1)Is it ok to be married by the Justice of the peace or is it against Gods words?and should we only married in churches. 2)Is it ok to marry someone who is divorce and can I take communion with any one of these answers or am I restricted in doing so.

God bless.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 2001

Answers

I am not a preacher so I can not give you an official answer. Only my opinion. I do not think it is wrong to be married by a JP but why would anyone want to. Most preachers are happy to do ceremonies unless there is a problem they see in the couple. Then couples often resort to a JP. If I could not find a preacher to do my ceremony I would not proceed for that reason. Something is wrong. A common problem is one is a believer and the other is not. Such a marriage should not take place and many preachers will not do the ceremony.

I believe divorce is a sin except for adultery or divorce of a believer by a non-believer. I call such divorces righteous divorces. Any victim in a righteous divorce should be free to re- marry.

If the divorce was not a righteous one the divorcees should stay single until they can reconcile even if that is forever. Of course if there is violence or financial irresponsibility I would take protective steps in consultation with a lawyer but I would not go with a final divorce.

Now if an unrighteous divorce took place before salvation it is under the Blood and a new start is warranted. The un-righteous divorce is a sin that is forgiven and I say a Christian can re-marry with a fine Christian. God no longer remembers the sin so why should we. Also if the divorce is un-righteous and it is found out the ex-spouse has re-married it now constitutes adultery and the divorce is now righteous. I can not answer the communion question.

In Christ, Nathan Paujo

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2001

The Bible does not specify a marriage ceromoney or procedure. When a man and woman come together in body and spirit, making love and commiting to God and each other, they are married, one flesh. Marriage by a JP or a Church wedding is the same since both are performed under the authority of the state. Even the state recognizes that until a marriage is consummated (making love) no marriage exists.

Divorce is against the will of God and therefore sin. This sin is handled as any other sin. Forgiveness is available to all who repents.

Some denominations restrict their sacraments from divorced persons, but not all denominations agree with what are the sacraments of the Church. The only requirement for communion that I find in the Bible is that one must be sincere "observing the Lord's body." I consider that to mean that one comes to the Table of the Lord in faith and not by his/her own righteousness. Holy communion may be observed by you in your home with yourself as the chief celebrant and no man can forbid that. Individual denominations cannot agree on the sacrament of Holy Communion so who's to say that they are right or wrong?

Blessings,

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, June 16, 2001

I believ like anybody else that divorce is a sin like any other. And we should also know that there is no bib nor a small sin. For sin is just sin, "wretchman that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death. However, I am strongly convinced and this is my personal opinion, that once one gets divorced, one should stay unmarried untill the other party passed away.

As far as the acces to holy communion is concerned, I believe that we have all sinned and as such has come short of the glory of God. But in Christ Jesus our Lord there is grace and mercy and we are taught that his grace is more then sufficient for us. Thus anybody should have access to the holycommunion table since we are not there to judge other people. With the invitation the AME polity says Ye who has truly and in all eransty repented from their sin and is living in love with your neighbours. Thus we are all welcomed to share the body and blood since Jesus didnot come to the earth for some people but for us all and in particular, for us "sinners".

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

My dear Rev. A. Eberhardt Biwa. You can't have it both ways. You say the sin of divorce is forgiven only when one of the parties die, yet the Grace of God is sufficient for all other sins. NO, God forbid! The grace of God is sufficient for all sins. In my sermon last Sunday, I stated that if Timothy McVeigh repented and accepted Christ, he is in heaven today. It shocked the congregation until I said, "If the grace of God can't save McVeigh, grace can't save me." If the grace of God is not sufficient for all sin, it is sufficient for none. I am convinced that all who accept Christ is forgiven including divorced persons who remarry.

Blessings,

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001