How exactly does the institution of marriage stand up to James 5:12?

Just a side thought on the other thread about marriage.

If not James, how about Matthew 5:33 - 37?

It seems as if the scripture is encouraging followers not to make vows at all.

(Verse 37 goes as far as saying:

All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.)


Well..... No more vows means no more marrying. People get married everyday and clergy stands behind it, even presiding over such events, in front of witnesses and all.


Yes, yes, one may argue the "better to marry than burn with passion " argument.

With the way things are going, statistically speaking, a great majority of the nation has proven that they aren't up to the challenge of keeping marriage vows as evidenced through the divorce rate. Sexual immorality is running rampant. Controversies and "come on down," sexual misconduct cases are being uncovered left and right.

People just don't seem to want to fulfill their obligations these days. I hope it gets better!

dds08 said:

---

How exactly does the institution of marriage stand up to James 5:12?

Just a side thought on the other thread about marriage.

If not James, how about Matthew 5:33 - 37?

It seems as if the scripture is encouraging followers not to make vows at all.

(Verse 37 goes as far as saying:

All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.)


Well..... No more vows means no more marrying. People get married everyday and clergy stands behind it, even presiding over such events, in front of witnesses and all.


Yes, yes, one may argue the "better to marry than burn with passion " argument.

With the way things are going, statistically speaking, a great majority of the nation has proven that they aren't up to the challenge of keeping marriage vows as evidenced through the divorce rate. Sexual immorality is running rampant. Controversies and "come on down," sexual misconduct cases are being uncovered left and right.

People just don't seem to want to fulfill their obligations these days. I hope it gets better!

---

It's not so easy to argue that immorality or sexual misconduct is any more prevelent now than in the past. It's just more out in the open than it used to be. It used to be easier to keep sexual harassment, spousal abuse, rape, cheating on your spouse and child buggery under wraps.

We just aren't compatible anymore.

She makes me so mad.

He just never pays attention to me anymore.

She's gotten really fat and lazy.

Imo, many statements like the above that lead to divorce seem to be based around how happy someone is as a result of their marriage. People seem to think that relationships and marriage should be parts of their lives only when it makes them happy long term. When they aren't happy, they want to end the marriage. Happiness seems to be such an unstable and fleeting emotional state to base such life-altering decisions around. I know there are legitimate circumstances (such as abuse) where divorce is appropriate, but as a general rule I don't think divorce should happen. The fact that it happens so frequently and as a result of so-called "irreconcilable differences" demonstrates a misunderstanding of why anyone should get married and definitely demonstrates a lack of serious committment to that purpose.

Well.... in accordance with James 5:12 and Matthew 5:33, instead of exchanging vows and oaths at weddings, why don't clergy and the pastors and the general religious community agree to have weddings go something like this:

Pastor: Young man, do you want to be with the woman present here today.

Groom: Yes

Pastor: Young woman, do you want to be with the gentleman present here today.

Bride: Yes

Pastor: I declare you husband and wife.

End

No "for better or for worse, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health" verbiage. That way, the burden to remain faithful to a yes or no falls strictly on the two people involved. No vow, promises, or oaths made.

Better judge how faithful your spouse to be is before that day! If your SO needs an oath, vow, or promise to stay true and honest to a yes or no, then it's time to think twice about being married to em.

What you are proposing isn't a marriage, but just a formalized agreement to shack up. Without a promise to my wife, I'm not really leaving my parents and being united with my wife as one. I'm saying that I'm cool with acting like a married couple today, but tomorrow is a different story.

What you are describing isn't what the Bible describes as marriage, but what society today describes as a living together.

What I'm getting at is, is there any kind of way to be married to someone without making a vow or an oath? A yes be a yes and a no be no.

Who writes the rules on marriage and where exactly does it say in order for two people to be married, a vow, or promise, or oath must be made?

What did I say yes to at my wedding? I said yes to being a husband to my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

Not seeing the issue. To say yes to something, there has to be something to say yes to. The vow is what I'm agreeing to.

I think you should take time to study what Jesus is getting at with his statement about oaths and vows.

When the Bible talks about not swearing oaths, it's talking about swearing on or by something else. It's not saying you can't or shouldn't make promises/vows/contracts/covenants.