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From: hayesstw@risc1.unisa.ac.za (Steve Hayes)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: When are two people married in God's eyes?
Message-ID: <Apr.22.00.55.01.1993.2043@geneva.rutgers.edu>
Date: 22 Apr 93 04:55:02 GMT
Sender: hedrick@geneva.rutgers.edu
Organization: University of South Africa
Lines: 27
Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu

In article <Apr.16.23.15.27.1993.1836@geneva.rutgers.edu> cs89mcd@brunel.ac.uk (Michael C Davis) writes:

>: I would like to get your opinions on this: when exactly does an engaged
>: couple become "married" in God's eyes?  Some say that if the two have
>: publically announced their plans to marry, have made their vows to God, and
>: are unswervingly committed to one another (I realize this is a subjective
>: qualifier) they are married/joined in God's sight.
>
>The way I read Scripture, a couple becomes married when they are *physically*
>married, i.e. when they first have sexual intercourse.

Some years ago an Anglican synod was discussing the marriage canons and 
there was some debate on what actually constituted a marriage.

The bishop of Natal, whose wife of many years had died, and who had recently 
remarried, announced "It MUST be consummated" and looked like that cat that 
got the cream.

So I suppose he at least would agree with you.

============================================================
Steve Hayes, Department of Missiology & Editorial Department
Univ. of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa
Internet: hayesstw@risc1.unisa.ac.za         Fidonet: 5:7101/20
          steve.hayes@p5.f22.n7101.z5.fidonet.org
FAQ: Missiology is the study of Christian mission and is part of
     the Faculty of Theology at Unisa
