Conference yukon::christian_v7

    I believe that a marriage before a JP is recognized by God.  However, I
    believe that choosing this over a wedding in the church can be a
    tremendous loss of witness -- a Christian wedding is a glorious
    opportunity.

    I began a more elaborate answer, but decided to use it to start a new
    topic -- 77.0 ("Right or Wrong" vs. "The Will of God").  You can refer
    to that for further thoughts I have along these lines.

    Ann, since you posed the question, I want to be sure that you don't
    think what I bring up in 77.0 is being addressed to you personally. 
    It's just that the question you posed raises this issue in my mind.

    Mark L.

re.0

	Ann,

	Sure. I don't think the memory would be as sweet, but there's no
regulation against it.

ace

Reformed Christianity is not magic.  There's nothing special about an ordained 
person that makes the marriage performed by them "stick."  If a man and woman
are marooned on an island with no one to perform a wedding ceremony, and stand
on the beach before God and declare their committment to each other for life, 
then they are married.

The question is WHY use a JP.  One of the main reasons for christian ceremonies-
marriage, baptism, etc- is as an "outward and visible sign" of an inward change.
There's just something about standing up in front of all your friends and 
relatives and declaring your committment that is more powerful than doing it
quietly by yourself.  And in the same way, there is something powerful about
standing in church before "God and these witnesses" that is not there with a JP.

If your question is about someone who is already married but by a JP, yes, they
are married in God's eyes.  But they can always have a recommittment ceremony to
emphasize bringing God into the relationship.  They can just set up a time in 
their church with their pastor, invite their friends, and recommitt themselves 
to each other and to God.  It can be a wonderful thing.

Paul

    
    
      I am not asking for myself but I know of Christians that have.
      I know of people who didn't believe that got married by a JP.
      
      Was confused about this and was interested in what others had
      to say.
    
      Thanks,
    
      Ann
    
    
    

    I find the more interesting case to involve folks I met while on my
    mission in Denmark.  It was common for me to run into folks who had
    lived together for decades but had not had a civil or religious
    ceremony to initiate their "marriage."  Sometimes they had simply made
    promises to each other in private.  Other times the promises were
    unspoken.  I've spoken with folks about this.  One of the big reasons
    was that they had NO faith in the integrity of the government/church.
    (In Denmark the church is government-sponsored and "run.")  They viewed
    it as hypocritical and therefore did not seek its endorsement of their
    relationship.  I don't know about "common law" marriage in Denmark.
    But, as far as I was concerned, these folks were married "for time."
    They would, however, have to publicly aknowledge marriage before they
    could join the Church, of course.  But, looking at it from their point
    of view it made sense, not that I would personally agree.
    
    Steve

    ref. .3
    
    Paul, I agree 100% with what you said. 
    My husband and also my pastor (when counseling for marriage) are of 
    the same believe. I could never understand why my husband would get
    so upset when some of our friends would *just* go to the JP, until
    he explained it me with your same words. 
       
    "There's just something about standing up in front of all your friends 
    and relatives and declaring your committment that is more powerful 
    than doing it quietly by yourself. And in the same way, there is something
    powerful about standing in church before "God and these witnesses" that is
    not there with a JP."
    
    He (my husband) doesn't believe in having to spend BIG dollars in a 
    weeding (unless, of course, the couple can really afford it), as much
    as he thinks they should invest in the marriage. 
    
    Gotta run...
    Josie

    
    
      I knew this lady she got married and had a large group of people at
      here wedding but got married by a JP she said she wasn't a believer
      so that was why.
    
      I know some that are believers that got married by a JP also.
    
      Ann
    
    

    As for expense of weddings ... in my extended family we've found that
    the length of a marriage tends to be inversely proportional to the cost
    of the wedding.  FWIW ...  :)
    
    Steve

Steve, I see the smiley, but I've observed similar circumstances.

Invest in the marriage folks, and not just the wedding.