Since it didn't seem to be so clear last time, I'll make it a little clearer this time. When I was talking about marriage in the previous post, I was saying that Christians should encourage people to get married with the same understanding that we have of it. To some extent, I do think that a Christian who just says "get married!" without qualifying what we believe marriage is, would be party to that person's sin if they did not explain to them that what "get married" means to a Christian. Without that explanation it would be very easy for the person to be lead astray by advice that they didn't understand. So that is where I am coming from.
In practicality, there is no difference between adhering to secular standards on marriage and living in sin with your significant other. After that first divorce and remarriage, the effect is the same thing. So in that sense it would not be an issue to say that it is better that they not marry, if they don't intend to take on marriage in the way it is supposed to be regarded, so long as you make it clear to them that the only good choice is to marry and do it right.
I cannot argue with that.
Of course the non-believe would have no reason to grant any weight to your Christian-based definition of marriage and not the more lenient secular one.
I agree, but the issue is what sort of advice Christians should give to non-Christians. If our advice does not reflect our worldview, then that will only serve to undermine our claims to it being true.
Understand that you have a dilemma.
Loyalty vs. Freedom.
Either the man will feel 'trapped', or free to do whatever he wants.
The sad part is that no matter which way it goes, it takes a change of the heart for it to be the real thing.
We could pass laws that give punishments for unfaithfulness, but that is just a band aid.
I'd like to see someone figure this one out.
It ain't gonna be me.
The only real dilemma I have in a case like this is what sort of advice we should be giving to them. Since I believe Christianity to be the one moral truth in such cases, I would recommend that to them. However, I would also recommend to them to not get married at all if they cannot take marriage seriously.