What does the Bible teach about living together?
Copyright by Bob Rogers
Question from April:
Can you tell me where it talks about living together before marriage? Not sex. Just living together? We are talking with my son this weekend and we can’t find it. Thank you 😉
Answer from Dr. Rogers:
I don’t believe there are many couples living together who aren’t also having sex. But the sin is the sexual immorality before marriage. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled.”
If a couple were in the same household under the supervision of parents, it might be different, although just sleeping in the same house puts them in a very tempting situation.
The other problem with living together, is that even if a couple was not sexually active, everybody would assume they were, and Ephesians 5:3 says that there should not even be a “hint” of sexually immorality among you. So it harms their Christian testimony.
In addition to the Biblical reasons, there are psychological and social reasons why cohabitation is a bad idea. Couples think they are “trying out” marriage by living together, but it is impossible to “try out” marriage, because marriage is a commitment, and there is no commitment to living together. Either party can leave at any time, so it is not really a test of marriage. And studies show that people who live together before marriage are 50% more likely to get divorced than those who do not. Why is this? Well, if they don’t respect the bonds of marriage before marriage, why should they respect the bonds of marriage after they are married?
There are other legal problems that result from living together unmarried. If your significant other is critically ill and unable to communicate, and the family needs to make medical decisions about their care, such as whether or not to remove your loved one from life support, you will have no legal rights, because you are not legal family. And if your significant other dies, you will have no inheritance rights, since you are not married. Simply put, if you make no commitment, then you have no rights!
Posted on November 13, 2016, in Bible teaching, Christian Living and tagged Bible, Bible questions, Cohabitation, ethical, ethics, faith, fornication, immorality, living together, marriage, morality, sex, sexuality, unethical. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
Bob Rogers 
This is definitely the Biblical truth. I remember back in the ’70’s, my then fiance (now husband of 40 years) were searching for an apartment for me to live in at that time but would be good for after we got married. I will never forget what the manager said about one of the apartments as we passed by it. “That couple lives there without the benefit of clergy.” We didn’t realize what he meant at first, because that was quite a new ‘thing’ at the time. Tom and I did not live together until beginning with the wedding night and are still together after 40 years. Just thought I’d share.
I have a friend/partner from Asia and we called each other brother, after i based my Charity in Asia 2012 for disaster victims, we got together with the help of God our Father , many places around the world including France and the Philippines there has been many sorts of partnerships, if you study the world/web they are listed under many different headings, i am very sure that we have come together in the name of Love, and we are three,………………. St Francis of Assisi taught me to Love everything including all Animals Birds, and Dogs ,and trees, father moon. and Brother Sun , we have been blessed. thank you Lord.