Dear Pastor,
I have always wanted to ask a renowned reverend like yourself what is the definition of marriage? Let us say a man and a woman have been together for years. The relationship is solid and is just lacking the 'legal' aspect of marriage, what if these two persons were to bow in prayer before God and ask Him to accept them as husband and wife and proceed to live the life of married people?
Have they fornicated (according to your definition of marriage)? Have they sinned? Frankly, as I asked first, what is marriage?
K.S., Kingston, Jamaica
Dear K.S.,
What do you mean by "according to your definition of marriage"? You don't know how I would answer your questions. So why presume what I would say. The truth is you are not very honest. You know exactly what marriage is and your purpose of asking the questions on marriage is to argue that what you believe marriage to be is correct.
If you want to know about the origin of marriage, you should read Genesis chapter 2: 18-24. These verses tell how the first family originated and how God sanctioned the marriage union. Of course, if you don't believe the Bible, these verses will mean nothing to you. You may also want to read what the Bible says about the Mosaic Law, marriage and the family in Deuteronomy 6: 4-5. There are many passages in the Old Testament which emphasise that marriage was originated by God and have divine sanction.
Every culture has its customs about marriage, but all recognise that a ceremony should take place. According to the Bible, men took their wives on each occasion a ceremony was held. That custom is recorded in the Old Testament and Jesus repeated the words of Genesis 2:24; "What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" Jesus believed in marriage. The Apostle Paul taught about it in Ephesians 5:22-23 and he gave practical advice in 1Corinthians chapters 6 and 7.
If a man and a woman agree to live together in concubinage without the blessings of the Lord or sanction of the State, that is a decision that his lady and himself have made. The question is: Why wouldn't such a couple do what is legal and right? What is the fear? It is not illegal for a man to live with a woman, but why would he refuse to follow the law of the land and solemnise the union?
Pastor
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