God first instituted marriage in Eden, millennia before any government or church institution. If you have a church family, having them participate can be a wonderful thing, and getting legally married isn’t wrong either (the tax break can work in your favor). but biblically speaking neither the church and certainly not the government have to get involved, and neither of them define what marriage is.
Part of the reason for wedding ceremonies is for public accountability: everyone knows you’re making a lifelong commitment. Plus it’s a nice excuse for family and friends to get together and celebrate.
Marriage is a permanent commitment to an exclusive relationship with one other person of the opposite sex. Anything involving same sex or more than two partners is a violation of God’s design.
If you lived with your SO before you got married, but are together now, don’t sweat it. Yes, it isn’t a good or biblical thing to do (acting like you’re married before actually being married), but if you’ve committed to each other, stick with it no matter what.
As for God being mad at you, this is a common misconception. Is the Holy Spirit grieved by our sin? Yes, and that is what brings conviction. At the same time, that is a good thing; conviction of sin is confirmation that you are saved.
But this is not the same thing as God being mad at you. His love is unbreakable and unchanging; nothing can separate a believer from God’s love. Even if God chastens you for sin (or just lets the natural consequences of your decisions play out), that is not anger on His part. He’s not “getting even with you”. Chastening and consequences are so that you can learn and grow to be more like Christ.
If you are a believer, God does not punish you for sin. Christ already paid all of your punishment for all of your sins forever. You are God’s child, and there is nothing in heaven or earth that can change that.
God first instituted marriage in Eden, millennia before any government or church institution. If you have a church family, having them participate can be a wonderful thing, and getting legally married isn’t wrong either (the tax break can work in your favor). but biblically speaking neither the church and certainly not the government have to get involved, and neither of them define what marriage is.
Part of the reason for wedding ceremonies is for public accountability: everyone knows you’re making a lifelong commitment. Plus it’s a nice excuse for family and friends to get together and celebrate.
Marriage is a permanent commitment to an exclusive relationship with one other person of the opposite sex. Anything involving same sex or more than two partners is a violation of God’s design.
If you lived with your SO before you got married, but are together now, don’t sweat it. Yes, it isn’t a good or biblical thing to do (acting like you’re married before actually being married), but if you’ve committed to each other, stick with it no matter what.
As for God being mad at you, this is a common misconception. Is the Holy Spirit grieved by our sin? Yes, and that is what brings conviction. At the same time, that is a good thing; conviction of sin is confirmation that you are saved.
But this is not the same thing as God being mad at you. His love is unbreakable and unchanging; nothing can separate a believer from God’s love. Even if God chastens you for sin (or just lets the natural consequences of your decisions play out), that is not anger on His part. He’s not “getting even with you”. Chastening and consequences are so that you can learn and grow to be more like Christ.
If you are a believer, God does not punish you for sin. Christ already paid all of your punishment for all of your sins forever. You are God’s child, and there is nothing in heaven or earth that can change that.