UnderAge Marriage? - Page 2

BJClark · #41 (**permalink**) 11-16-2007, 01:37 AM

Interesting question...

We were visiting my grandparents last year and they were asking my daughters when they would be getting married. My oldest was 18, and the others were 13 and 14...my grandparents married when my grandmother was 16..and have been married some 70+ years..(I think they just want to still be alive to see great-great grandbabies, see another generation of their family line, but they aren't Christian's so I guess it's important to them to know there will be another generation started before they die)

My daughters looked at my grandparents as if they were crazy, and said probably when they were in their mid 20's.. then they asked if they have anyone in mind to be marrying..again the girls looked at them as if they were crazy...and I had to explain to my kids how years ago, folks married earlier, and typically didn't date a lot of different people..and how in some cases the parents even picked out a spouse for them...it was a different way of life years ago..

Thomas2007 · #42 (**permalink**) 11-16-2007, 04:32 AM

Dear Brother Daniels,

I can give my opinion in applying the general equity of Scriptural case law to the subject.

The seventh Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" Ex 20:14, Deut 5:18

Marriage in the Biblical context prescribes marital sexuality, for the "two shall be one flesh." God has placed many restrictions upon the lawful utilization of sexuality, I believe a case can be made from Biblical law concerning this issue.

The basic institution is the family and the family is the custodian of children, for they are told to honor their father and mother, and this is the first commandment with Promise. The family has a responsibility to raise a godly seed, provide for and care for them, with all the duties intendent upon that responsibility.

There are laws against rape, seduction and other like things. Take rape, for example, a virgin that was raped in the city and didn't cry out was assumed to be involved in the act and not a case of rape. Deut 22:23-29 Likewise a virgin that was seduced damages the family and restitution is required so that she would have a double dowry and be perceived as having a value to offer a subsequent suitor in lieu of her virginity, if the man is rejected as a husband by her father. Exodus 22:16-17

In Deuteronomy 22:13-21, we have a case where a father has given his daughter to wife, subsequently the husband charges her with not being a virgin. The parents of the damsel are then to defend the honor of their daughter by bringing before the Priests the tokens of her virginity.

All of these laws deal with sexuality, violations of that sexuality in terms of virginity as well as engagement, so the situations are subject to marriage covenants not yet fulfilled.

The clear implications of all of these laws is the familial responsibility, as well as the societal responsibility, to protect the honor of women. Biblical law seems to indicate familial engagements and the like, but it clearly indicates that virgins remain in their fathers homes under his dominion until a time in which they are given to the husband. The case above extends it so far that the parents are to maintain relevant evidentiary proofs to a damsels virginity.

In the circumstances you describe, we must ask ourselves, is an eight year old child being forced into these situations by her family, or by the prospective suitor? Is she willingly going along with this, or is she crying out against it and being forced? Is the family maintaining her honor?

If the spirit of the law is being broken in terms of a child of eight years of age, then it is certainly an unlawful act, but it is not based solely upon the age - but her virginity and the expansive meaning of that virginity whereby she can be joined unto her husband and they two can be one flesh.

It sounds to me, presuming the worst of African society derived from its grotesque animism that governs everything else they do, that the intentions and circumstances around these child brides is occurring in violation of the spirit of the laws and is adulterating the family.

LadyFlynt · #43 (**permalink**) 11-16-2007, 09:10 AM

I think we must understand why Calvin came to his early age conclusion...that being that it was common for many girls to be married at 12-14yrs...and even amoung the nobility to be married at 4-6yrs and bedded at maturity. Thus he would see "young but able" differently than most. On Mary, I would agree with about 14yrs.

py3ak · #44 (**permalink**) 11-16-2007, 11:36 AM

So we actually have 3 scriptural arguments.
1. The Biblical definition of the age for love, taken from God's example in Ezekiel 16.
2. The divine intention for marriage requiring more than sexual maturity in Genesis 2.
3. The parental responsibility to protect their daughters from Exodus 22 and Deuteronomy 22.

This may challenge our thinking as to what is a marriageable age, but we can also see that it is not God's will that little girls should be delivered over to a lifetime of a debilitating and humiliating relationship.

Coram Deo · #45 (**permalink**) 11-16-2007, 11:40 AM

One problem with number #3.. In most society's that allow very young brides (example would be 10 years of age), it is usually the father giving over his daughter to a man to be his wife...... All done with Parental consent... In a depraved world as ours we need a firmer understanding of marriageable age like found in Ezekiel 16.

Michael

Quote:

Originally Posted by py3ak

So we actually have 3 scriptural arguments.
1. The Biblical definition of the age for love, taken from God's example in Ezekiel 16.
2. The divine intention for marriage requiring more than sexual maturity in Genesis 2.
3. The parental responsibility to protect their daughters from Exodus 22 and Deuteronomy 22.

This may challenge our thinking as to what is a marriageable age, but we can also see that it is not God's will that little girls should be delivered over to a lifetime of a debilitating and humiliating relationship.

Puritan Sailor · #46 (**permalink**) 11-16-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunaer

One problem with number #3.. In most society's that allow very young brides (example would be 10 years of age), it is usually the father giving over his daughter to a man to be his wife...... All done with Parental consent... In a depraved world as ours we need a firmer understanding of marriageable age like found in Ezekiel 16.

Michael

Quote:

Originally Posted by py3ak

So we actually have 3 scriptural arguments.
1. The Biblical definition of the age for love, taken from God's example in Ezekiel 16.
2. The divine intention for marriage requiring more than sexual maturity in Genesis 2.
3. The parental responsibility to protect their daughters from Exodus 22 and Deuteronomy 22.

This may challenge our thinking as to what is a marriageable age, but we can also see that it is not God's will that little girls should be delivered over to a lifetime of a debilitating and humiliating relationship.

Number 3 is grounded in the truth of numbers 1 an 2.
Add to that the biological/developmental considerations from general revelation which Jacob quoted from me above (which also matches the Scriptural data) and I think you have a clear cut case to answer your freind.

py3ak · #47 (**permalink**) 11-16-2007, 11:48 AM

Michael, I don't think it's so much a problem with #3 as sinful people not following God's laws. Some fathers have sold their children into prostitution: God will judge them for that, precisely because they are not fulfilling their responsibilities. Number 3 defines their responsibility, which as Patrick pointed out, they must fulfill according to the Scriptural guidelines with regard to marriageable age.