Ebele Uzor Peters on his Facebook timeline, gives an explanation to the true meaning of a Church wedding, which is some times misunderstood to be a western practice imposed on the black population. He explains as follows:
A church wedding is two adult saints, one male and one female, making a lifetime commitment of marriage to each other in the presence of other saints, who bear the authority of Jesus.
It is not the same as a white wedding. White wedding is western culture. Church wedding is not. Church wedding is not the same as a wedding held in a chapel or church building. Many weddings are held on church premises that are not church weddings.
Church wedding is recognising that neither the law of the land nor the heads of your family should have the final say in your life or in your home; and that while both parties are important, God is first and last.
Church wedding is simply saying that though my parents are giving me away to be married, and the laws are certifying my right and choice to be married; these legitimate authorities are only delegated.
Church wedding is saying "...because I am a Christian; I am first a child of God, and then a child of my parents, before I am a citizen of this world."
If my nation forsakes me, my family knows me and will not forsake me. I am their blood and they also are mine; but and if they do forsake me, I know this: Jesus will never leave me.
Therefore in matters of my life, I may have gone to the court and also fulfilled what pertains to my parent's honor and traditional rites, but I must stand before the church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of truth, and the body of Christ that fills everything in every way.
When my child is born, my family gathers to rejoice and the state sends a birth certificate; but I must present my child before God and His people as a testimony to the kingdom to which I now belong.
So church wedding is not really about a white dress (even though thats a most beautiful symbol of purity when it is a proper dress, and not merely a high skirt) or red wine, pomp or pomo; because if it is okay with you two and your families, you could do this church wedding in your pastor's office, in your sitting room or in a beautiful garden.
Because the church is not first a place or a building or an organisation; she is first a people, a body, and an organism, with a calling and a hope and an eternal destiny in God;
And where these people with whom you belong, are gathered with the authority of those God has set in His church, namely the minister and elders overseeing the assembly of saints...then that is a church wedding.
All who say marriage is not about church, hear this: the Bible says wives submit to your own husbands, not as your mum respected your dad, or as the first lady supported the president, but as the church is submitted to Christ (Ephesians 5:22)
The Bible says husbands love your wives, not as the music artiste loved his wife and showered her with blings, but as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:25)
If you are saved, the standard of your marriage is no more society or social media or status or state. It is now Christ and the church. And that standard starts from recognising this order as you begin, with a Christian or a church wedding.
Finally, the Bible says in Hebrews 13:4 that marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
...not the family meeting of elders or the law courts; but God, shall judge.
Therefore you do good to recognise the delegated authority of God in the family and the state, but if you will not stand before God's highest representative on earth: which is (imperfect and flawed, but no less His body and) His church,
Then you have not done well.
Don't be carried away by new ideas that our parents would have wondered at in their days. Rather, be established by blessed ideas they would applaud and bless God for, knowing their grandchildren are safer with you, than you were with them.
Do well.
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