If we were married in a courthouse, does God consider us married? Also, how do I stop lying?
Question:
Hi,
I have a question for you. My wife is Catholic. We have been married for over a year. She and I were married in a ceremony at the local courthouse; however, we were never married by either a priest or minister. I love her and don't want her to suffer spiritually. Does God not consider us married? I was not raised in a religion, so I am not aware of what should be done.
I also am struggling with lying. I do not want to be a liar in the eyes of God. How can I stop?
Thank you for your response.
Answer:
According to the Scriptures, it doesn't matter how you became married, so long witnessed vows are taken. "But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace" (I Corinthians 7:12-15). Roman Catholicism gives a different answer, but I teach the Bible and not Catholicism.
In regards to lying, how stop depends in part on why you choose a lie over telling the truth. Lying, of course, is wrong and will keep you out of heaven. "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:7-8). God cannot lie (Titus 1:2) and neither should His children. "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:9-10).
Too often people focus on not sinning, but real success comes when we focus on doing what is right. Make it your aim to always be honest in all your dealings with people and you will soon find that lying will feel unnatural and wrong. "Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another" (Ephesians 4:25).
I'm glad to hear that you are taking a strong interest in improving yourself and wanting to please God. Have you taken steps to become a true Christian? See How to Become a Christian.
