marriage question

[trentlogain2]

what constitutes marriage in the sight of God? when is one man and one woman united in the sight of God?

is it when they stand in front of an officiating party who is lawfully able to marry a couple? how would you go about debating someone who tries to talk to you about the system just wanting a piece of paper, soul-mates who know they are bonded together, and worst of all..when they use adam and eve in the garden and the circumstances there - how it's completely different than today's program.
i'm sorry. sometimes my patience wears thin when talking with liberals. but your feedback would be appreciated.

 

[mont974x4]

This is largley a cultural issue. We are to obey the laws of the land and as such what constitutes a marriage can be very subjective in that sense.

The Jewish culture of the OT considered the betrothal period to be binding in such a way that to end it required a divorce certificate.

I am inclined to to say that biblically the act of sex is the bonding event. I base that on this verse:
1Co 6:16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH." (NASB)

Now, the context of the verse is dealing with spiritual harlotry but the concept and principle is based on a physical and emotional issue...sex binds us to the other person.

Sex is universal, the particulars of the ceremony and local laws are extremely subjective.


I know you are frustrated but you may just need to get over it because the Bible is not as clear on the issue as we would hope.

 

[trentlogain2]

if that were the case where does the command, 'do not commit fornication' come into play? i mean, if a person has sex and afterward is considered married.. then some people will try to throw that out of the window as well.

 

[mont974x4]

True, that is something to consider and I am not convinced of an answer yet. I have asked these questions a few times in other discussions and never settled it. Like I said, the Bible is not as clear on this as I would have hoped it was. Given our culture and our call to obey the laws of the land I am led to suggest that it is a combination of sex and subjective ceremony, but I can't hang my hat on it yet.

 

[Allen1901]

i'm sorry. sometimes my patience wears thin when talking with liberals.

I'm a Liberal. So was (is) Jesus!

 

[rmccubbin]

what constitutes marriage in the sight of God? when is one man and one woman united in the sight of God?...your feedback would be appreciated.

My pastor has explained marriage to me in terms of a covenant. If a man and a woman decide to become married, they solemnly promise to do certain things and not to do certain things, and this results in each party holding up their end of the agreement. If a man leaves his wife or abuses her in some harsh way, he has broken the covenant and she is released from her obligation. What the government does or doesn't do or recognizes or certifies is really irrelevant.

Sex, lawful or not, unites a man and woman in a way that defies understanding. Scripture rightly and strongly cautions against this forceful temptation. Understand the context of scriptural warnings though. If two teenagers or young adults fornicate, they are not "spiritually married". They have united in a perverted way, grievously sinned, and each taken something that doesn't belong to them, yes...but they have done nothing to affect a covenant with themselves or prevent future marriage covenants from being agreed upon with rightful mates. Grace my man.