> General Discussions
I'M LIVING WITH A WOMAN
josh:
Friends,
I thought perhaps these scriptures might add to the discussion concerning the physical practice of legal marriage:
1 Peter 1:14-16
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
1 Peter 2:12
Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
James 3:13
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom
1 Peter 2:13-17
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
Grace and Peace.
Josh
DWIGHT:
Hi brothers and sisters,
This seems to be a very touchy subject for some. I have a question. Can any here on this forum provide scripture or scriptures (we need a witness) showing that God is okay with a man and a woman living together without being husband and wife? There have been many scriptures given in support of marriage, but I have yet to see any supporting just living together. Forget about what you or I think or feel, what does the scriptures say. Are we here for the truth or not? Regardless of how good are analogies are and how we can justify in our own minds....is it supported by scripture?
I found this article and would like to share a part of it.
Though there are some cultures in the Ancient Near East which were matriarchal in structure, Israel's was not one of them. Israel's family life was dominated by the husband (Pedersen, p. 61). When a marriage occurred the husband took his wife from her home and "ruled" over her, following the pattern of Genesis 3:16: To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." (Preuss, p. 103). Yet the Israelites "never went so far as the Muhammadan poet who says that mothers of mankind are only 'vessels' which receive the children without leaving any impress on them" (Pedersen, p. 61).
Because the husband was the dominant member of the family, he was given the title of lib (Ba'al) which meant "lord", "master of the house", "leader of the family circle" and not "master" (which would have been ]da "Adon") Compare 2 Kings 5:13, Judges 18:19, and 2 Kings 2:12.
The fact that some men remained single was an anomaly in ancient Israel, as we learn from Jeremiah 16. After all, it "is not good for the man to be alone", and a good wife is a gift from Yahweh (Pro. 18:22; Preuss, p. 104). We have, so far as I know, no reports of women who are commanded to remain single in Ancient Israel. Marriage was the norm.
The wife was to be taken from within the larger family circle (usually at the outset of puberty or around the age of 13) in order to maintain the purity of the family line; but she could not be too closely related as is shown by Leviticus 18.
You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes. My ordinances you shall observe and my statutes you shall keep, following them: I am the Lord your God. You shall keep my statutes and my ordinances; by doing so one shall live: I am the Lord.
The marriage was official when the betrothal took place. "There was no religious rite that was performed with the concluding of the marriage, although there was a feast at the conclusion of the festivities (Gen 29:27, Judg 14:10)"(Preuss, p. 104). A betrothed woman was, in the eyes of the people, legally married. When the marriage itself was consumated the husband received the wife and the family of the wife received a "dowry" (Pedersen, p. 68). This payment was made because, as the wife's family had given their flesh and blood the husband's family was bound to gives order to maintain balance between the families. The payment of the rhm (mohar, or "dowry") was simply compensation for the loss of the daughter's labor and should not be considered as a wedding gift (Preuss, p. 104).
Now I realize that we are not under the law, but we still have an obligation to the law within our spirit and this law of the Spirit is a much more demanding law than the law of Moses. As the Lord's people we need to be beyond reproach and the only way we can do that is in spirit. I doubt that our spirit with the Holy Spirit would do anything against the law of God or give the appearance that we are doing something contrary to God's laws.
In Him,
Dwight
Bradigans:
Thank you all for you inputs, especially Bobby, Longhorn, and Sorin. It sounds like you all really understand exactly where I'm coming from. Again, though, I appreciate everyone's input. I could also see where Pknowler was coming from as far as me being a stumbling block to someone weak. Kat, I'm not certain about the perks you shared for getting a marriage license. Satan will always try to tempt us to conform (be politically correct) without being transformed. Thanks to everyone...
Craig:
--- Quote ---This seems to be a very touchy subject for some. I have a question. Can any here on this forum provide scripture or scriptures (we need a witness) showing that God is okay with a man and a woman living together without being husband and wife? There have been many scriptures given in support of marriage, but I have yet to see any supporting just living together. Forget about what you or I think or feel, what does the scriptures say. Are we here for the truth or not? Regardless of how good are analogies are and how we can justify in our own minds....is it supported by scripture?
--- End quote ---
Thanks Dwight, now thats the question. And I think you will find the answer is no. Now I'm not a biblical scholar by any means, so I'm waiting for the scripture myself. I think we've showed many witnesses to the marriage covenant. If there is not at least two biblical witnesses to the contrary then I think the subject should be dropped, try as one might it is hard to fight against the word of God.
Bradigans, that being said, I don't think anyone here is passing judgement on you, I just think a spade should be called a spade and a sin a sin. I don't condem you in the least because I have sin in my life also and yours is no worse than mine or anyone elses here. God is obviously dealing with you over this matter or you would not have asked the question. May his peace and wisdom prevail to you.
Blessings
Craig
Bradigans:
I'm going to be doing some serious praying and I request that everyone else does also because 1 Corinthians 12:14 says - For the body is not one member, but many. Though the bicep (flexion) and tricep (extension) seem to be in opposition with one another, there overall work is together. I appreciate everybody's (IN THE BODY OF CHRIST'S) input. We are not at odd's, we're making one another sharper. Proverbs 27:17 - Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. There is no conflict in the body of Christ though sometimes it may seem. 1 Corinthians 12:24-27 - For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. If you coming with a sincere heart from God's Word I appreciate your input. Ephesians 4:13 - Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. These next few verses here really stood out to me. 1 Corinthians 10:29 - Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. I believe THE SPIRIT is speaking not to my head but to my heart. Keep me in your prayers....
IN HIS LOVE,
Bradford
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