Izzy wrote: > Any answers? Is a civil legal ceremony required by God? > Is a marriage more than that in God's eyes?
First of all, several times this phrase has been mentioned, "civil legal ceremony." There is no such thing. The civil authorities don't care about or require a ceremony of any kind. What they do is issue marriage licenses in order to recognize marriages from a legal standpoint. This is necessary because of children, property ownership, and legal contracts. The ceremonies are part of tradition and vary from religion to religion and culture to culture. The State has little or no interest in marriage ceremonies. Now to answer your question. A State sponsored document is not required by God in order to be properly married in his sight. Marriage is a life long contract, a commitment and vow, between two people of the opposite sex. That vow should be taken in the presence of witnesses. If this is done, it is a valid marriage in the eyes of God. HOWEVER, I have known some who marry without the legal aspects, and they have all divorced about just as quickly without any kind of legal recourse because in the eyes of the law, they were never married. One such marriage involved a child for whom the husband now has absolutely no legal rights. The government is meant to be the sword of God to keep people true to their vows and commitments. In such a wicked society as we now live in, I would never advise anyone to marry without doing it properly in the eyes of the State. This is not because the marriage would not be valid in the eyes of God, but because partners are fickle and if you think the divorce rate is bad even with a legal marriage, it would be worse if the State had no interest at all. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
