Expert: Phillip Senn - 10/17/2008

Question
Hello,
Myself and my partner have been together fo about 10yrs now and we live in the UKand are blessed with a son. I am Nigerian and she is British and because of my immigration status at the moment the state will not allow us to get married, even the registary refuses to marry us until my applicatin to remain in the UK is finalised even my church refuses to marry us because of that and they say we are living in sin. I have prayed to God to see us as a married couple but sometimes i get scared because of fear that i am sinning. Please what do u think i should do.

Answer
FEMI,

If you have sired a son by a woman that you are not married to, that is a sin. Living with her when you are not married is also a sin. God cannot see you as a married couple until you meet the requirements of the law for marriage. The Scriptures make it clear that we are to submit to the powers that are ordained of God. When we do not respect the law that God has ordained for good, and not against evil, we are sinning against the One that ordained the law.

I would suggest a different living arrangement, until such time as you have met the requirements that are set forth in the law, and in Scripture.

I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but I must, when there is clear Scriptural authority, be true to the Scriptures.

With Love In Christ,
Phillip Senn