Does God Recognize .....

[wpe3bql]

..... "marriages" that exist in so-called "pagan" societies?

I've heard of practices by some missionaries wherein they perform [for lack of a better expression] "Christian" marriages for couples who were "married" before they were saved.

While IMHO I wouldn't necessarily oppose such practices as this, is such a practice in line with "the Whole Counsel of God"?

I've searched God's Word, but nowhere do I find any example of this actually occurring---with the possible exception(s) of Paul's counsel to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 9 and II Corinthians 6.

IOW, such a practice might be a "good preference," but I'm not thoroughly convinced that it has to be a "command."

Comments?

 

[Robert William]

..... "marriages" that exist in so-called "pagan" societies?

I've heard of practices by some missionaries wherein they perform [for lack of a better expression] "Christian" marriages for couples who were "married" before they were saved.

While IMHO I wouldn't necessarily oppose such practices as this, is such a practice in line with "the Whole Counsel of God"?

I've searched God's Word, but nowhere do I find any example of this actually occurring---with the possible exception(s) of Paul's counsel to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 9 and II Corinthians 6.

IOW, such a practice might be a "good preference," but I'm not thoroughly convinced that it has to be a "command."

Comments?

In the Old sexual penetration was the two becoming one flesh, it makes no difference in God's eyes whether or not they were heathens or Born from Above believers.

 

[wpe3bql]

Bumping this thread to see if anyone else out there in BB Land has additional thoughts/comments on the OP.

 

[Scarlett O.]

God recognized the marriage between Herod's brother and Herodias. That's why John the Baptist was beheaded - because he dared to tell Herod and his new "wife" (his brother's actual wife) that they had violated the marriage covenant between the brother and his wife and were living as fornicators and adulterers.

If God didn't recognize the marriage of the first pagan couple, he wouldn't have been interested in pointing out the sin of the second pagan couple.

 

[beameup]

The Gentiles were under Roman law, whatever that was.

 

[Baptist Believer]

The terms often used in discussions like this are vague.

For instance, "Does God 'recognize' [a certain kind of marriage/relationship]?"

Sure. God knows exactly what kind of relationship it is - probably more than the people involved in it - because God is the very standard of knowledge and intelligence. God knows that a lot of marriages - including those between persons of the opposite sex - are not legitimate commitments. He also knows what relationships ARE legitimate commitments, even when it falls outside of His intent for humankind.