos right is it to decide if your marriage is proper?
2007-06-11 01:36:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Titus 3:1 "Continure reminding them to be in subjection and be obedient to governments and authorities as rulers." ( When people heed these instructions, the name of each party to the union is kept above reproach, and any children are spared the reproach that falls on those whose parents are not married. Additionally, legal registration of the marriage safeguards the property rights of family members in the event of death of one of the mates. Heb. 13:4 "Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers." ( Getting legally married plays an important in having a marriage that is accepted as being "honorabole". When defining fornication and adultery, we should keep in mind what is stated at Titus 3:1. 1 Peter 2: 12-15: Maintain your conduct fine among the nations, that, in the thing in which they are speaking against you as evildoers, they may as a result of your fine works of which they are eye witnesses glorify God in the day for his inspection. For the Lord's sake subject yourselves to every human creation: whether to a king as being superior or to governors as being sent by him to inflict punishment on evildoers but to praise doers of good. For so the will of God is, that by doing good you may muzzle the ignorant talk of the unreasonable men.
2007-06-11 12:39:05 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your marriage won't be recognized by the "Society" so you will only incur problems with issues of "STATE". God was your witness and your Vows were made. The Lord heard your vows but CAESAR didn't.
2007-06-11 09:40:30 · answer #8 · answered by Premaholic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on which state you live in, you could be covered under what's known as a "Common Law" marriage. You'll have to check with your state.
As far as the bible is concerned, you're fine. You exchanged vows before God and you've kept them. Remember, Abraham "knew" Sarai and that was a marriage in those days.
It's more about legal issues and estates when it comes to the law.
2007-06-03 17:46:16 · answer #9 · answered by Kallan 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied. "They record that from the beginning 'God made them male and female.' And he said, "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.' Since they are no longer two but one, let no one seperate them, for God has joined them together."
(Matthew 19:4-6)
The reading above states as it does on any marriage certificate: "Let not man asunder." Meaning God has joined you, there is no one in this world who can undo what He has done.
Even though your state may not legally recognize your bond in holy matrimony, you are in Gods eyes indeed married.
2007-06-11 00:20:13 · answer #10 · answered by Rev. Matthew 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋