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Let's say that a woman comes to your church. She has been married four times. She has never once divorced for adultery/fornication, but just because they were not getting along, etc.If she came in with her fourth husband, would you every say something along the lines of We're happy to have Lucinda and her HUSBAND with us this morning?That is, is it really her husband if she was not divorced within the allowances of scripture?Now, consider this case.... A MAN and his HUSBAND come to church. If we accept that the woman has a husband, even thought wrongly divorced multiple times, are we any further afield if we accept that this man has a LEGAL husband?In other words, while we might not like the scriptural ramifications of the man or woman's situation, do you think it is acceptable to admit the legal aspect of their situation? That is, that the woman has a current husband...and that the man, too, has a husband.

Jesus said the woman at the well had been married several times.He recognized legal weddings...whether they were sinful or not

NBF, would you recognize (at least in terms of saying something along the lines of So, Wilbur, this is your husband?) a same-sex marriage in terms of acknowledging that he has a husband, so to speak? I fully understand that we do not recognize it as valid in terms of scripture, even if we are using language that admits the legal ramifications of it.

Yes - I would recognize the husband of a male attender of our church - Legally they are just as connected as the title to my car says I am legally connected to it.I do not believe the guys are married in God's eyes because it appears that was reserved for a man and a woman - as the way to multiply on the earth and have a family unit

Agreed - I would recognize them - but necessarily as his spouse.Now if he introduced himself to me as is spouse, I wouldn't correct him - but I wouldn't allow them to be in the pulpit or teaching a class either.And if I ever got tired of them - I could go down during altar call like was done to me o so often because I had hair that covered my ears and tell them they had the devil all over them - and needed to get to the altar before they split hell wide open. That made me leave a church in the 70s and I suspect they would leave, as well. Different generations have different levels of sin I guess

If the ole gals name is Lucinda, hey, I know why them other husbands left her.

Re: I have some questions about marriage...

Was the woman a believer at the time?In the one case, it is cut and dry. You can tell by looking that it aint right. Two men cannot be married, Biblically.You can't tell a woman has been divorced four times by looking at her

Bump!