Implications of Common Law Marriage

Butting in here, sorry. Not recorded, but then, not all things were recorded. The issue of a reocgnized marriage is fully covered by scripture, however.

The post "Immorality in the Church" on the Pasotoral forum has also gone down this rabbit trail of common law marriage and here is what I posted there:

Yes, in some states it might be legal, but we also have more than civil legalities to consider. Again, whether the opposing team likes it or not, Romans 14 and 1st Corinthians 8 does address the biblical principle of the second greatest commandment.

So many of us today have failed to realize that along with the blessing of salvation, comes the responsibility of ambassadorship.

"...giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited" (2 Corinthians 6:3 NASB)

When we are saved, we no longer serve ourselves, but God. How can we approve what the world snickers at lasciviously? How can we be examples for our children to live godly if we reject the "acceptable" and honorable way of a marriage union? The liberty we claim for ourselves could be the bondage we put others through. And I will continue to ask the question - what is the difference between fornication and what the world calls "shacking up?"

God's Kingdom is certainly not about us. Our lives should bring glory to God and not be a stumbling block to anyone. How can common law marriage edify?

 

You have ignored the scripture I posted and the biblical principles that they imply. How do you interpret them?

"Romans 14 and 1st Corinthians 8 does address the biblical principle of the second greatest commandment.

So many of us today have failed to realize that along with the blessing of salvation, comes the responsibility of ambassadorship.

"...giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited" (2 Corinthians 6:3 NASB)

 

You want specific scripture that tells you "common law" marriage is fornication??? Tell us why it's not! You haven't answered that yet. What's the difference? Just a matter of how many years you live together without a ceremony? Show me where in other cultures you don't have a ceremony of some sort or a dowry being offered?

You have even suggested that common law marriage can be valid in God's eyes even in states where it is illegal. Ah well... you may certainly go by your own conscience, but when we are saved, we are to understand what the will of the Lord is, not "do what is right in our own eyes."

We really do need to think of ourselves as extensions of Christ's Body. When you leave your parents to start a famly, it doesn't necessarily mean you are married! How many leave home just to end up pregnant and alone? The problem with all your arguments are that you are seeing things through the eyes of the world although you are shouting "show me scripture!" We have, and you reject it.

From all I've seen of your replies, you are not seeing this issue in light of Christianity. It may be legal, but so is abortion. It may be entered into by two people who are going by what their consience dictates, but does their behavior edify the Body of Christ or cause your brother or sister to stumble?

I don't know any pastors who would teach that this arrangement is godly. I'm sure there might be a few who are misguided, but it can only lead to moral laxity and spiritual harm. You tend to ignore the following verses, but I'm going to post it one last time. If you truly want to understand, my suggestion is that you contemplate the meaning:


"However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble." (1 Corinthians 8:7-13 NASB)

Substitute food for unlicensed sex. Same biblical principle.

 

So, does your conscience tell you that you must pay taxes?

 

Well, it's okay to laugh...probably did come out funny. But s*x IS the issue after all. In actuality, it's about morality and our responsibility as Christians to abstain from all appearances of evil.

It's a very serious subject, actually, because we can either be examples of moral integrity or join the world in its moral downslide.

I have seen common law marriages result in generations of single mothers and unresponsible fathers. It's nice that your hypothetical couple is so dedicated. Will their children also follow suit?