Living together

I know that I am about to ruffle more than a few feathers here but when has that stopped me from stating my opinion here anyway???

I was raised being told that a man and woman living together without the benefit of a signed marriage license is against the Bible. I remember when I was in my school age years, I only knew of two couples "who were living in sin" within the city limits of Leoti. I remember back then that those couples were really scorned for their decisions.

Through the years, many more couples decided to live with each other without being married. Today, fewer and fewer people appear to mind. Yesterday, I was listening to the radio and heard a newsman report that in the past year since the state of our economy has plumetted, an EXTRA 13% of the American man/woman couples have chosen to move in with one another so that they can save money that would otherwise have been spent on additional rent, utilities, etc. Most of that 13%, have no desire to marry their "mate". They are living together out of necessity.

I find that to be a very sad and upsetting situation. I know that I would HATE having to live with a person just because he or I needed to save money. Many Americans are facing that today anyway. I would stagger a guess that that particular percentage will continue to climb until our economy is back up to a comfortable level again.

I also feel obligated to pass on my personal opinion on the matter of unmarried couples living together. When I was younger, I scorned these couples. I actually scorned them much longer and later that many of my friends and family members did. But, now, I am facing a different outlook on the entire thing. I now realize that THIS IS NONE OF MY DOG-GONE BUSINESS. It is definitely NOT my obligation or right to sit back in judgement of these people or ANYONE ELSE for that matter. God is the only one to make judgements.

This is what my mom has said to both of my sisters and I for a long time. "Hate the sin. Love the sinner." Boy! This woman possesses so VERY much wisdom and knowledge!!! The longer that I remember these 6 words, the more I know that she is exactly right!!! For a long time, my closest friends and family considered me to be way too opinionated. Though they were not "praising" me for this, I still reserved a great deal of PRIDE in this fact. The older that I get, the more that I learn about our Forgiving God, the less opinions of judgement that I carry with me.

I also want to add that I happen to thoroughly LOVE some people who are dear to me who have chosen this option in their own lives. At least one of these couples is doing this because of legal obligations. If things were not so tight legally, they would marry one another in a heartbeat. I know of a couple of couples who had been married to one another but married life did not work out for them. They divorced and later, began living with one another. When things aren't going so well, they seperate into two seperate homes. When things are better in their personal relationship, one-half of the couple moves back in with the other half. (Hmmm, now that is one thing that I cannot understand very well...BUT it is NOT my right to judge them...) The Good Lord knows just how IMperfect Lynn Elder-Blau is!!!

VLE-B