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Hey all,
I've been invited to a wedding but it is on the Lord's Day. What would you do in this situation?
Who said getting married on the "Lord's Day" is a mistake???
I used to attend Tabernacle Church of Norfolk (one of the most conservative and missions minded churches in America) and my music minster got married on a Sunday DURING the service! It was AWESOME because visitors got to sit in on a wedding for FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I wish more Christians would get married on Sundays--during church!
Hey all,
I've been invited to a wedding but it is on the Lord's Day. What would you do in this situation?
Well then, I don't think you would regret not going; some of the consequences may make you sad, but I think you can be sure your conscience is clear. But handle the consequences "well". Often we try to do the right thing and then handle the fallout poorly. Look out for that fallout.Thanks to everyone who has commented so far. There seems to be consensus (of those who have spoken up at least). I just wanted to add that the wedding is not going to be part of a church service. It won't be in a church, for that matter. It is being held at a place nearby called "Pine Lake Pavillion," which is, as you may have guessed, a lake with some pine trees and a pavillion.
Who said getting married on the "Lord's Day" is a mistake???
I used to attend Tabernacle Church of Norfolk (one of the most conservative and missions minded churches in America) and my music minster got married on a Sunday DURING the service! It was AWESOME because visitors got to sit in on a wedding for FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I wish more Christians would get married on Sundays--during church!
2) Furthermore, in the URCNA Church Order, weddings are rightly classified as a family affair and not ecclesiastical.
Not trying to be contrary, but I don't think that's right. I believe funerals are classified as family affairs, but the jury is still out on marriages -- also with the CanRC CO and the proposed Joint Church Order.
Wes:
On another note, I will soon have to publically give account of my knowledge of the URCNA CO (among other subjects) in a month's time at my colloquium doctum
While I come from the 'Dutch Reformed' tradition I think this issue is quite simple.
1) A wedding does not fall under the element(s) of a worship service so it should not be conducted during the service.
2) If a wedding is conducted outside of a service how will it (does it) promote the sanctity of the Lord's Day? As others have mentioned, it will most likely detract from a holy observance.
In conclusion, I see no good reason why a wedding would take place on the Lord's Day where Christ's bride (not yours, mine or someone elses) meets to worship her bridegroom.
Regarding point 1), if a wedding primarily consists of the exchanging of vows, and if vows are a part of religious worship (WCF 22), then it seems appropriate to include a wedding as part of a worship service.
Private vows? Hardly. I will leave it to others to explain the WCF (since I am no expert) but I do believe that the divines were largely opposed to having marriage as part of the service.
The issue in the Directory for Public Worship is not firm and I would have no scruples against attending a wedding on Sunday in a Church. I don't consider attending the solemn union of a man and woman before God to be recreation or a frivolous thing.
Also, I don't know how a man and woman are supposed to get married, in a Church, without some sort of liturgy. It seems kind of ironic that the institution that is used as a picture of Christ and His Church is somehow given some sort of unholy connotation. Our eternal Sabbath is even pictured as a wedding feast. Marriage shares a distinction with the Sabbath as being a Creation ordinance. It certainly is not an extra-ecclesiastical event but ought to involve the entire Body as they celebrate the union of one of their own.
I believe it may be debatable whether one ought to attend a wedding outside of a Church on Sunday but I cannot go along with those who place this event as one of many other frivolous activities that, prima facia, ought to be avoided on the Lord's Day.
Marriage shares a distinction with the Sabbath as being a Creation ordinance.