God is not a party to any "civil" marriage, as "civil" is an invention of men and does not appear in the Holy Bible. Rather, the authority being referred to in your cited passage would be Godly authority (Lawful) and not the purported authority of the State (legal).
But neither is there any mention in the Bible of marriages taking place in a church building, or with a pastor leading the ceremony.
When God is removed as the basis for societal contracts (covenants as opposed to contracts), the tyranny of the State takes his place. And the State is a cruel master. Jesus said his yoke is easy and his burden light. How different it is with the State. God is not a respecter of persons; the State is.
You may not view it that way, but the State does. Because you have contracted with the State (ignorantly or otherwise), you will render to the State - and, if the State deems it necessary, by force.
Rather, a believer "must obey God" from the outset. Compromising with temporal powers whenever they seem to harmonize with God's Law can never lead to redemption. My God is a jealous God and he will not share his glory with another.
It's not a case of leading to redemption. That is entirely done by the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. We have commands in the Bible to honour, pray for, and obey our rulers. For example:
(1Ti 2:1 NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
(1Ti 2:2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
(1Ti 2:3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
(Tit 3:1) Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
(1Pe 2:17) Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
The malevolence of the spirit empowering the State is only a matter of degree - not of geography.
There's the deception. Yes, you did 'bring the system...into your union'! You signed on, voluntarily, to the system. And you did it for one or both of these reasons:
1) You were afraid of the perceived consequences of disobedience to the State;
2) You signed one or more contracts with the State, joining the Living man to the dead corporate State, thereby giving the State jurisdiction over you.
No, I didn't sign a contract with the state when I got married. It wasn't a case the state saying, "You sign the marriage certificate, and we will do (whatever)." I was not afraid of the perceived consequences of disobedience to the State. As I have quote from Scripture above, we are commanded in the Bible to obey those in authority over us. That authority does not depend upon whether or not I sign a marriage certificate.
In the absence of the understanding of God as the head of the marriage covenant, the State has taken his place and wreaked havoc. The marriage contract/license has no meaning except for the purposes of the godless State...
I didn't sign a marriage contract, but a marriage certificate. I agree that God rules over all. But take that to its logical conclusion, and the state would do absolutely nothing.
