How about some feedback on this????

David Mark,

I really like it when you get goofy .

In Christ,
Trotter

 

I looked into the matter.
Under Oklahoma written law and
judicial law, "Common law" marriage is a matter of
convience for the state government and
rarely is helpful to husband and/or wife.

 

David, a quiz.

Fill in the blanks.

1. Marriage is an instution instituted by _________

2. If I want to marry another woman it is only a marriage if ______ approves.

3. If I want a divorce I should go look up the laws on divorce that were made by ________

4. Roads and highways are made by ____

5. ______ pays for the maintenance of roads.

6. ______ owns roads and highways.

7. Not following speed limits potentially harms ______

8. Common law marriages were recognized because _______.

9. Common law marriages are no longer recognized because _______.

10. The power to perform a holy ordinance should be given to ______.

 

Hey Gina, there are only two ordinances in baptist churches, and marriage isn't one of them!

 

Gina

That is a rhetorical quiz right?

Dave

 

Interesting....

Thanks.

 

I agree Jim.

Also, in Illinois, if there is a child born to a couple without a state license, that child is considered to be illegitimate and is not entitled to any benefits (insurance etc.) from the father anymore than the mother would be.

If the couple stays together for seven years, it used to be considered a common law marriage and is stated as such in an obituary. The "wife" is listed as a common law wife or "special companion". I am not sure if the common law is still in effect or not.

I'm not sure what benefits, if any, she would receive upon her "husband's" death or the children born of that partnership (SS, VA, Ins., or even who the house would go to, etc.).

The state license is a protection for both parties, as has already been stated. In Illinois, if you are not legally married, you are 'shacking up' and are not entitled to be called Mrs.

That is called fornication and is clearly called sin in the Bible. I would think that would be all the feedback you need...

 

Tell that to Adam and Eve. Matrimony is Holy whether or not the state has given its approval. Tell that to Adam and Steve. That matrimony is unholy whether or not the state has given its approval. The only thing the state does is provide legal remedies for civil wrongs and provide legal justifications for civil rights. This has nothing to do with whether or not a marriage is "real". </font>[/QUOTE]You are missing the point. Marriage is ordained by God but the state also has regulations concerning it. Therefore, the believer cannot do less than what the state requires. The same is true about a building. A church cannot meet in a building without have a certificate of occupancy from the local government. That is not a trampling on the word of God at all. It is the society in which we live. In the time of Adam and Eve, human government had not yet been instituted, so they would have no idea what you are talking about. In this era, when the state gives a license for marriage, to not have on is to be disobedient to God by being disobedient to authority (Rom 13) and to live in immorality becuase you are having intimate relations without being married. It is that simple. I would not marry anyone without following the laws of the state in which I reside. To do so would be for me to disobey God and to encourage others to disobey God. Whatever you think about the role of the government, those are two very clear violations of God's standard.

 

So shoot me.
What's the right word for it?
Gina

 

So shoot me.
What's the right word for it?
Gina </font>[/QUOTE]Institution.

 

With all due respect, Pastor Larry, I believe you are missing the point. God approved marriages have been around a long time before the state approved or disapproved. The state makes it clear what they will acknowledge as marriage but that isn't the defining factor. We don't do this with many other things. Are you a Pastor because the state acknowledges you as a pastor for tax purposes, special license plate, access to hospitals during off hours, etc.? Is your pastorship illegitimate without their consent? The state does not require marriage. You are not violating any laws by not getting a license. I have enjoyed the benefits of a state approved marriage for nearly 32 years and hope to continue to do so. I have no problem with having a license. However, I was just as married
on my wedding night, just as moral, just as holy as I am now, even though the license wasn't filed in the courthouse for a few days.

Not really. That church is still a legitimate church whether or not building codes are met. they may disallow your meeting but they do not define what a church is (for their purposes, yes, but, not Biblically)

Where in the Bible or state laws does it say you HAVE to get a marriage license? YOU are not being disobedient.

Neither God nor the state REQUIRE a license.

 

It is not the defining factor but it is one of them.

None of those things are required by law. The law does require that I be either licensed or ordained to take advantage of the tax laws. I cannot take advantage of them without meeting that qualification. But here you are comparing appples to oranges.

The state does not require tht you drive a car either. But it very clearly sets out what you must do if you do decide to drive a car. So with marriage, though it is not required, the state in most cases does say what you must do if you are going to get married.

In most cases, the license is obtained before the marriage and is required to be filed within a certain amount of time after the marriage.

But my point is that the church cannot say "We don't have to meet your codes to meet in this building." Even though the church is God's institution, God does not give them permission to disobey the laws of the state. Marriage is the same way. God institutes it but he does not give its participants the right to disobey the laws of the state in carrying out its duties.

It says to obey the laws of the state. You are being disobedient to God if the state requires a license and you fail to get one. To disobey the state is to disobey God. Rom 13 is clear on this.

My understanding is that in most states, this is not true. In know in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio a license is required. In Michigan there is a waiting period. In Indiana and Ohio, you can get married the same day as you get the license. Other states I don't know about. But if the state requires it, then you must get one or be disobedient to God.

 

If I drive without a license and I get caught, I pay a fine because it is illegal to drive without a license. If I get married without a license and I get caught I pay NO fine because it is not illegal to get married without a license. I have disobeyed no one. There is NO punishment, no state action whatsoever, because there is no law against it. I am not disobeying God or the state.