Colonel
A true Christian will always want to please God and choose to embrace the position that is the closest to marriage in regard to governmental laws. It's as simple as that.
As a minister I would find it easy to tell couples what they should decide when contemplating scriptural marriage and the govt laws of marriage
In some countries like France there are several versions, each one optional. I see no scriptural mandate for condemning those who do not employ what the government has made optional. Making strong recommendations and questioning people's motivations is a different matter.
That works as a general rule but it doesn't always hold. Some people get a government marriage license with the intent of getting a divorce later, for whatever reason. Some people get married in order to please their family or friends or even their girlfriend/boyfriend but it's not heartfelt but rather an outward thing. Without a union in the heart there is no marriage before God. Some people rush into a marriage because they want to have sex but they don't know what they are doing and the whole thing is questionable. Then there's remarriage and all the issues involved with that situation - even if the government will gladly supply the couple with a license. So questioning people's motivations is always possible. God looks to the heart and sees and knows all things and he judges accordingly and not merely according to formalities.
That phrase sounds like a married couple is having sex more often than usualExtra-Marital Sex
Why not just call it adultery like the Lord called it way back in the 10 Commandments???
Romans828 (03-30-2020)