Single Or Married?

[ChJp]

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I am not sure if this is the proper place to post this question, if not please move it to the correct category. I turned my life over to Jesus at the age of 16 during the height of the Jesus Movement in the mid 70's, and was in a cult that I would rather not name. When I was finally able to get away and move out on my own I fell from grace and lived a life of sin. This is when I found my now ex. We decided to move in together, my ex was an atheist. We lived together for over 20 years and had a child together. Since we lived together and never was legally married, does this mean we were just single and living an adulterous life before God or were we considered married in God's eyes? I have recently come back to Jesus within the past year. Praise be to God!

Chjp

 

[JCLover779]

I don't *really* know how to answer your question. I, too, left a cult. Mine was an "authority cult" or a discipleship cult (they still believed in/taught Jesus). They were listed on the national cult registry when I attended. I ended up marrying my husband who was not a believer after only knowing him a short while, right after I left. My husband is a believer now. I have been told by some that my marriage would not be recognized by some churches/could possibly be annulled. But over 20 years, and children later, I think in my gut that God recognizes my marriage as one. My children certainly would.

I think getting hung up on the technicality/the semantics is not the thing to do. More, you have to look at your heart. What were your intentions? How did you live? Where is your heart now?

I'm sorry that you went through that. I know how being in a cult like that can influence the things that you do and the decisions that you make. It helped me later when I found out that my actions were not unusual at all for people who went through what I did (people in general, and people who were in the group that I was in).

I have struggled, and continue to struggle, with the consequences of those days. But I see God's amazing hand all around me, every day, and I have to believe that those days, and the results of those days, are a part of my path. The dark times got me to where I am - they are a part of who I am - and I cannot see the end yet.

 

[Annessa3]

my answer is no, you're not married. Unless you made a point sometime of making a verbal or written comittment to each other and included God in on it, nope, it was just shacking up.

 

[Avniel]

nope you're just his long term lady friend.

 

[dayhiker]

Hi ChJp ... Welcome to CF.

I love that you have come back to Jesus. As we know Jesus loves you and is there for you.

I think you are married. A state issued license is a pretty new thing in history. There certainly were non of those when the Bible was written. Jesus is all about whats in your heart and its clear you guys have loved and raised your child. So don't let any one turn that love into something wrong. Thanks how I feel.