• The General Mental Health Forum is now a Read Only Forum. As we had two large areas making it difficult for many to find, we decided to combine the Mental Health & the Recovery sections of the forum into Mental Health & Recovery as a whole. Physical Health still remains as it's own area within the entire Recovery area.

    If you are having struggles, need support in a particular area that you aren't finding a specific recovery area forum, you may find the General Struggles forum a great place to post. Any any that is related to emotions, self-esteem, insomnia, anger, relationship dynamics due to mental health and recovery and other issues that don't fit better in another forum would be examples of topics that might go there.

    If you have spiritual issues related to a mental health and recovery issue, please use the Recovery Related Spiritual Advice forum. This forum is designed to be like Christian Advice, only for recovery type of issues. Recovery being like a family in many ways, allows us to support one another together. May you be blessed today and each day.

    Kristen.NewCreation and FreeinChrist

Eloping anxiety

Aaron V

Active Member
Jan 20, 2020
26
2
30
Darwin
✟8,413.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Hello :)
I'm having some anxiety about eloping with my wife,we eloped last Friday
However I'm having anxiety about if it's true in god's eyes
I read that legal marriage counts to god however I'm not sure if the government here counts because in Darwin Australia we have same sex marriage
I read that as long as the government follows god's greater laws it's fine
Is my marriage still good in god's eyes?
 

Sabertooth

Repartee Animal: Quipping the Saints!
Supporter
Jul 25, 2005
10,491
7,061
62
Wisconsin
Visit site
✟952,359.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Once you and your eligible wife enter into a marriage covenant together, you are married; no wedding is required. The role of government (at least, in the USA) is to acknowledge your marriage, joint assets, etc.

Government doesn't enforce your covenant. That is between you two and God. That your government also chooses to recognize same-sex marriages, has no bearing on YOUR vow before God.
 
Upvote 0

Sabertooth

Repartee Animal: Quipping the Saints!
Supporter
Jul 25, 2005
10,491
7,061
62
Wisconsin
Visit site
✟952,359.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Sorry what do you mean by covenant?
That is a good question to ask your pastor.
Also I thought some sort of marriage had to take part for it to count?
Marriage (your covenant toward each other, before God) must take place, but a wedding does not need to. A wedding is a public ceremony to announce your marriage, but it is not required.
 
Upvote 0

createdtoworship

In the grip of grace
Mar 13, 2004
18,941
1,758
West Coast USA
✟33,173.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Hello :)
I'm having some anxiety about eloping with my wife,we eloped last Friday
However I'm having anxiety about if it's true in god's eyes
I read that legal marriage counts to god however I'm not sure if the government here counts because in Darwin Australia we have same sex marriage
I read that as long as the government follows god's greater laws it's fine
Is my marriage still good in god's eyes?
as long as you have gone before someone and someone witnessed the marriage and all friends and family know your status, and are witnesses that you eloped. That is all it's about, it's not about a document or piece of paper. Just be faithful for life, because even if it was not a marriage per say, to God it is. No fooling around with other people, no cheating. This will be your one and only wife. So treat her, invest in her. If you take care of her, it will last.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Sabertooth
Upvote 0

Justin BT

Active Member
Jan 18, 2020
66
31
34
Taipei
✟17,705.00
Country
Taiwan
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Im not sure God particularly cares if the government has "stamped their seal of approval" on a person's marriage. In Australia, the presbyterian church was seriously considering withdrawing all of their ministers from being government marriage registrants at one point. (I don't know what happened after that). In australia, when two people co-habit (i.e. church marriage that was not government certified), for a period of one year, under Australian law the arrangement is considered as equivalent (Defacto rules)
 
Upvote 0

Sabertooth

Repartee Animal: Quipping the Saints!
Supporter
Jul 25, 2005
10,491
7,061
62
Wisconsin
Visit site
✟952,359.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Im not sure God particularly cares if the government has "stamped their seal of approval" on a person's marriage.
The government, typically, has at least four interests when acknowledging a marriage,
  1. That both parties have reached majority.
  2. That both parties have consented to the marriage.
  3. That both parties are not too closely related (incest).
  4. That neither party is currently married to another person (polygamy).
In australia, when two people co-habit (i.e. church marriage that was not government certified), for a period of one year, under Australian law the arrangement is considered as equivalent (Defacto rules)
That is known as a Common-Law Marriage.
 
Upvote 0

Paidiske

Clara bonam audax
Supporter
Apr 25, 2016
34,110
19,005
43
Albury, Australia
Visit site
✟1,473,140.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Anglican
Marital Status
Married
By eloped, do you mean were married without telling friends and family?

As long as you signed your notice of intent at least a month before the marriage (that is a legal requirement in Australia) then I can't see any reason why your marriage is not valid.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: Sabertooth
Upvote 0

Aaron V

Active Member
Jan 20, 2020
26
2
30
Darwin
✟8,413.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Only reason I thought it wasn't valid was because the government who witnessed it is the same government that allowed same sex marriage

We did tell people about the elope and had parents we still talk to give us their blessing
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Justin BT

Active Member
Jan 18, 2020
66
31
34
Taipei
✟17,705.00
Country
Taiwan
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
The government, typically, has at least four interests when acknowledging a marriage,
  1. That both parties have reached majority.
  2. That both parties have consented to the marriage.
  3. That both parties are not too closely related (incest).
  4. That neither party is currently married to another person (polygamy).

That is known as a Common-Law Marriage.

In Australia, the legal term is "De facto relationship", Under law, a person can be considered equivalent to married (de facto), even if they are technically married to someone else, and can even be considered (equivalent to) married in a 3 way relationship.

(b) a de facto relationship can exist even if one of the persons is legally married to someone else or in another de facto relationship.

Family Law Act 1975
 
  • Informative
Reactions: Sabertooth
Upvote 0

Justin BT

Active Member
Jan 18, 2020
66
31
34
Taipei
✟17,705.00
Country
Taiwan
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Only reason I thought it wasn't valid was because the government who witnessed it is the same government that allowed same sex marriage

People were getting married long before there was any government involved to provide "stamps of approval" on them. I understand your sentiment though. Personally, due to the current state of affairs in Australia I personally believe we may as well simply remove the concept of marriage completely, (which would have the effect of returning the power to define Marriage to back to religious organisations)

Marriage privatization - Wikipedia
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Justin BT

Active Member
Jan 18, 2020
66
31
34
Taipei
✟17,705.00
Country
Taiwan
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
So same sex marriages are not "true" marriages?
I grew up in Christan schools hearing no sex before marriage I guess that's why it's in my mind so much

I guess it depends on what source of truth you take as authoritative doesn't it? (i.e. Some would like Government to be the authority on marriage, others may take the authority of the Catholic Church, other Christians aim for a biblical definition, Muslims read their sacred writings, etc...)
 
Upvote 0

Sabertooth

Repartee Animal: Quipping the Saints!
Supporter
Jul 25, 2005
10,491
7,061
62
Wisconsin
Visit site
✟952,359.00
Country
United States
Faith
Charismatic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
So same sex marriages are not "true" marriages?
Not by Biblical standards. See Genesis 2:24
I grew up in Christan schools hearing no sex before marriage I guess that's why it's in my mind so much
"No sex before marriage" is correct, but marriage does not require a wedding, which is only an outward ceremony. (Weddings are acceptable, just not required.)
 
Upvote 0

Aaron V

Active Member
Jan 20, 2020
26
2
30
Darwin
✟8,413.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I think I'm starting to understand now
I just always thought you'd had to be married by the law or church to be actually married and 2 people being together engaging in sexual intercourse was a sin even if they loved each other and planned to be together for their lives
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums