A couple's wedding is traditionally one of the most incredible days of someone's life. Girls dream of the day they will walk down the aisle in a beautiful dress, be given in marriage to their prince charming and live happily ever after. Weddings are even an industry in themselves, and according to weddingindustry.com.au, weddings generate over $2 billion in Australia each year!
For a Christian couple, marriage is a celebration of God's sacred union between man and woman. God instituted marriage from the very beginning with the relationship between Adam and Eve in the garden, and He gave further descriptions and boundaries throughout the Bible.
Entering into marriage is a commitment and a covenant before God, each other and the guests attending the event. The vows articulate this and the rings symbolise and remind each spouse of the commitment they have made.
However, for a Christian couple entering into this covenant, it's essential to include one additional component to the wedding ceremony... the gospel.
Why the gospel?
Including a gospel message at a Christian wedding may sound weird, however, the very fact a couple professes faith in the Lord and they have gathered friends and family to witness this event, presents a great opportunity for people to hear the good news of Christ's death.
While there may be few opportunities for non-Christians to hear the message of truth in daily life, generally within any guest list at a wedding there are people who do not have a relationship with Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
This becomes an opportune moment for the couple, the minister conducting the ceremony and/or others involved with the service to present the need for Jesus.
We were recently blessed to attend my cousin's wedding and it was great to hear the pastor express the love and sacrifice of Christ as a replacement for our sin. For the Bible clearly tells us that the punishment for our sin is death, but God's free gift to us is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans chapter 6, verse 23).
There is no other way to enter through the gates of Heaven and no other way to escape the punishment of eternal fire; but by Jesus' blood, which became the ransom for our sin. Jesus, as fully God and fully man, was the perfect sacrifice to remove the punishment we deserve, and only those who confess with their mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in their heart, that God raised Him from the dead will be saved (Romans chapter 10, verse 9).
Weddings should glorify God
While the wedding ceremony should rightfully focus on the couple, the greater purpose is giving glory to God, and there is no better way to honour God than to present the saving message of Christ.
This message need not be fire and brimstone, but subtly shared during the ceremony and can easily be aligned with the marriage covenant and a sermon. Ephesians chapter 5 is the obvious passage depicting the similarity between marriage and God's relationship with His children.
The passage on love in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, particularly alongside the verse "we love because He first loved us" (1 John chapter 4, verse 19) is another example of a scripture which could be used to relate the wedding to the good news of God's ultimate love.
On the day of a wedding, marriage becomes a lifelong journey—at least that's the way God commanded. Any couple will face challenges and obstacles throughout their marriage, and for Christians this is an opportunity to grow in faith, draw closer to God and further glorify Him.
Representing God with a godly marriage as two become one is not easy, but it gives glory to God, for His work in the life of each individual and the couple.
While the lifelong commitment and journey of marriage is in itself an evangelistic message, Christians should also seize the opportunity to verbally express this good news to friends and family on their special day.
Tim Wilson is an Australian currently living in Canada with his wife (also a comment writer) and their three children. They are preparing to move to the US, in order for Tim to study a Master's of divinity and become a pastor. He is passionate about the Church living according to the Word of God.
Tim Wilson's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/tim-wilson.html