Marriage is a Creation Ordinance. It appears that even pagans, when marrying, have legitimate marriages and are not in a constant state of adultery even if those marriages were not done under the auspices of the Christian Church.
I am in an area where marriage happens when two couples go into the jungle and have sex. At that point they are counted as husband and wife.
Is this adultery or their wedding night? It was an agreed upon encounter and they are counted as married afterward. Is this then a cultural equivalent of "getting married"?
When dealing with them, should I then counsel them as a married couple and encourage them to live out their marriage in the Lord, or do I encourage a "more appropriate" means of "sealing the deal"- while counting them as merely "shacking up" until such a ceremony is done?
I am in an area where marriage happens when two couples go into the jungle and have sex. At that point they are counted as husband and wife.
Is this adultery or their wedding night? It was an agreed upon encounter and they are counted as married afterward. Is this then a cultural equivalent of "getting married"?
When dealing with them, should I then counsel them as a married couple and encourage them to live out their marriage in the Lord, or do I encourage a "more appropriate" means of "sealing the deal"- while counting them as merely "shacking up" until such a ceremony is done?