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Tired of all the political strife and infighting?
Find out how Christians are supposed to act in the following study
https://christianforums.net/threads/charismatic-bible-studies-1-peter-2-11-17.109823/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Wedding in Church
- Thread starter Classik
- Start date
farouk
Member
Classik:
This is another way of asking, 'What is a church?'
White gowns, touchy-feely ecclesiastical associations, impressive wedding photos: all these are lovely, etc., etc.
But a church is nothing to do with buildings. Or being tax deductible, etc. It's where Christians meet, following the Apostles' doctrine, and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayers, etc. (Acts 2.42).
'Jesus, where'er Thy people meet,
There they behold the mercy seat,
To them that seek Thee, Thou art found,
And every place is hallowed ground.'
Fact is, some dear folk haven't got the commitment to meet (whether in a barn or wherever) to pray and do regular Bible study. But they want the touchy-feelies (which are all very nice) when it's wedding time. (And eventually they'll want a preacher to lie at their funeral, too.)
(PS: I'm not referring now to any of your friends.)
farouk
Member
Weddings are different in different cultures.
Here in the USA weddings for most folks are just a big party....The religious side of marriage is quickly getting lost.
Exactly.
Nothing wrong with a nice wedding, of course.
But in the bigger scheme it's the doctrine and Christian living by the grace of God, that really count.
My wife and I got married in a church by our pastor.
It meant everything to us.
It meant everything to us.
farouk
Member
I'm sure it did. God bless you both richly.
It doesn't mean that everyone 'must' go the same route, for it to be 'authentic'.
No, it's not necessary to get married in church.
It's the oaths that people take to God and to one another that matters.
It's the oaths that people take to God and to one another that matters.
I would not have felt married had it not been a church wedding. IT WAS small with only about 50 people. But l had my long gown and 1 attendant. This is a girl thing and few men get it. My hubby would have eloped.
I love corporate worship. Our wedding was part of a church sarvice and psalms 84 was our solo. It might be best to let your bride choose
Where to hold it. Some have home weddings garden weddings or beach weddings. But, more important, will you have tradional vows? Many
Today say you are my soulmate but never vow to stay committed to her and her alone. That is what love is...committment first to God and
Secondly to your wife. It is giving, self sacrificing love.
I love corporate worship. Our wedding was part of a church sarvice and psalms 84 was our solo. It might be best to let your bride choose
Where to hold it. Some have home weddings garden weddings or beach weddings. But, more important, will you have tradional vows? Many
Today say you are my soulmate but never vow to stay committed to her and her alone. That is what love is...committment first to God and
Secondly to your wife. It is giving, self sacrificing love.
farouk
Member
It's good to remember also that in some European countries couples are obliged by law to have a civil ceremony before they have any church ceremony that they might choose. Then, once they are already married, whatever they have afterwards is their business, but simply not recognized in law.
It has been this way for generations, and it's not likely to change.
What many Christian couples do is have the civil ceremony, and then maybe on the same day, head off to some place where they will have prayers, etc.
Christians in these circumstances feel perfectly comfortable with it.
I'm not sure that anyone is necessarily suggesting this, but for anyone to try to argue that somehow Christian couples, legally married in a civil ceremony in this way, are supposedly living in sin until some clergy member 'does' them in a way not even recognized in law anyway, would be, frankly, ludicrous.
It has been this way for generations, and it's not likely to change.
What many Christian couples do is have the civil ceremony, and then maybe on the same day, head off to some place where they will have prayers, etc.
Christians in these circumstances feel perfectly comfortable with it.
I'm not sure that anyone is necessarily suggesting this, but for anyone to try to argue that somehow Christian couples, legally married in a civil ceremony in this way, are supposedly living in sin until some clergy member 'does' them in a way not even recognized in law anyway, would be, frankly, ludicrous.
Classik
Member
farouk
Member
You didn't care to define 'civil'.
Non-religious; state sponsored.
It is a sad reflection on the influence of clerical attitudes that some people think that not being married by clergy, but married lawfully in a civil ceremony, makes the people somehow less married than those who were married 'in church': not a phrase I even like.
Personally I like the idea of Christians meeting among other Christians and having prayers said for them, during a wedding.
But the 'religious' part is not essential for them to be truly married. (That some think otherwise is probably because of the abiding influence of clergy on people's thinking.)
farouk
Member
Classik:
Yes it is.
It's not what makes a marriage authentic, however. Marriage is a human institution, not a specifically Christian one. (Considerations such as the value of a Christian home, and honoring God in their lives: well, these are distinct aspects.)
FAROUK, I am sorry if l implied that. I simply meant that girls sometimes feel very strongly about it and it is a very personal thing.
I know a lot of people who renew their vows years later in a church wedding because the first time was "only" a civil ceremony.
Perhaps this is more of a local custom. I realize that customs are different around the world and that many today just want to
Make it a big spendy dinner party with lots of booze. That part is what repulses me. A Christian wedding should be different than
The carnal or wordly customs. It should not include drunkeness and should imply modesty. It may be very small and inexpen
Sive. But it should include God even as you suggested, afterward. People who have civil ceremonies are most certainly married.
How l felt had a lot to do with girlhood fantacies. But l will never regret the type of wedding l had.
farouk
Member
Carolyn:
I wasn't particularly commenting on your own thoughts and experience and I'm sure that you have wonderful memories which are a deep blessing to you.
Praise the Lord.
We wear blue jeans for church. But l admit that l made my hubby wear a suit for our wedding, and our pastor, who also wears blue jeans to church, says his wife makes him wear suits for weddings and funerals. I love the informality. No one is trying to impress anyone by clothes
And the only people who look out of place are the ones wearing ties or spandex.
And the only people who look out of place are the ones wearing ties or spandex.
Marriage is very much Christian
<dir>Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
</dir>Maybe I did not understand your words