I think it's actually pretty important to get an answer to this. I dont want to accidentally marry one of my friends
Most people here would say marriage in the eyes of the Lord is just that: marriage. An actual ceremony where you state publicly that you love someone and will remain faithful to them. It would be hard to accidentally get married that way!
My opinion differs and I think you can be married to someone without a ceremony: by being spiritually married or engaging in marriage practices before marriage. However, legal marriage is still obviously the best way to have no doubts!
I don't think you will have a problem with "accidentally" getting married unless you are putting yourself into some sort of situation that involves intimacy beyond friendship. Some see (me included) that once you cross boundaries, you are married to that person forever in some way or another. You become "one flesh." This may be where you fear accidentally getting married.
The simple answer is to stay away from anything that involves sexual intimacy until you are actually legally married. It is what God wants us to do. An easy way to view it is: Would I be okay with my future husband doing what I am doing or even feeling right now?
Thank you for your input.
1. What does "spiritually married" mean?
2. What are "marriage practices"?
3. I am not sure what you mean by "intimacy beyond friendship".
4. Where are the "boundaries"?
I am not planning on having sex or getting legally married.
Spiritual marriage isn't the same as marriage by the state. It is usually done in a private church ceremony.
By marriage practices I'm just trying to give a polite form of saying sex, anything regarded as sexual (making out), or anything that pushes the boundaries. I'm referring to the same things when I say intimacy beyond friendship.
"The boundaries" are different for everyone. They are pretty much what YOU are okay with. What would God be okay with? I wouldn't want my husband having sex with someone else, or even making out with another girl before meeting me. Boundaries to me are anything that make you appear to be legally or spiritually married when you aren't.
I see.
But you should keep in mind that society sexualizes a lot of things that are not actually sexual.
Is there something in particular that you are wanting to know about? Don't be afraid to say if so, we are only here to try and help!
I do not believe you can accidentally get married, even if you engage in sex outside of marriage. In fact, the Bible calls sex outside of marriage a sin, so it could not very well suggest you are married if you have sex outside of marriage.
Marriage is a bilateral covenant, and there are conditions to make a covenant valid. A covenant spells out the obligations of both parties, the conditions under which it could be invalidated, and the consequences if either did not live up to their obligations. It was then "sealed" which made it more binding than a contract. In marriage, the seal is consummating the marriage with intercourse. One of the conditions to the covenant to make it valid is that it is done with witnesses. According to most cultures today, that means at least two witnesses. One more condition to making a covenant valid is the exchange of something of value. Today, we exchange wedding bands.
Due to the covenantal nature of marriage, I do not believe you can accidentally marry one of your friends.
Kissing, or finding someone physically attractive for example.
I think it's actually pretty important to get an answer to this. I dont want to accidentally marry one of my friends
You shouldn't be worried about that at all. I wouldn't take kissing too lightly, you might want to actually like someone for example LOL. But you definitely wouldn't accidentally get married! Naturally we are made to desire others no matter what, we just have to know our own boundaries and the boundaries that our relationship with God sets forth.
It takes two to tango, it takes two to agree to get married, and there is a lot of extra fuss to make a marriage so no worries!
I think it's actually pretty important to get an answer to this. I dont want to accidentally marry one of my friends
It is not possible to accidentallly get married.I think it's actually pretty important to get an answer to this. I dont want to accidentally marry one of my friends
*"Hollyweird types do that...oops, I did it again....
get married and divorced in less than month etc...