u/Grumpbut

Case Study

• Sam & Ashley are both biblically free to remarry. Sam is incarcerated in prison in North Carolina and Ashley Lives in Oregon. They exchange lifelong marital vows over the phone, inform their families and friends, wear rings on their left index finger to symbolize being married, and thereafter regard themselves as "husband and wife."
• Let's assume for the sake of argument that North Carolina and Oregon have conflicting marriage laws and it is unclear whether either state would legally recognize the union.

Questions

1. Has a marriage between Sam and Ashley been created before God? (Explain and defend your answer from scripture)
2. Does a marriage have to be publicly recognized by more than just friends and family; such as by the community and government, according to scripture? (Explain)

Questions For Recognition Position:

1. Did God delegate the power to create marriage to civil governments? (Explain)
2. Does God's recognition of a marriage change when human laws change? (Explain)
3. Where does scripture explicitly require legal recognition, an officiant, a license, or a formal ceremony? Show me where the Bible says a government license or legal process is necessary for a marriage to exist before God?

Questions For Covenant Position:

1. What exact words create the covenant? (Explain)
2. Must there be human witnesses besides the couple themselves? (Explain)
3. How is the covenant verified without human witnesses beyond groom and bride? (Explain)
4. Should Christian's disregard lawful procedures established for recognizing and protecting marriage? (Explain)
5. How does a church determine whether a marriage actually exists? (Explain)
6. What evidence establishes a covenant was actually made? (Explain)

Case Study

• Sam & Ashley are both biblically free to remarry. Sam is incarcerated in prison in North Carolina and Ashley Lives in Oregon. They exchange lifelong marital vows over the phone, inform their families and friends, wear rings on their left index finger to symbolize being married, and thereafter regard themselves as "husband and wife."
• Let's assume for the sake of argument that North Carolina and Oregon have conflicting marriage laws and it is unclear whether either state would legally recognize the union.

Questions

1. Has a marriage between Sam and Ashley been created before God? (Explain and defend your answer from scripture)
2. Does a marriage have to be publicly recognized by more than just friends and family; such as by the community and government, according to scripture? (Explain)

Questions For Recognition Position:

1. Did God delegate the power to create marriage to civil governments? (Explain)
2. Does God's recognition of a marriage change when human laws change? (Explain)
3. Where does scripture explicitly require legal recognition, an officiant, a license, or a formal ceremony? Show me where the Bible says a government license or legal process is necessary for a marriage to exist before God?

Questions For Covenant Position:

1. What exact words create the covenant? (Explain)
2. Must there be human witnesses besides the couple themselves? (Explain)
3. How is the covenant verified without human witnesses beyond groom and bride? (Explain)
4. Should Christian's disregard lawful procedures established for recognizing and protecting marriage? (Explain)
5. How does a church determine whether a marriage actually exists? (Explain)
6. What evidence establishes a covenant was actually made? (Explain)