Is it biblical to get married without a license?

[Fervent]

Are you thinking about the possible legal requirement for Pastors to officiate marriages they don't condone?

Yeah, exactly.

 

[covid-19v1]

Saw this article online, seemed interesting. Any thoughts?

Is it Biblical for Christians to Get Married without a Marriage License?

Christians should follow the requirement for a marriage license, the same way they follow the requirement to pay taxes (Matthew 17:24-27).

 

[GreekOrthodox]

Years ago, my pastor married a couple without a license. Both of them lived in a home for those with severe disabilities. If they got married legally, they would have lost their benefits. So this was a way to bless their relationship without losing their housing.

 

[lismore]

Christians should follow the requirement for a marriage license, the same way they follow the requirement to pay taxes (Matthew 17:24-27).

Hello covid! Thanks for your reply. I don't think there is a legal requirement for people to be married in the same way as to pay taxes. Income tax dodgers would go to jail, unmarried people wouldn't? God Bless

 

[Carl Emerson]

Yeah, exactly.

Yes, I share the same concern...

How could this work then...

Churches marry without documents.

Then those who want to become 'legal' do so of their own choice.

Pastors then have no pressure or obligation to consider inappropriate candidates.

 

[covid-19v1]

Hello covid! Thanks for your reply. I don't think there is a legal requirement for people to be married in the same way as to pay taxes. Income tax dodgers would go to jail, unmarried people wouldn't? God Bless

I'm aware of the differences in the legal repercussions. I'm simply going with whatsoever is of good report.

 

[Fervent]

Yes, I share the same concern...

How could this work then...

Churches marry without documents.

Then those who want to become 'legal' do so of their own choice.

Pastors then have no pressure or obligation to consider inappropriate candidates.

Since I'm not a lawyer, I couldn't even begin to tell you what the legal issues surrounding officiating a marriage ceremony are nor whether simply conducting a ceremony or not would open up the pastors to being conscripted into officiating ceremonies they are opposed to.

If churches were to institute a work around like that, though, there would still need to be some kind of internal document keeping. Since most medium-large churches often keep some kind of records already(baptism records, membership roles) it wouldn't be entirely unworkable though it'd probably require being kept at the denominational level.

 

[Joan Lamb]

Adam and Eve

 

[Daniel Marsh]

Saw this article online, seemed interesting. Any thoughts?

Is it Biblical for Christians to Get Married without a Marriage License?

Yes, because there are no license for marriage in the bible.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Since I'm not a lawyer, I couldn't even begin to tell you what the legal issues surrounding officiating a marriage ceremony are nor whether simply conducting a ceremony or not would open up the pastors to being conscripted into officiating ceremonies they are opposed to.

If churches were to institute a work around like that, though, there would still need to be some kind of internal document keeping. Since most medium-large churches often keep some kind of records already(baptism records, membership roles) it wouldn't be entirely unworkable though it'd probably require being kept at the denominational level.

In our country the RC church has kept their own marriage records back to 1850, I have referenced them for research...

 

[RDKirk]

All functional cultures control mating patterns through customs and laws. There was certainly such a concept as "legal" marriage under the Mosaic Law, and there were specific laws governing marriage in the Roman Empire. In earlier times, it was the verbal testimony of witnesses that attested to the legality of the marriage.

That's why even today ceremonies sometimes still include the line, "Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

It would not have been contemplated by the Apostles that Christians would marry illegally, even though Hebrew and Roman customs had some significant differences (under Roman law, polygamy was forbidden and divorce was much more difficult). Romans 13 certainly does apply to marriage laws as well as taxes, spitting on the street, and jaywalking.

And if Romans 13 doesn't apply to marriage laws, if Christians are not bound by the king's laws in our marriages, why would we care whether pagans are bound by the king's laws to be concerned about homosexual marriages? If the king's laws don't bind us, then they don't bind anyone.