Q & A: What does Reverend Deal say this week?
“Husband and wife shall be one flesh”
Question: Does God ordain a common law marriage?
Answer: No. Scripture does not ordain a common law marriage. First, we need to determine what a common law marriage is. A common law marriage, informal marriage, or a marriage by habit and repute is when a couple is legally considered married, without that couple having registered their relation as a civil or religious marriage (Wikipedia encyclopedia).
During my young adult years I thought that a couple had to “shack up” or live together for a period of time to be considered common law married. Incidentally, the State of Florida does not recognize common law marriages. A common law marriage is a MAN-MADE LAW. Jesus told His disciples to “Render to Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s” Luke 20:25.
Also Romans 10:3 says ‘For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God’.
Marriages between a man and a woman have been ordained by God. Marriages are not completed for convenience purposes. Lust and fornication is nowhere in sight. A marriage is a sacred and a ceremonial union that represents the oneness of the Almighty God. Genesis 2:24 says ‘Shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh’.
Rev. David Deal is the senior pastor at Every Christian’s Church in Fort Lauderdale.
Write to Reverend David Deal in care of the Westside Gazette, 545 N.W. Seventh Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Fla 33311, or email to David.deal55@gmail.com
