Is it possible to be married in God's eyes but never have had an actual wedding? Like can you ask that God will make you both married to eachother (obviosuly if it's a mutual decision between the man and woman), and will He do it if it's His will for you to be toghether?
A union is not a marriage unless it is known. If it is not a marriage in the eyes of the church and or the world then it is not a marriage in the eyes of God.
Did Christ take HIS "bride" (the church) and keep her in secret???????
Are we not to be baptized in public???????
Marriage is not only a covinent, but a legal agreement.
Commitment of any kind made in secret is not a commitment. That is especialy true of marriage.
No agreement is binding without witnesses. The wedding, the ceremony, the civil agreement, the public professing of agreement and commitment, no matter how small is the foundation of the marriage(even for the non Christian. How much more so ,then, for thoser who profess to bellieve and follow Christ Jesus??????
Starting a life and family together with out it is like building on quick sand.
How much love does a man have for a woman if by not publicly commiting to the marriage he would have her seen before the world as a harlet, a fallen woman, living in sin and shame?????
How much respect does a woman have for herself and a man if she would be commited with him in sin????
For this a man shall leave his father and mother and the two shall become one flesh.
The two can never be one flesh unless they publicly commit to being one flesh before God.
Marriage is a holy institution ,not of man ,but of God. If we as Christians are to do it then we should do it as Christ Jesus exampled withHis bride the Church.
Sincerely
His
Cliff
There is no specific reference to marriage in scripture simply because it the basic understanding in all of scripture.