Biblical marriage or something else and discipline
Biblical marriage
Biblical marriage is a life-long covenant before God of one man and one woman. They are to live according God's will, as described in Ephesians 5:21-33. Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral (Hebrews 13:4). Many ask the following question: What is the validity of marriage in today’s world? Read this article for some wise answers.
Biblical marriage is a life-long covenant before God of one man and one woman. They are to live according God's will, as described in Ephesians 5:21-33. Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral (Hebrews 13:4). Many ask the following question: What is the validity of marriage in today’s world? Read this article for some wise answers.
Something else
Registered partnership or a cohabitation agreement is "man's alternative for marriage", especially in the Netherlands. See this article with all legal options. The drive for civil alternatives is born from the idea of rejection of God's will. Legal partnership for same-sex contracts has been one of the strong motives for legislation. Registered partnership nor a cohabitation agreement are options for Christians, because the Bible clearly states that sex before marriage (fornication) or sex outside the marriage covenant (adultery) are lacking God's approval. It is sin. Arguments pleading for alternatives for biblical marriage are false. People who give in to alternatives often say: I live unmarried with my partner in the same home because it's cheaper. The housing market does not allow us to buy or rent two separate locations. Or they say: we live together, but we don't have sex. Or: we test if this relationship will hold anyway. Beware Christian! What would you say to the Lord when you need to give an account before the Judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10)?
Discipline
If someone in a leadership position or any other example position in church or christian agency willingly and consciously deviates from the biblical marriage, discipline needs to come into effect. That is a delicate process, in which loss of good reputation can occur, if not conducted properly biblical. But in case nothing is done and silent approval is assumed, damage to the church/agency down the road might be even worse. Church leaders in position of executing discipline need to be sure that biblical principles (or even Jesus' own words) are used. See this article as a short guideline for church discipline.
Registered partnership or a cohabitation agreement is "man's alternative for marriage", especially in the Netherlands. See this article with all legal options. The drive for civil alternatives is born from the idea of rejection of God's will. Legal partnership for same-sex contracts has been one of the strong motives for legislation. Registered partnership nor a cohabitation agreement are options for Christians, because the Bible clearly states that sex before marriage (fornication) or sex outside the marriage covenant (adultery) are lacking God's approval. It is sin. Arguments pleading for alternatives for biblical marriage are false. People who give in to alternatives often say: I live unmarried with my partner in the same home because it's cheaper. The housing market does not allow us to buy or rent two separate locations. Or they say: we live together, but we don't have sex. Or: we test if this relationship will hold anyway. Beware Christian! What would you say to the Lord when you need to give an account before the Judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10)?
Discipline
If someone in a leadership position or any other example position in church or christian agency willingly and consciously deviates from the biblical marriage, discipline needs to come into effect. That is a delicate process, in which loss of good reputation can occur, if not conducted properly biblical. But in case nothing is done and silent approval is assumed, damage to the church/agency down the road might be even worse. Church leaders in position of executing discipline need to be sure that biblical principles (or even Jesus' own words) are used. See this article as a short guideline for church discipline.