Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 20:28 "Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood. |
Subject: R, Can you Biblically justify actions? |
Bible Note: Reighnskye Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17 In these three verses we are commanded to obey the laws of the land. Here in Florida for a pastor to legally marry someone a marriage license must exist and the Pastor must have said license in his hands and to sign such. Without that the Pastor would be breaking the law and the marriage would be nonexistent. I know you have said you didn’t care if the state considered the marriage legal or not. However your being short sighted. Let me give a few for instances. What happen if you had a life threatening situation that needed next of kin approval. your nonexistent wife possibly could be barred from participating in such decisions. If you were in a intensive care and the only family was allowed in again your wife could be barred. This is frequently the case in burns. And I know from seeing it first hand that a loved one was forced to watch from outside never being able to say a final farewell. If you died anything you owned could be claimed by other than you nonexistent wife. If you died your wife could be barred from even participating in the arrangements. Any surviving spouse and survivor benefits could be lost. If there was a child involved and something happened to you there is potential that your nonexistent wife could stop all visitation of your family and a legal court battle could happen. If your wife died there could be a legal battle over the child's custody. There is also the potential of your spouse leaving you and taking virtually everything and since there was no legal marriage contract there are conceivable loopholes that could be exploited. Again child custody battle could become long and nasty requiring you to first prove you were in fact the parent. I understand many of these things could be guarded against by carefully worded legal documents however could you, would you ever be sure to have all the bases covered? I understand what you trying to do. I don’t agree with it. I think you have a story that needs to be heard by the voting public and law makers. Possibly that is why God has you in the situation your in, to fight this situation. But I think you would be doing a disservice to yourself, your future spouse and to the letter of the law for you to proceed in a wedding without a license. I know I could not in good conscience preside of such a wedding. I too will join with Tim for you in prayer over this situation. EdB |