With the summer off and my husband often away on business trips I am once again free to communicate by various means with my much neglected circle of friends. It seems with every phone conversation, blog update, even Hillsdale Magazine I learn of a new marriage or engagement. I am reaching the 7-month mark in my own marriage and I am reminded of a question I had to deal with 8 months ago - what is marriage? I mean what is the actual point at which you are married and what causes it to be? I am still curious about this so any insight from anyone is welcomed and encouraged.
From the religious point of view two people are married when the say their vows before God, in the prescence of a minister/priest/anyone who is ordained? Is that all that it takes? And why can't any man/woman of God marry a couple? Is it because of their certification within a church or the fact that the State recognizes their authority and will therefore recognize the marriage? If it is the former then in a case where a State refuses the authority of the Church (e.g. France) then a couple is actually married in the eyes of God after the religious ceremony but in order to recieve State benifits, etc. they must also have the recognition of the State. As Christians, however, if State recognition is unattainable the couple can still rest assured they are married according to the Church and more importantly God and may continue in that lifestyle. Does the Bible ever say that it requires a certain kind of "holy person" or "ordained person" in order for two people to be married? I honestly don't know. This separation is an important point if, for instance, Christianity is an illegal religion. For Christians living in such an environement the Church "wedding" (saying of vows before God) would be the point at which they are married? Any other ceremony/documentation/registration with the State would simply be for legal/practical reasons, right? Isn't that the way it is here? Is there not a clear separation? We have the Christian ceremony to be recognized by God and the Church and the registration and liscence is purely a practical, non-marriage determing, thing. In other words, my marriage liscence proves to the State I am married and therefore fall into a different tax bracket, deserve visitation/next of kin rights, etc. It does NOT, however, make me married. The vows I said before God and an ordained minister made me married. So, if you agree with me so far here are my questions. What entity defines "ordination"? Is it the Church or the State? Does the Bible require such an ordination from either entity? If I had gotten married by a justice of the peace or an ordained minister from another religion would I still be married according to God? En bref, what in our religious ceremony actually makes us married and what could potentially be eliminated without anulling the marriage act? And, is State recognition important to God? Is it possible to be married according to the State and not in the eyes of God?
