On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 18:22:33 +0000 (UTC), "seeker"
 wrote:

>
>
>One question no one seems to be able to answer is when a marriage
>officially begins or ends. Does a marriage have to be technically
>official (given the legal stamp by the given society) or does it begin
>or end when the spiritual,emotional and physical bond is made or
>broken?
>
>A practical example: a married man or woman seeks an intimate
>relationship outside of the marriage. The spouse doing this does so
>because all love and affection has evaporated in the marriage and the
>couple are essentially roommates sharing living space only for
economic
>reasons. Has the marriage ended or does it still exist when all
>attempts to keep it together have failed and it is simply a financial
>arrangement?

Hello,

Jesus said the only grounds for divorce (thus ending the marriage) is
fornication. Mt 5:32,

"but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving
for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever
shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV)

That Greek word for "fornication" also encompasses such things as
homosexuality, etc.

As to what constitutes the exact beginning and ending of a marriage,
the Bible tells us that we must obey the laws of the land. (unless they
clearly disobey God's laws) Ro 13:1,

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there
is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities
that exist have been established by God.

Also notice Titus 3:1,

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be
obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good," (NIV)

Thus if the law of a country requires a marriage ceremony, using such
words as "Now I pronounce you husband and wife", then at that exact
moment in the eyes of the state and of God, they are married. The same
kind of situation would be for divorce. (a Scriptural divorce)

Sincerely,  James


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