I am no longer licensed, I chose to drop it, but I would marry them and have been to several weddings of people who have children.
Why? Sexual intercourse without the bonds of marriage is simply a sin. It is no better and no worse than any other sin. Anyone who has lived a life and is getting married has sinned in one way or another. Fornication is not something that should get in the way of a wedding as long as it's not an ongoing thing.
Now, notice my last phrase, an ongoing thing. If a couple is unrepentant for their fornication, maybe a wedding shouldn't be the thing for them. HOWEVER, maybe it is the right thing in order for the act to come under covenent protection. All it takes is a recognition of the wrong and repentance - even if it is something that you and they both know is not probable for them to live up to, that recognition of sin and desire to make it right is what matters. Sometimes the act of marriage is an act of repentance.
Remember, the Word says:
1Cr 7:8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.
1Cr 7:9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn {with passion.}
About counseling sessions. YES! They are important.
Unbelievers? Why would I turn them away if they want to do a Godly thing? For the church to say "no, you are an unbeliever and therefore we don't want to help you with this Godly thing you want to do," well, what kind of message is that to the world? It's rejection, is what it is.
There are times when unbelievers should be excluded from things of the church but not all that many. A good example is baptism. Someone who does not confess Jesus as Lord has no business being baptized.
OK, I'm done
Thanks
Bob
Spearfish, SD
