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timf -> RE: Marriage and God (9/16/2008 9:58:51 AM)
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In the Bible days, was marriage simply a commentment to your significant other
The phrase "Bible days" covers a lot of ground. In the days before the flood people were still being given in marriage, yet things were so evil that God destroyed all but eight people.
The first marriage had only the two people involved and God. This may not be a required pattern but just a reflection of the fact that there were no other people. Consider the following;
1. Parents
2. Other family members
3. The church
4. Neighbors, friends, and coworkers
5. The government
6. Traditions
7. Wedding businesses
What is called marriage today can be quite a collection of people all working to manipulate two people in a particular direction or to spend money. It can be quite tempting to consider throwing out all the parties as extraneous and going with the "just us and God" model.
Others seek to adopt the patterns of the Bible. Most of the Bible describes life in the nation of Israel. You could make a case here that even here the traditions also changed over time.
One might make a case that the civil approach to marriage (governmental) should be the only approach to take. However, this has also changed over time. From the civil perspective marriage is a legal contract that involves property rights, future earnings, and access to children. Governments were slow to get involved into the private lives of people because it costs money and produces no revenue. However, when governments do not intervene, families seek revenge for one or another party in a marriage being abandoned or otherwise taken advantage of. This can lead to blood feuds.
Since one cannot look to the Bible to find a specific template for marriage and one cannot find a perfect template for marriage in history, tradition, or precedent, each couple needs to consider their unique position.
1. Legal. Even when a couple decides they are going to ignore the law regarding marriage, many states impose a married status after cohabitation for a certain period of time.
2. Church. Some people disagree with requirements for marriage and shop for a more compatible church or go without a church involvement at all.
3. Parents. Sometimes parents put so much pressure on a couple regarding their desires, that the couple will elope to avoid dealing with it.
Many people are attracted to the idea of "we will legitimize what we are doing" with our own "committment". They often seek a Biblical basis to justify it. However, the idea is more a way of feeling comfortable with fornication and avoiding dealing with family, church, friends, and the government.
Since most couples poison themselves with chemicals to prevent and kill their children, the idea of marriage and family is not as integral as it once was. The prevention of and murder of children has put a damper on starting a "family". This can be seen in the lacksidasical attitude most people have to marriage in general.
In summary, If you want to just lived together, you should face the truth about what you are doing. It is an insult to God to say that you are just following a "Biblical" model.
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