When Is Marriage, "Marriage"?

[Doc]

I had an interesting conversation with a ministry friend of mine today. We were talking about the new church that he is starting. He was sharing with me that he was having quite a bit of difficulty in his part of the city getting zoning clearance for his church to meet in his home. Of course, you and I know that a 'church' isn't a building, but a group of believers united by common faith and fellowship, but in the eyes of the State, he was trying to make his home a church.

Being the curious little monkey and trouble-maker that I am, I asked him, "When did your church begin?" He shared with me that it began in a coffee shop when he met with his family and another family, and they prayed together and made a commitment to start a fellowship. That was about two years ago. They have had their ups and downs, but now they are twenty in number, and growing.

I guess the point that the Lord was showing me in this is that the world's definitions do not matter a hill of beans when it comes to spiritual matters.

So let me ask the following questions, and let's see where we go from there.

1. When is a Christian a 'Christian'? Is it when he walks the aisle while they are playing 'Just As I Am'? Is it when he shakes the preacher's hand? Is it when he is baptized? Is it when he makes a public confession of faith? Or is it when he cries out to God, "Please, save me?"

2. When is a church a 'Church'? Is it when they have a building? Is it when they get permission to meet? Is it when other churches recognize them? Or is it when a group of believers makes a commitment to one another in fellowship and in faith?

3. When is a marriage a 'Marriage'? When the State says it is? When the prevailing culture says it is? When they get permission to get a license? Or is it when a man and woman covenant before God to love and to obey, in that order?

 

[Chaplain]

Hey Brother Doc from out here in the Gulf,

Here are my simple answers to your questions.


1. When is a Christian a 'Christian'? Is it when he walks the aisle while they are playing 'Just As I Am'? Is it when he shakes the preacher's hand? Is it when he is baptized? Is it when he makes a public confession of faith? Or is it when he cries out to God, "Please, save me?"

A Christian becomes a Christian when he/she realizes that he/she needs Christ in their lives and cries out to God " PLEASE SAVE ME!!!!!
All the other stuff is to show everyone else what they have done.


2. When is a church a 'Church'? Is it when they have a building? Is it when they get permission to meet? Is it when other churches recognize them? Or is it when a group of believers makes a commitment to one another in fellowship and in faith?

This is easy when they commit to one another in fellowship and faith.....all the rest is just details

3. When is a marriage a 'Marriage'? When the State says it is? When the prevailing culture says it is? When they get permission to get a license? Or is it when a man and woman covenant before God to love and to obey, in that order?

Well duh :lol: when they form a covenant before the Lord. Again, the rest is just window dressing.

OK Doc...I just got out here today so I have not lost any sleep.....yet :roll: ........give me something a little harder before I go stir crazy and dug eyed :shock: from lack of sleep in the next day our two..................just funning. Great questions though. It makes you stop and think some about what you have been taught and what is real per Yahweh's word. I would like to think....now correct me here Brother Randy.....that per question #2 and the correct answer, that we here on this board ARE a church with Randy as the Pastor, though we are a long distance church body.

 

[truthfinder1967]

So let me ask the following questions, and let's see where we go from there.

1. When is a Christian a 'Christian'? Is it when he walks the aisle while they are playing 'Just As I Am'? Is it when he shakes the preacher's hand? Is it when he is baptized? Is it when he makes a public confession of faith? Or is it when he cries out to God, "Please, save me?"

2. When is a church a 'Church'? Is it when they have a building? Is it when they get permission to meet? Is it when other churches recognize them? Or is it when a group of believers makes a commitment to one another in fellowship and in faith?

3. When is a marriage a 'Marriage'? When the State says it is? When the prevailing culture says it is? When they get permission to get a license? Or is it when a man and woman covenant before God to love and to obey, in that order?

Good Morning Brother,

I would like a chance to answer your questions from my perspective,

1. A christian is a christian when he believes that christ is the son of god and realizes the truth of gods word. In other words, when the person internally makes the connections becuase God knows our hearts.

2. Of course Matthew 18; 19,20 spells out that God is with those that meet, he is with them, and in a sence this would be just a denomination. I say this because once number one is done, when a person believes in Christ as our savior, he becomes part of Gods church. Since Christ is the head of the church, one church, one God, Christ the head, all christians once they believe, become members of Christs church. The rest are just denonminations, or if you will parts of the same body to put it simply in my veiw.

3. I would have to agree witth Chaplain on this one, it becomes a marriage upon the exchange of covenants.

Ok, thanks for hearing me out, nice to meet you and have a Blessed day.

 

[Chaplain]

Truthfinder1967,

I agree with your answer to question #2. We do become a part of the church body at that time. I was just assuming based on what Doc had wrote before the questions, was when does a "local" group of believers becomes known as or is labeled a "church". Still, I liked your answers to all the questions.