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Sat, 13 September 2008 05:08

william
Messages: 1464
Registered: January 2006

Senior Member
Administrator

Again, this is just a starter message from my notes and I'm not even sure we want this type of format (I'll yield to a better one!)

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First we need to define marriage and when it takes place.

Are you married when the clerk down at the court house says it's okay, or is it when the minister says "you may kiss the bride"?

Ceremony and pomp do not a marriage make.

Marriage can be defined as two people mutually coming together for the purpose of creating a family. It is as simple as that.

Many cultures place great emphasis on the ceremony, and I'm not saying that it is a bad thing, but that isn't what makes a marriage. It is especially helpful as a tool in letting everyone know what has taken place, but I suppose you could just tell them!

Don’t get me wrong, the civil compliance does have its perks, (not to mention keeping your brethren from stumbling!<grin>) but it isn’t an absolute requirement.

I believe that the consummation of the decision (to come together for the purpose of creating a family) is when the "two become one". Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Personally I don't need to bother myself too much with what the world's definition of marriage is, unless there is a clear law that says you must, for instance, take a blood test (which used to be the case--*I think*) before you could marry. In that case I would obey the governmental authority... which I would do in any case unless it was sin to do so. So if eventually the world redefines marriage it doesn’t mean they have it right. Two men living together would be sin with or without government approval.

To take it a step further, if we as Christians look to the government for the definition of marriage, and make that the standard then there may come a time when that standard changes, therefore it is imperative that we understand marriage from a biblical standpoint and not add or take away from what is written.

I quoted the scripture Jesus used when referring to marriage:
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

I see no reason to add something to that just because we are accustomed to "doing it a certain way".

Marriage takes place between a man and a woman and a biblical marriage is as simple as the definition I used. If, in your mind, a person takes liberties with the simplicity of that definition, then it isn't the fault of the biblical definition, it is in the fault of the two people involved.

"Pre-marital s*x" is a term we have adopted, it isn't a biblical term. I don't have a problem with the term, but we need to realize that it doesn't necessarily follow that two people who "come together for the purpose of establishing a family" without the benefit of a civil ceremony, are automatically engaging in sin.

To be sure, there are good reasons why cultures establish marriage regulations; i.e. both parties must be of a certain age, etc., I’ve got no problem with following regulations if it doesn’t cause us to sin.

I cannot prove this to be truth, but according to many scholars, Mary may have been only 14 years old when she became Joseph's wife... if it is true, and you accept our modern-day standards you find yourself in the untenable position of needing to prove this as not being "statutory r*pe". Our society would not have recognized this as a valid marriage.

Why should we as Christians want society making the rules of what is and what is not sin instead of sticking to what the Bible says is sin?

Two people burning in their lust for each other does not a marriage make... again, using the biblical principle that I gave.

Two people having relations apart from the biblical presentation of what marriage is, is clearly sin. For that reason Paul admonishes them that it is better to marry than to burn.

The fact that you can find a "marriage" ceremony in the Bible (the wedding at Cana) doesn't alter the basic definition of marriage in any way. In this case you also have pots of wine being served, does this mean that a marriage isn't valid unless pots of wine are served?

Blessings,
William

I want to believe!

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