Question: Is Holy Matrimony a legal marriage?
Answer: If two parties un-encumbered and free to marry agree to marry before God, openly exchange vows with the intent to marry and do so before witnesses they are legally bound upon consummation of the marriage.
Question: Will the State recognize our marriage?
Answer: Civil governments all over the world recognize marriage between the parties if there is verifiable documentation as to the marriage. Different countries have different standards and documentation requirements which they look for. The Church tries to meet these standards or exceed them.
Question: Where did State marriage licenses come from?
Answer: State or civil marriage has been around since the Hamarabi codes and ancient Rome. Church marriages have also been around from ancient times. In both cases the individuals are married, legally bound by contract. State marriages have become predominant in many countries during the last century but Holy Matrimony has a long and accepted history as a valid marriage.
Question: What is the difference between civil marriage and marriage before the Church?
Answer: The Church does not marry the couple but they marry each other. Cannon laws clearly state in many denominations over the centuries that the Church gains no exercising authority over the marriage. In Civil marriages the state is a party and gains an additional jurisdiction and control as a dominant party to the agreement to marry.
Question: I was married in a Church. Was that a Church marriage?
Answer: There is a legal distinction between a civil and ecclesiastical marriage. If your minister was performing a civil marriage by the license of the state, both for himself and the couple, then it was not an ecclesiastical ceremony. Since, there is separation of Church and State he can only act as agent for one institution, either civil or Church.
Question: Why do I need Church documents?
Answer: In the eyes of God you do not. But it is important to understand that marriage is not only based on trust, it is a trust. If you do not have a third party standing as overseer different countries or agencies may assume jurisdiction over what has traditionally been a holy and sanctified Domestic Relation, established by God and promoted by the Church.
Question: How does the Church license differ from the governments license?
Answer: License is permission and permission to marry by custom and tradition can only be granted by the family from which you come. The parents or guardians usually grant permission from a Biblical and legal point of view. If the State grants permission this is evidence that the state stands in position of the Father, as In Parentis Loci, and parens patriae.
Question: What is wrong with a state marriage?
Answer: Performing the ceremony of matrimony has been traditionally done by the Church and for good reason. Marriage by government is putting the civil authorities in position of the Father. It is a grant of additional authority to the state, a waiver of rights by civil contract. This was opposed by Christ, forbidden by Moses and refused by Paul. It is a pre-nuptial agreement that gives the state an unequal authority over what has been traditionally God's venue. The predominance of civil marriages is historically a recent aberration.
Question: How do Church documents work to keep my marriage free under God?
Answer: Church documentation works very much the same as civil certification without waiving rights or establishing additional authority. The contracts and licenses and certificates offered by the Church only bear witness to the supremacy of the family and the intent of the couple. If the family breaks down the Church has no power to prevent a battle between the parties. One of them may enlist the aid of the civil courts. Church arbitration has prevented a rush to divorce and permitted reconciliation. The state has not only agreed but demanded arbitration within the Church before proceeding. We can only delay the State from using its exercising authority which may be presumed because of other activities of individual parties. Church documents and testimony may also prevent unwarranted usurpations by over zealous agencies of governments.
Question: Has it been tested under fire?
Answer: The system of Matrimony as we lay it out is based on law, custom, judicial precedent, biblical precepts and an examination of modern laws at all levels in many countries. One real problem comes with children and our greatest concerns is in the event of the death or incapacity of the parents. The state may take the children if there is no a previous contract arranging for the care and placement of the children in accordance with the families wishes. Holy matrimony is just one step in that process.
Question: Hi thank you very much for the information. I do have some questions. Since my husband and I got married with a marriage license were we even really married?
Answer: Men and women marry each other. If you and your husband were sincere in your vows before God then you are married before God. Some people might call a marriage with a state license a matter of adultery because there is a third party entering into a relationship that was traditionally joined only by your intent before God.
Keeping records and documents are an outward expression of original intent to prevent unwarranted presumptions. According to the Supreme Court the people are "often cunningly coerced into waving their rights" as Husband and Wife by entering into civil contracts which are not required by law to marry. The addition of records to the contrary of that original error are created to counter the effect that might be assumed by others.
Many people feel better if they renew their vows in a purer or more pious setting to void in misunderstanding by jurisdictions that believe it has a right to interfere with the relationship between Husbands and Wives.
Question: Do we need to get remarried or just get new Holy Matrimony Certificate?
Answer: The certificate requires some witnesses and they should witness the exchange of vows between you we also encourage a marriage contract between spouses. Right to contract is a powerful right given by God and recognized by governments. Holy Matrimony is a contract between the parties.
You may use the original date with new witnesses signing below if the old ones are not available.
Question: If we sign these contracts through our local Church are we under any obligation or rules or are we just under God's holy word?
Answer: The Church provides assistance in the marriage contract. Only the obligation to each other and God is created. No obligation to the Church is created by these contracts. The Church is forbidden by Christ to exercise authority.
With all marriages there are obligation well established by precedent and custom. The Church does not stand between you, your liberty and God but between others and that Holy Domestic Relationship. The Church will aid in voluntary arbitration if called upon. The Church is only a servant, never a master.
Question: When we fill out new marriage license and birth certificates, do they override the old ones, and make the old ones void or do we still keep the old certificates, along with the new ones?
Answer: Some people send the old ones back and state that they obtain them by mistake. It is a maxim of law that, "It is natural for a thing to be unbound in the same way in which it was bound" (Naturale est quidlibet dissolvi eo modo quo ligatur).
If you make a will or a contract and wish to change it or find a mistake in the first, you write a new one if all the parties agree. The state may not agree but then you never intended to give them authority. The state may not want to release you from the contract but that is where the Church comes in to ask the state what interest they have in your marriage and bring in the new contract. This again is why some send the original back registered mail and keep a copy of the original letter sent with it that says you never intended to enter into a contract with the state. Remember documents are expressions of intent. What was your original intent?
Question: I wanted to know why we could not just sign our family Bible's with new witnesses that were at the wedding?
Answer: We highly recommend entering this record in your Bible. But Christ appointed the Church to serve the congregation of the people. We simply assist in making a generally accepted record which is only one small part of our services. The early Christian community did not apply to Rome or Herod for help like social welfare. Such systems existed then but the source were compelled contributions. It was called Quarban by the Romans and Corban by the Jews and Jesus did not approve.
There are many things that people do today that are contrary to the teachings of Christ. We were told that many will be deceived and we need to learn and do the will of God. It is not about just filing papers but turning around and seeking the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness.
Question: Can the government take our children away because we have a marriage license?
Answer: Many countries including the US and its agencies are insisting upon greater and greater control of the activities of the family. They base this authority on the Parens Patria of the state (Most countries make this claim of the right of the state as Father in their codes including the US) which is linked to civil contract like the marriage license.