What's your thoughts/views on de facto relationships?
A de facto relationship is when two people are not married but live together or have lived together as a couple on a genuine domestic basis.
I have heard of plenty of Christians doing this in today's world.
And don't worry it's not something I ever plan to do, traditionally Christians are supposed to marry first before moving in together, that is the Christian tradition.
De facto relationships are a no for me.
Actually this is an overlooked subject and needs to be readdressed by Christians and others alike.
I will not inject my personal view, only factors that have some bearing.
1. God hates divorce.
2. God established marriage for one man and one woman to stay in a permanent life-long relationship barring circumstances set in his word, in one purpose, mind, spirit and in physical relations, to curb the appetite to wander, to sin and to also procreate and extend humankind etc.
Now saying all this, does it matter whether one must go to an official 'church' to an official of it, an ordained minister, pastor or priest to seal this marriage bond, as if God would only sign off if only done in this matter?
And of course there are other traditional ways of sealing the deal, say by a Captain of a vessel for example, at sea. And he or she is not a 'church' official. God still signs off on it though, right?
And if a couple is not in any environment or in contact with any other human say for years. Can these two get married under the commands and words of God without a 'traditional' human mediator in attendance at least? And what if this couple do not believe in the God of Abraham, or are just plain ignorant of his existence. Can these two still be married under the view of God our Creator?
This is why there was invented in the West at least, Common English Law that also considered common law for marriages. This I believe is equivalent as your
genuine domestic basis of marriage.
So must we be in need of a church official to get truly saved as God would permit it?
So must we be in need of a 'church' official to get truly married as God would permit it?