If we want to move all Christian marriages back into the domain of the Church (which would be nice), then we need a formal system there to take over this sort of judgment and administration. We have to reclaim the paperwork stuff, basically, and Elders have to get more involved.
And we really need formal paperwork because we intermarry between congregations and move around, and paperwork travels.
Seems we have forgotten this:
"When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!" 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
#biblestr #catholic #christian
