| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Deep discipleship” Our Bible verse for today: “On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well.” John 2:1-2 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Is it okay to cut the government out?” As we continue our deep-dive into the complex question of what constitutes a legitimate marriage in the eyes of God and therefore in the eyes of the Christian community, let’s remember that for thousands of years, across generations and across cultures, Christian men and women have been coming before God and the Christian community and dedicating their union as husband and wife to God. Many, if not most of them, have done so in societies that knew nothing of government-sanctioned marriage and government-issued marriage licenses. And yet, they were still considered to be married in the eyes of God and in the eyes of their Christian community. But what about Christians who live in societies where the government is involved in sanctioning and regulating marriage? Do Christians have to be married both in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the government? My personal opinion is that “biblically” the answer is “no”. There simply is no biblical imperative given on the pages of Scripture requiring the people of God to obtain government sanction in order for their marriages to be legitimate in the eyes of God or in the eyes of the Christian community. And if they do get married in the eyes of God but not in the eyes of the government, here in the USA they are not breaking any secular law, because there is no secular law that prohibits consenting adults from living together (I checked, only two states have such laws on the books but they are unenforced). However, I still believe Christian couples should have a government-issued marriage license if their society offers one. I believe this for two reasons: first, there are many benefits to it, including legal protections and tax advantages. But second, if they don’t have a marriage license it will appear as if they are cohabiting – just living together for the sake of convenience and perhaps sex. That would be a bad witness to the unbelieving world and I believe Christians should avoid even the appearance of impropriety. But there are rare cases when it makes sense for Christian couples to keep the government out of marriage. One such case involves developmentally disabled adults who depend on government healthcare and income assistance. There are laws on the books in many states that cut their individual benefits if they get married, thereby making it almost impossible for them to survive. As single adults they get full benefits but as married adults they would each get only partial benefits. In my opinion that’s evidence of a coldhearted bureaucracy hurting innocent people with stupid laws. If those couples can cut the government out, be married in the eyes of God and in the eyes of the Christian community, without violating any secular law, and without losing the benefits they desperately need, then they should. (I have performed such a wedding and I offer no apologies for having done so.) Likewise, senior citizens sometimes find themselves in a similar position. A widow and a widower both have annuity benefits earned with their deceased spouses. But if they remarry those annuity benefits are either cut or terminated altogether, thereby taking away a source of income that was earned along with their deceased spouse and which is rightfully theirs. In such cases I encourage the couples to quietly get married before God, and to simply cut the government and the insurance companies out of it. The couple is violating no law by doing so. So, the answer to our question is that in probably 99% of the cases, Christian couples should get married in the eyes of both God and the government. But there are those special cases which require an extra measure of grace, common sense, and understanding on the part of the Christian community. It just takes a little extra effort to think such things through. The practice of deep discipleship helps us to develop the skills for doing so. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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Oak Hill Baptist Church 
You are so wise. Have a good day.
Lol. Thank you Donna. I hope you have a good day too.
Thanks!