Do Christians Need a Marriage License?

I know a Christian couple in their early 30s who want to get married in our church but want to forego a marriage license. They feel that God created marriage and they shouldn’t have to get approval/proof from the state/local authorities in order for their marriage to be legitimate in the eyes of God. When I got married over 30 years ago, I couldn’t wait to get our marriage license! Unlike this couple, it was comforting to me that it was “official” in the eyes of the county, though God’s approval was certainly more important

I am grateful that this couple understands God’s view of marriage and how sacred it is. When God created Adam and Eve, the writer of Genesis may not have used the word “marriage," but the intention was that the man and the woman would become one flesh as any married couple would in the future. Adam was incomplete without Eve, and God always completes what He begins. In Ephesians 5:31, Paul reiterates, “‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

So while this couple intends to love the other as God has called them to do, submitting “to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), they believe that they don’t need a marriage license to “seal the deal." They say their feelings and views are not unique, which is true. Some are so disenchanted with leadership in this country that they balk at anything that feels like governmental overreach to them (“Why do we need a piece of paper? We know we are married.”) Some may subconsciously fear that they will be trapped in a marriage if it is legally binding (perhaps because their parents divorced or some other past trauma).

What Else Does the Bible Say about Marriage?

Can we find anything to corroborate these feelings in Scripture? According to the Crosswalk article, “What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?”, there are several places in the Old and New Testament that speak to what God believes about marriage. “This relational aspect of God's image in marriage has analogs portrayed in Yahweh's relation with Israel…as well as in Christ's relationship with the church.” Isaiah 54:5 says, “For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”

When talking about Christ’s relationship with the church, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” Marriage is to be a reflection of God’s perfect love and commitment to us.

Therefore, it’s not hyperbole to say that God takes covenants very seriously–between Himself and believers—and the covenants we make with one another. But does that mean a marriage license is necessary to make marriage a covenant between two people? “There is no verse in the Bible that says, ‘Thou shalt not consider thyself married or engage in sexual relations until thou holdest a piece of paper from the state authorities in thy hand,’ says an article from Focus on the Family. “But there’s another sense in which we can’t deny the legitimacy of the state’s involvement in the business of marriage.” The article goes on to talk about the value of making a public commitment that can’t easily be broken and the value that is to the couple.

Dr. Roger Barrier, in his article, “Is it Biblical for Christians to Get Married Without a License,” concurs that one reason to get an official license is because marriage is a binding covenant. He notes that in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, “Jewish law required a certificate of divorce to dissolve a marriage. The fact that a divorce certificate was needed indicates that a Jewish marriage was a binding relationship under the law.”

What are the Potential Consequences of Marrying without a License?

I would equate not wanting to get a legal marriage license (in some instances) with obtaining a prenuptial agreement. Both give one the sense that the couple getting married is skittish about a lifelong commitment and will have a way out if they are disenchanted at some point. Are there other reasons for not wanting a license? Perhaps like my friends above, a couple may honestly not see the need for it: it won’t make them any more married or please God more. Some would even say if these types of agreements were written of in the Bible, that doesn’t mean that they need to be in use today (more on that later).

But what if you don’t get a marriage license? You are missing out on automatic benefits and protections that Dr. Barrier listed in his article. The list includes issues regarding children, finances (e.g., taxes, Social Security, and healthcare benefits for spouses), what happens when the husband or wife dies, and much more. While some states allow for “common law” protections based on the amount of time a couple has been together, the benefits are not as straightforward as having a marriage license and may require legal assistance and representation to settle any dispute. Though two people may be committed to one another for life when they decide to be married, without a license, they and their future children may be at a disadvantage someday.

Christian Considerations for a Legally Recognized Marriage

Regardless of what one thinks is right about getting or not getting a marriage license as a Christian, Paul was very clear when he was writing to believers in Rome: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. God has established the authorities that exist. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Romans 13:1-7). Jesus, when asked if Jews should pay taxes to Caesar, told them to “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21). In other words, unless it goes against God’s moral law, do what is expected of you. A marriage license is a very small consideration when we consider how it can honor God and the government and be a witness to nonbelievers.

While our government leaves a lot to be desired, it was set up by God to give us needed services, to protect the innocent and punish the guilty, and to help us have what we need to thrive. People are watching Christians to see if we will trust what God said in His word and if we will follow His lead. So, to answer the question, “Is it Important for Christians to Get a Marriage License?” I would say the answer is yes. God sees the heart and doesn’t need us to get a marriage license, but He would want us to follow the institutions that He created and ensure that we do what’s in our best interest. The benefits definitely outweigh the small cost in this case.

Further Reading
Is it Biblical for Christians to Get Married without a Marriage License?
What Does the Bible Say about Marriage? Why is it So Important?
Do Christians Have to Get Married in a Church?

Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).