Well some guys just marry folks for a buck, but I don't try to make a business out of it.
Sometimes folks don't have a Pastor so they call me.

Who said "let them sin"? If a person repents of their sin, then I don't believe we should try to punish them for it.

Now, if you're speaking of saints who are living in fornication, or who refuse to repent, that's a different story altogether.

My personal opinion: It is in bad taste for the bride to wear the big white wedding gown which signifies virginity on her wedding day if she has already slept with her groom-to-be. However, I don't think its the place of the church to make folks declare their sins to others with symbols or traditions. That's just my opinion. And consider this: How many young women converted to the church these days are virgins? Not many, that's how many. So how is that going to be handled? You may as well just resign yourself to having no white dresses, except for the girls who grew up in church, and not all of them will make it either.

I really just don't think it ought to be a church rule. Marriage legitimizes what was immoral the night before. So should we be placing obstacles in that path? There are heart issues to be resolved, true, and they should be. But at the same time, I don't see what enforcing a dress color will do other than simply cause embarrassment.

It doesn't seem to be helpful for the bride and groom, so is it just to make an example of them (her) for others to see?

hahahahahaha


STILL WAITING FOR EPLEY"S REPLY:

steve, what do you force the bridegroom who is not pure to wear to show to all the congregation his shame????????????????????????????????????????

I have not heard the answer to How you know the girl is a virgin? Is there a medical review?

He he, I'm sure it wasn't your fault!!! Takes notes from my Pastor that tied the knot so tight he almost choked me!!! Our wedding video prove this, he spent a few minutes talking to my wife about how great, sweet, beautiful she was...then BAM!!!! The next 30 minutes preaching at me!!! whew, 13 years and still all hot and smoochy!!! he he he

Egg-Zactly!!

I am assuming we are talking about a repented prayed thru couple.

If they have repented are they not made spotless, blameless before God??

God is a forgiving God and a caring God. He loves the sinner but hates sin. One thing I do know we must hate what God hates and love what He loves. As a SS teacher I must do my best to guide our young people in purity and I am asking for your help and things that help keep them pure in this age we are living in.
I was told by a young person in the states at a church I visited that must run well over 200 that only 2 girls in the church maybe were virgins...I was shocked to say the least.
Those that know me KNOW I would never on purpose hurt anyone but I want to save young people from a life of heartache and hurt. and one thing I can say for certain because I have watched it happen over and over again those who fooled around before marriage have had a hard time with the trust issue.

Oh what we are leaning toward here....

you all already know that I don't attend an Apostolic church. Our pastor, tho, has VERY strict standards regarding who he will marry and who he will not.

It has little or nothing to do with who has slept together IN THE PAST. His stand is that if you are an active, attending, involved Christian who is a part of our church and he knows your life (so he knows if you are 'faking it' or not) then he will be happy to marry you in the church.

If you come to him off the street and ask him to marry you in our sanctuary, he explains to you his stand. Which is that, marriage is a holy and sacred institution and that it is a covenent between two people AND God. And if God is not a real part of your life already, then he will not marry you. He will counsel with the people and try to lead them to the Lord. If they respond and then start coming to church and growing in the Lord, then after a period of time (usually a year) he will be happy to marry them. But if they don't want to serve the Lord, then he will refuse to marry them under any circumstances.

If they had come to him and were living together, but then repented, he would expect them to move out from each other until after marriage.

So I guess in this way of handling things, sexual purity and white dresses is not the issue. The issue is "do you know the Lord?" - because if both parties don't, then they won't be married in our church.

Now, I will also say - that doesn't mean that our pastor doesn't encourage people to get married even if they don't want to live for God. He does. But he suggests doing it at the courthouse. Making it a civil service.

What difference does it make!!

Let em marry in white, purple, green or plaid. What difference does it make. All they really need to do is wipe their feet on that little door mat that you call grace and its all good.

God forbid that there should be any shame for fonicating while in church. God forbid that those who have been virtuous and morally pure have any honour. God forbid that the church ever take a stand against immorality and sin, you might scare off a visitor. You should probably hand out cigarettes on the way down the altar just in case they get a little nervous along the way.

No wonder some come on these forums and spout statistics how there is no difference between what happens in the world vs the church. Whether it divorce, fornicaiton or abortion.