Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: balistik@nevada.edu (SHAWN HICKS) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Laws of the Old and New Covenants Message-ID: Date: 25 Mar 91 09:21:41 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Nevada, System Computing Services Lines: 31 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article tja@mullauna.cs.mu.oz.au (Tim ARNOLD) writes: >as well as at God's. That is why as a Christian I can boldly say that sexual >activity outside of marriage will lead to more suffering than if it is avoided >because God gave us his laws for a reason and I trust God's judgment better >than I trust my own. >Tim. When I read this a question popped into my head, perhaps you can answer it for me. When you or anyone says 'marriage' what do you mean? Are you refering to the social/legal marraige where a Justice of the Peace declares you wed or are you refering to a religious wedding? Usually christians get wed in church and register that marriage with the government so that it can be legally recognized. Sexual activity outside marriage in the christian church is a sin. Fact. Is it a sin if the wedding was performed in a church but without legal documentation? What about a wedding between two christians by a Justice without the Sacrament of Marriage? If two people get married outside of the church and then find God later in life, do they have to remarry to prevent sin in the eyes of God? //Shawn// [I don't know of any case where a church would do a marriage without also registering it with the State, at least in the U.S. I've seen ceremonies for the latter situation that in effect rededicate the marriage to God. However it wouldn't be viewed as remarrying. I don't know of any Christian body that would advocate remarrying. --clh]