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Your Criteria for Performing Wedding Ceremonies

Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11849 **1/9/13 10:59 pm**

I was listening to a preacher on the radio today who said he would marry two unsaved folks or two saved folks, but not a saved with an unsaved person.

I was just thinking of some of the criteria I've heard or read preachers and other folks give for getting married both in the US and overseas. I thought I'd list some of them. Btw, I don't agree with all of these.

Which of these are your criteria for performing a wedding? Which are not on your list? What would you add?

1. The two must be of opposite genders.
2. The parents must consent to it.
3. The father of the bride must consent.
4. Those getting married must be legal adults.
5. The married couple couldn't have lived together in the same house if they want you to marry them.
6. They have to be of the same race.
7. Neither one of them could have been divorced.
8. Neither one of them could have been divorced unless....[insert here].
9. They have to have completed marriage counseling (with you or someone else.)
10. Neither one of them can be currently married to someone else.
11. They can't be close kin.
12. They can be close kin, but not of the type whose intermarriage is forbidden in Leviticus 18.

What are your criteria? If you aren't licensed, etc. to perform weddings, what would your criteria be if you were?
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Acts Mod Posts: 3346 **1/9/13 11:50 pm**

One man, One woman.

Acts-dicted Posts: 7766 **1/10/13 1:02 am**

they will have done premarital counseling by either myself or a pastor preferably not related to either of them
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Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Galatians 4:16

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Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11849 **1/10/13 3:03 am**

Friendly Face Posts: 236 **1/10/13 7:11 am**

Re: Your Criteria for Performing Wedding Ceremonies

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 13654 **1/10/13 7:32 am**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **1/10/13 7:39 am**

He didn't say he agreed with it, only what he has heard. I have heard that one too and not all that long ago.

In the first post, I would ask the preacher the question.....how do YOU know who is saved and who is not? By YOUR standard?

Re: Your Criteria for Performing Wedding Ceremonies

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/10/13 8:23 am**

1. The two must be of opposite genders--since birth.
2. They must obtain a marriage license with the state if the marriage is to be contracted in a state or country where a marriage license is obtainable.
3. If divorced, they either must have had biblical grounds for the divorce or have been divorced against their will, which would be tantamount to desertion, adultery and unfaithfulness.
4. They have to have completed marriage counseling (with you or someone else.)
5. Neither one of them can be currently married to someone else.
6. If the individuals are well known to me and only one of them professes to be a Christian, I would not agree to perform the ceremony unless and until the unbelieving party were convincingly converted.
7. If after talking and/or counseling with the couple I find reason to doubt the good faith and sincerity of either, I would not consent to perform the wedding for them.

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/10/13 8:30 am**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **1/10/13 8:46 am**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/10/13 8:51 am**

I would not use any criteria that the New Testament doesn't use. I don't agree with the easy believism to which you refer.

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/10/13 9:06 am**

While I definitely don't agree with everything John MacArthur teaches and differ with him on a few minor points in this article, I agree with the basic idea of this article by him with regard to true conversion: http://www.gty.org/resources/positions/p03/examine-yourself

Here is another excellent biblical summary from John Piper:

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/10/13 9:19 am**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **1/10/13 9:45 am**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/10/13 9:48 am**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/10/13 9:50 am**

A Christian is one who has submitted His life to Jesus as LORD. If we love Him, as a rule we keep his commandments.

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **1/10/13 9:53 am**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 13654 **1/10/13 10:16 am**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **1/10/13 10:47 am**

Re: Your Criteria for Performing Wedding Ceremonies

Golf Cart Mafia Soldier Posts: 2458 **1/10/13 10:59 am**