Do we have a godly biblical example of living together before marriage? It
is always best, prudent and wise to bring our situations back to scripture
no matter how it might cut cross grain to us. Their may be situations
today that may not have existed then, but come to think of it not all that
many. In any event giving the appearance of evil is not only a concern for
ourselves, in our own conern of what people may think, but also that of
all Christians. What if you tried witnessing to a non-believer and they
said "Don't talk to me about being high and mighty or living righteous, I
know a christian couple who lived together before marriage, how does that
differ from non-Christians today?". You see we bare the responsibility of
wearing Christ-like across our chest when we are known as such, and
appearing as non-believers with a live-in situation doesn't seem to line
up biblically  or doing as the Word says, to stay away from even the
appearance of sin,  not to mention surposefully put ourselves in
temptations way no matter how strong we feel our faith is. Psalms 1 says

Ps 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand
in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

Notice the progression of "walk", "stand" and "sit" it cannotes a gradual
decline if allowed to entertain the ideals of ideals working against the
law or God's Word.

I saw a message somewhere about if one gives in to a principle as such
now, how that might affect futre decisoins and ect. I agree. What would
make  a couple stronger, living together because of life's circumstances
or arranging other means until that day when no holds are preventing a
couple of living as a married one.

Brad



on 02:47 AM 7/21/2005, Angel said:
I agree with you.  It seems Christians today think the devil is bound to
win
in every situation.  I think if you do live together without falling in to
sin it will prove to you more than anything else your love for each other
is
not based on mere physical attraction but instead is a heavenly godly love
which will last through the years.  It will also serve as a testament of
your commitment to god's precepts.  I will pray that you be constant in
this
commitment which I know you will and that your marriage will last as long
as
the firm foundation on which it will be built which is Christ.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jenifer Barr" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 9:36 PM
Subject: Re: question, problem, and prayer request.


 > what is a vow between god and two people?  If we have vowed before God
and
 > each other that sex will not occur until marriage, then why is living
 > together a sin?  We are not intimate until then.  I understand about
 > temptation but that's when you pray every day that God keeps you
strong.
 >
 > Our situation is unique and it's not like we haven't prayed about
it.  I
 > guess I'm just hurt because everyone seems to think that just because
we're
 > going to be living together the devel is going to win.  God is the only
one
 > in control.  Is this our ideal situation?  no.  I've been through too
much
 > in the past to know what temptation can do to someone... and i... or
yet
 > we... will not break our vow before god.
 >
 > Jenifer Barr.
 > When the trumpet blows... I'm outta here!
 > AIM: jenibear1998
 > msn
 > [log in to unmask]
 > ----- Original Message -----
 > From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
 > To: <[log in to unmask]>
 > Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 2:06 PM
 > Subject: Re: question, problem, and prayer request.
 >
 >
 > > Hey Jen,
 > >         First of all, I'm sorry that you are dealing with an
inflexible
 > > pastor.  I don't see what difference it makes to him whether the
cerimony
 > > is big or small, before or after the civil cerimony.  I suppose that
he
is
 > > standing on something for theological reasons, but I have no clue
what
 > > that
 > > would be.  It seems to me that you are left with three
options:  switch
 > > pastors, move the wedding up,  or leave things as they are and trust
God
 > > for a miracle.  As a child of God, the one option that you don't
have,
is
 > > to move in together.  If you begin your marriage by  compromising
your
 > > principles  on something that is truly small in the grand scheme of
 > > things,
 > > how can you be trusted for the bigger ones.  Believe me, the one
thing
 > > that
 > > I am learning about our heavenly Father is that he is extremely
creative
 > > in
 > > the solution department.  We often miss it because we get so stuck in
 > > thinking that the only solutions available to us are the ones that we
can
 > > see and we shut the door on His creativity.  This is a test.  This is
only
 > > a test.  The question is, will you trust Him and wait for His
solution
and
 > > timing or will you continue to see with earthly eyes only what is
 > > possible.  Good luck on your adventure.  He is faithful.  Your task
is
to
 > > remain patient and at peace!  GRIN!
 > > Kathy
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > > At 05:17 PM 7/18/2005, you wrote:
 > >>Hi all.  As most of you know, i am getting married in november.  I
found
 > >>out
 > >>today from work that they want me to transfer in the beginning of
august.
 > >>I
 > >>can't tell them i won't transfer then because it is the end of our
fiscal
 > >>year august 31 and i could forfit my job.  Problem is though, that my
 > >>fiancee and I decided that to save money... if i had to move in
september
 > >>or
 > >>october we would just live together until the wedding.  We both don't
 > >>really
 > >>like the idea but it's like we have no choice.  I don't know what to
do.
 > >>I'm so confused... i don't know what is right and wrong.  Both my
fiancee
 > >>and I are born-again Christians, we will in no way have sex before
 > >>marriage
 > >>so if we made/make that pledge to god is living together before
marriage
a
 > >>sin?  Is it wrong?  And what do i do if it is?  I know of other
christian
 > >>couples who have lived together before marriage.  I am just so
scattered
 > >>right now.  Please pray for clarity for me?  And above all, pray Gods
will
 > >>be done.
 > >>I love you all.
 > >>Jenifer Barr.
 > >>When the trumpet blows... I'm outta here!
 > >>AIM: jenibear1998
 > >>msn
 > >>[log in to unmask]
 > >