WEDDING THAT GLORIFIES GOD

How can we create a wedding which glorifies God and not the couple?

The object of glory in all things, even weddings, if you are found in Christ, is God.

First Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (ESV)

Colossians 1:15–17 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him”.

The wedding rules we find in magazines and on Pinterest are created by a world that idolizes image and perfection, but as people of faith, we don’t want to participate in idolizing those things. We need to find a balanced way to walk in the world of weddings, and not be consumed by it.

We can start by remembering two important truths:

“Remember that weddings are about marriage”.

The Bible says, "Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious". 1 Peter 3:3-4

The wedding or marriage ring came into use in Christian ceremonies in the 9th century AD.

This is not to say that wearing a wedding ring is a requirement for married Christians. But wedding rings are a beautiful reminder of the marriage covenant and, by extension, the covenant of Christ with His bride—the redeemed for whom He died.

The Bible does not mention any rings or other tokens of love used in marriage ceremonies. It does, however, have much to say about courtship and offers couples a clear admonition on how to treat each other (Ephesians 5:22-25,28). Jesus underscored the importance of marriage as a lifelong commitment by referring back to God's institution of the marriage covenant (Matthew 19:4 - 6).

Because God has not commanded the use of any token to symbolize the marriage between two people in a wedding, the choice is yours whether to use rings or not. If their use encourages faithfulness to strengthen the marriage bond, then their use may be a good thing.

For a Christian, when we make our wedding day about God, the result is a wedding that looks different than those of non-believers. It is simple, easy, and full of Christ's glory. We are supposed to be light in the darkness, and our weddings should stand out as that same light. I have witnessed hundreds of weddings, and it is obvious who is making the day about God and who is making it about themselves. It is obvious not only in their ceremony, but also in the reception, which has a greater presence of the fruits of the flesh or fruits of the spirit woven in, from the “I do” to the dance party.

So if you’re planning a wedding, remember what is going to be imperishable at the end of the day: your wedding is about marriage, and your marriage is about Christ. For when the glitter is gone, Jesus will remain.

Bridesmaids run right back to ancient Roman times when Roman law required 10 witnesses to be present at a wedding. These 10 witnesses were usually friends of the bride and groom and hence the ‘bridal party’ was born. Bridesmaids and groom’s men had to dress just like the bride and groom to confuse evil spirits (or real-life jealous suitors) who might try to harm the couple. In fact, much of what the ancient Romans did are seen today as many of the marriage traditions we partake in today. Exchanging of rings, having a wedding party (reception) after, and a written contract sealed with a kiss are all customs we are used to seeing in modern weddings, but are all accredited to what the ancient Romans did also.

To be in the world but not of it in this beautiful season involves reminding ourselves that our weddings are not about perishable beauty. The flowers will die, our dress will go out of style and the photobooth we spent extra money on will one day be considered tacky. Those things can be fun and delightful, but we don’t have to expect our joy to come from them. In every wedding day a few of the details will go wrong. But for the Christian, that doesn’t need to be a fear or a problem, because we are not putting our hope in how smoothly the day runs. We are focusing on the imperishable, wrapping our wedding in prayer for our marriage more than we are covering it in tulle, preparing our hearts and minds for our union more than we are preparing our bodies for photographs.

Remember that marriage is about Christ.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband". (Ephesians 5:31-33, ESV)

The key to all of this, of course, comes back to our Lord and Savior. Marriage is about Christ, which means that if we are followers and believers, the wedding should reflect that truth and be about Christ as well. Keep in mind that to make a wedding about Christ means so much more than reading “Love is patient, love is kind” at the ceremony. Everything that we do, every decision that we make in planning can be brought back to Him.

Are we working with our families in a way that glorifies Him? Are we planning with our vendors in a way that displays Him? Are we spending money in a way that honors Him?