Thread: Marriage-Between a man, woman & God or between a man, woman, God & the state government?

If we are not talking about people's reasons for doing one or the other, which could be sinful or not, the basics is that

* Government marriage licenses were not common until the 1700s
* In most Western countries, people are not required by law to have a government license, it is optional. In the US it was mandatory until the 1970s, by now only some states require it and the law isn't being enforced.

Condemning people on the basis of their having a contract of their own device rather than a government license is a bad idea, especially without further inquiry. Sometimes people get married in a church that doesn't issue a license and then they set up their own contract. This is perhaps more common in other countries. In some countries the government issues several types of licenses with varying legal content which complicates things further.

Like Colonel I think situations would need to be considered on a one on one basis...

I believe one can 'marry' and not enter the legal governmental contract..not that long ago common law was accepted in the courts....
Where the law of the land does not require cohabitants to have a license they are doing nothing wrong. BUT that commitment/covenant must be clear and not just living together planning to 'marry' later...they must understand in the eyes of God they are committing to one another for life.

Marriage is a union of two physically and contractually before God...each carries it's own set of covenants. For 2 to marry in the church and not with license would affect their legal rights...it would need to be understood that in states where common law marriage is no longer recognized certain aspects of the law would not apply..

The reasons now are another issue..marrying in the church to deceive others would, IMHO be a sin...not marrying, but the deceit part...

Seems to me not marrying to avoid the legalities of a government recognized marriage is not deceitful...it's just a legal fact...

Marrying someone in ministry must address the issue of the bylaws of that organization...if they covenanted with an organization to obtain a license from that organization they must address THAT covenant...to not do so is to enter deceit and Satan would have a field day with that...

The last link lists states where a license is not required, a "Common Law Marriage". Should I recommend that these folks be married in one of these states?

Ok now that is another aspect...do they WANT the legal applications such as the spouse being the legal benefactor of the assets. In that case they have to have either common law or the license...

The question I would ask is there a double standard here? I want to retain state benefits for healthcare and be married....and by going the common law route in one of those states I am intentionally planning deceit...I want the legal benefits of marriage while pretending I am not...

All this situational must deal with the motives of the heart...that is where the sin problem lies...if deceit is the objective sin is present...period...

Perhaps put together a questionnaire that delves into the why...because if you participate you will be guilty as well..your clean conscience is most important here..

In the US a lot of people don't marry legally in order to gain benefits...but they also don't actually covenant before God in many cases as well...thus the welfare state and family deterioration issue comes in. It would need to be clearly understood this is MARRIAGE...and not a mere cohabitation of convenience. Once done their own conscience must guide them in their future.

So question # 1....WHY....

Why marry someone in ministry and NOT go the legal route?

Motive is KING on this issue, IMHO

Does the US government state anywhere that it requires or even wishes that people would obtain a marriage license ? Or is it strictly optional ?

Originally Posted by Colonel

Does the US government state anywhere that it requires or even wishes that people would obtain a marriage license ? Or is it strictly optional ?

It's pretty much state by state as far as licenses go but marital status can affect benefits and taxes at the federal level.