Marriage a commitment or piece of paper

I've thought through this several times, when my son lived with his girlfriend for two years before they were married. They were committed and it was hard to see anything wrong, although Christianity in general condemns it. However, in Romans 13:1, it says, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." There's another place about being subject to the laws of the land but I can't find it right away. Marriage laws vary from country to country, but in the US, one needs to go through a legal ceremony. Other countries have different traditions. So, Biblically speaking, I'd say that you need to be married under the laws of the country you live in.

I really think that when you wrote this question you already knew the answer to it. If you don't have the piece of paper per se, then actually where is the commitment and of course you already know the religious answer to this question. Now don't get me wrong. I am not coming down on you are anything like that as I was in your same position 8 years ago myself. I had been with my now husband for 10 years we had kids and in my case my state of Texas recognizes common law marriage. However I knew that religiously it was not recognized. My husband in his heart knew he wasn't going anywhere and I knew in my heart I wasn't going anywhere so we got married and there we had the official commitment. A marriage is a contract an agreement that whether good or bad we are gonna stick it out and make it work. Without that commitment, agreement or contract when the going gets tough the tough can easily get going. Definition in the encyclopedia of commitment is to pledge to something or someone. Personal commitment is defined as interaction dominated by obligations. These obligations may be mutual or self-imposed, explicitly stated or may not. So on January 26, 1999 I said to my husband do you still want to get married? He said yes. We went to the courthouse and made our commitment, our contract, our agreement just the two of us and we have still been committed to each other ever since. Whether bad or whether good we are obligated to make our marriage work and not for the kids but for us. Now when I make love to MY husband I make love to MY husband in the eyes for the entire world he is mine and I am his and let no other man put asunder. Hope this helps. Good Luck and God Bless

i think marriage is more tridition than anything else, its what people do, but really what is the difference between living with your parter and kids (like your situation) and getting married and living with your partner and kids, they only this is a legal piece of paper, if your are married you can still cheat on your parnter etc, ( i dont recommend it) as you can when you are not married, to me its just tridition and and a big hole in your wallet. honestly how would marrying your partner change your life?

Wow...see, this whole "piece of paper" is not worth the same material used down the toilet. In the olden days, a marriage was legal and binding by the simple act of a commitment from both parties. In the Biblical days, when a man laid down with a woman (mostly if they were virgins) they were married. I think the whole paper issue is something that the government uses to keep tabs on us. As my hubby would say though, "Why buy the whole cow when you can get the milk for free?" He told that to his "brother in law" who wasn't too happy with that remark. I can understand. This man has an autisic son with my SIL, but he is by far the best father I've ever seen. He knows the baby loves music and everytime I'm over there, he's always playing his guitar, keyboard or drums for the little tyke and he laughs. I'm both ways on this issue: I believe that it's the commitment between the man and woman, yet the government has the ultimate say so on what benifits a married couple gets. Stinks, doesn't it? Nowhere in the bible does it mention that a man and a woman are married once the paper is signed.

According to the Bible, marriage is definitely necessary. As far as God is concerned, you've been committing fornication all along and He does not recognize your union. The fact that you are a Christian and are thinking about this means God is dealing with you to do what He wants you to do. It's not the piece of paper that's important. It is the vows exchanged between two people and officially committing to remain faithful to each other for the rest of your lives. Let me put it this way, if you continue as you are without repentance, you are risking your salvation because God is evidently dealing with you about this. You can do what you want but unrepentant sin isn't covered by the Blood of Jesus so you have to decide whether you want to live for God or for yourself and you better be prepared to live with the consequences.

Sadly, many out there are like yourself. Do you think the union will not be able to withstand the pressure and commitment involved in a church/legal marriage? Going through it will not only strengthen your bonds, but also help pave a good way for your two children to follow, lest they pick up the messages that you are inadvertently sending.

I'm Catholic and don't think you need to get married. I think for some people they get married because it's practical ie. more tax breaks etc. As long as you're happy in your relationship that's the main thing. I also think that many people won't leave a bad relationship if they're married because it can act as a barrier in some cases.

Marriage is a commitment but its not just two people but its two families and kids you will give birth to. And the fact that a marriage ceremony is a party and a lot of people get together to bless the newly weds is the symbol that this relationship has been accepted in the society and the rules and privileges of the society are applicable to them.

Hmm, interesting discussion. It is a sign of commitment, but at the same time, all there is to prove it is a piece of paper and maybe a ring. Marriage will not really protect you from anything, Same things can happen to you still as they could when u were not married. i am not very religious - however I am not sure that I will ever get married - I might or I might not. I will have to think about that later in life

well i think our society has made some rules and nothing harm in following it ..well marriage is not for sure piece of paper but extension towards next step ...

well according to me marriage is completely a different part of life. its like starting a new life in which we need to feel responsible and have to bear all the pains and all.so thats totally a different part of life.

marriage is NOT a mere piece of paper. Its even only about love. its certainly about commitment. There must be a tremendous effort in your part. Yes, you may be fed up my the years that passes by,but you cannot blame your partner for the loss of love. But this is what marriage is all about! The moment we fall out of love, the real work begins. SImply because, falling in love isnt love. Why? because there is no decision required (falling in love just happens), there is no effort required (you dont force it, falling in love is like.... falling), no hard work required (falling in love is like being bitten by a bug). on the other hand, true love requires all three: decision, effort, and hard work. Sum up all three - you have commitment. LOve is a command, you need to make it happen. True love can only begin when you fall out of love. Its when you begin to choose love, even though u dont feel like doing it. thats commitment. thats marriage.

As far as my opinion is concerned, I take marriage as a commitment than merely a piece of paper. It leads two individuals to understand and stay together and give birth to the next genre which is the outcome of the bondage they share with each other. I have been married for 3years and are leading a comfortable life with the partner as we both are committed in doing anything. But yes it would be better if both can share their views on each and everything and lead a happy life.

Stacy, it is in the New Testament that Christ is reported to have stated that marriages can only occur in Heaven, not on Earth. So don't stress yourself out over people who don't even know their own scripture trying to judge you. Remember that was a biggie too "Judge not, so that you will not be judged". Funny how they dance around that one, eh?

I personally believe that marraige is a commitment. If I could get married on paper I would. I am committed to Bruce as much as I could be. Even without the paper, he IS my husband. We cannot marry because of health insurance issues. God knowa my commitment and my legal issues. I feel if you love the person enough to go through it all (life) with the person. You can consider yourself married.

i think marriage that is based on church values i mean religious marriage not only accords you respect from the public,friends and family but also tends to last longer than the very common marriages of "come cook for me and give me company"

I think marriage is a commitment ...the piece of paper is like keeping a record of a major event in your life

After you are married the marriage license really means nothing, you then have to look to the real meaning of marriage which is love and commitment. No one gets married so they can frame their marriage license on the wall. When you consider getting married to someone you love it's definatley not for the piece of paper. Being in a committed realtionship is one thing (which can be great and bring you much happpiness), but exchanging vows and pledgeing to be partners for life is a deeper commitment.

I think if two people are that intimately committed then there should be not denial in going for this paper work and get married.Its's not that we need the stamp but is it that big a issue not to go for it and can't we just get married to make society happy and may be we too feel haapy..........

Because we live in a place where society dictates us, getting marriage is a must so that we can live rightfully in the eyes of everyone. Marriage is more than a piece of paper. If we live by the rules, then society wouldn't be mean to us. It is by this society that keep us in harmony and live peacefully.