Married in our hearts ( A question)

Bibleman, marriage is marriage. There is nothing 'half-way'. However if being married 'in your hearts' is engagement, then great!

But there is a lot of life ahead of you. You can stay faithful to each other, refrain from physical temptations, and then get married properly at the right time, in accordance with the laws of the land and with the true witness of yourselves as Christians.

God bless you both.

 

"walking down the aisle" is just an expression for getting married. What you asking is, is it possible to BE married without GETTING married. The answer is, no.

 

I think it is possible to not be married in the eyes of God and be married in the eyes of man, but not the other way around. I'm required by law to file paperwork when I marry a couple, and I'm required by law to make sure that you have the proper paperwork. (Now, my opinion about why the law requires this is that it's a way to control people and get money out of them, but that's beside the point.)

 

I deal with this issue in form or another on an almost weekly basis. The bottom line is this. If you begin to justify yourself as "married", then it will be only a matter of time before there is a physical follow-thru. To quote Helen, "Marriage is Marriage." You will save yourself much heartache and future marital struggles if you keep the relationship pure, and save intamacy (this includes emotional not just physical) for marriage.

 

Thanks for finishing my thought that I failed to follow through on in my post.

 

Don't let anyone "dumb-down" the institution of marriage for you. As Helen said, marriage is marriage. You can't be married without being married. It isn't a gushy feeling that will pass in time. (And believe me, the feelings come and go as the years roll on.) It is more than a commitment; It is a convanent between you, her & God. IMHO, she probably just wants to know where your relationship is going.

 

OK folks...(and I'm married....legally and otherwise)here's a brain twister for all'a ya'll....WHAT(Biblically speaking)constitutes a "scriptural" marriage?Is it the "ceremony"(chapter and verse please)...OR....is it the consummation or "physical" union?Does the Bible condemn "common-law" marriage in the places in this world(and some states here in the USA)that it is considered valid and legal? I'm not trying to confuse anyone or get anybody upset....I'm only curious about what we all think and I also believe that this issue isn't as "cut and dried" as many would have us to believe.There are several places in the Book where folks went in and "layed" with one another and they were considered married in God and man's eyes....without the benefit or requirement of any "ceremony".Comments anybody?

Greg Sr.

 

At least where I live, to be in a common law marriage a couple has to cohabatate (live together) and share finances for some period of time before the state reconizes it as a legal marrage. That means you have to spend several years in an illegal cohabitation before it is considered legal.

Also common law marriage is not given automaticly a couple, or half of couple where the other half has died, must request it.

So, at least here, its only purpose is to collect life insurance from somebody you have lived with but not married and has died. It is a retro-active marriage.

Seems it is more a leagal formality then a real marrige.

 

Gregory Perry Sr.,

I do know that the state of South Carolina recognizes 'common law' marriages. I used to live in Beaufort, where my oldest brother was living with a woman for almost 12 years in a 'common law marriage'.

I also know they recognize other forms of weddings; i.e. by a Justice of the Peace, a member of the clergy, and as I have witnessed one in the harbor at Lady's Island, a marriage by a ship's captain.

While both 'common law', and ministerial marriages seem to be legal there, the Word of God teaches us that Jesus revealed the sin of 'shacking up' in the woman at the well.

So biblically, I would say one should get married by one so ordained by the state to perform such duties.

Ron

 

Hope, please give me an example of someone married in the eyes of man but not in the eyes of God.

If your talking about places the now reconize same sex marriage then I agree with you. But this is the only situation I can think of. Is that what you were talking about.

 

A heterosexual couple who aren't believers in God who go to a JoP or ship's captain, have not made a commitment to God. But, they are maried in the eyes of man.

 

Then what happens if one or both of them latter become a believer? What happens if one is a believer when married and one not?

My wife was a believer when we married and I was not, we are now both Children of God.

Are you saying that because at the time I married my wife I was not born again then we are not married in the eyes of God?

Bill

 

I think I have to disagre with that, but I am interested in your argument.

Does this mean that a couple who were married by JoP before becoming believers can just walk away from there marriage because they were never really married.

I think that all marriages are three way contracts between God, spouce and state. Even if the people who enter into that contract do not know God he is the one who created marraige and His rules still applie to it. In other words God created the covenent of marriage and all who enter into it enter into a covenent with Him, no matter if they know it or not.

 

BBB, beat me to it.

Gota be fast around here.

 

Lack of finances creates an incredible strain on a marriage. If you do not have the finanaces to be able to live together then you should not get married.

What you describe as marriage in your hearts is not a legal binding marriage according to any state in the US that I am aware of.

 

Gotta be quick to beat ole BBB.


Bill

 

Then, using this logic, homosexual marriage is a marriage in the eyes of God. If they make it legal to "marry" a horse, that would be binding in the eyes of God.

You cannot enter into a contract with someone whom you do not know.

If you're not a believer when you enter into a human contract and then you become a believer, then you are still legally bound to that person, until the contract is broken. However, it is at that point that you would make the covenant with God or not.

For example, if you and your spouse are both practicing witches, and you accept Jesus as your savior. If you choose not to remain with your spouse, then you are not bound to God for that. However, if you make that commitment while a believer, you are bound by it.

 

Nope, look at what I said right here;

God created marraige his rules say that it is between a man and a woman. Goverments can call same sex "marriages" what they want. They are not marriages by definition of the One who created marraige. I dont think the Bible says marraige is limited to believers or that there are two types of marraige.