If you happen live in England, Scotland or Wales then the 29th April is a day of rest. It may not be the Sabbath, but an opportunity to enjoy and celebrate the royal wedding between prince William and Kate Middleton. I love weddings. Especially summer weddings. Not because you get to look beautiful in your attire, there is free food and drink flowing and you can party the night away but more because of the public commitment being made between two individuals.
Weddings and their meaning have changed in recent years, the bride does not necessarily have to wear white as a symbol of her virginal status- dresses can range in colour from black to red to just about any other colour of the rainbow. All because it is the special couples day. If you want fire breathers and stilt walkers to greet your guests at the wedding reception or choose to walk down the aisle to ABBA’s waterloo then there is nothing holding you back- because modern weddings reflect the couples personality in every which way.
Westminster Abbey is one of the most well known cathedrals in the world and next week it will be centre of attention as Will and Kate tie the knot. Hats will be worn, tears will be shed and vows will be made. As I was browsing the internet I came across an article [click here for the link] stating that Kate Middleton will be omitting the word “obey” from her vows. Marriage is meant as a reflection of Christ’s relationship with the church (i.e.: his people) but has now been adapted by those who like the idea of marriage and quite fancy getting hitched in a church but are not willing to comply with the requirements and standards that God has put in place. How any respectful leader of the Christian flock ( i.e. priest/vicar/ pastor/ minister etc.) can allow rule bending in terms of vows is concerning- but I’ll save that for another blog :o) .
Although I speak from the point of view as a believer of the Bible and Jesus Christ - I’m perplexed that anyone would think it’s okay to be married in a church- making a commitment before God (and man) and not choose to stick to the vows derived from the Bible. Okay, so Kate and William may not believe in the Omniscient presence of God and the death and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ- so I cannot hold this decision against them - but like Myles Munroe once said- You can’t choose to be married before God and then get divorced in front of a lawyer or a Judge. Because those vows were not initially made in the courthouse but a church in front of friends, family and in some cases the rest of the world watching through their television sets.
Definition - Vow: A solemn promise.
Vows are binding. We live in a ‘cop out’ world- where we weave our way out of situations. For everything there is a plan B. People no longer choose to love and obey on their wedding day. They don’t stick with each other for richer, for poorer- in sickness in health. Now we choose to love our spouse for ever ( and although there is nothing wrong with that- love and expressions of love mean different things to different people.) Every married couple I know will tell me that marriage is hard work and there will be times when you want to pack it all in and run back to your single life- but the vows made are binding- till death do us part. And you have to stick by it.
Miss Middleton's’ apparent omission to say “obey” in her vows reminds me of Queen Vashti and King Xerxes from the book of Esther. Queen Vashti’s refusal to obey her husband got her demoted from her position as Queen and consequently led Esther to be put in her place. But the main reason why King Xeres got rid of Vashti was because of the advisories around him who suggested that if the rest of the wives of that day and age got hold of what the queen had done – there would be a female revolt in the land.
Now, I’m not suggesting that this could happen to the future monarch however by omitting the vow to obey- nobody can get upset if it obidience doesn't happen. Because it was never promised initially.
Submission in a relationship happens out love for one another and God. If a man is reflecting Godly characteristics obeying/submitting will not be a chore for the woman. Submission is not in place to supress women - it is an outward reflection of our walk with Christ.
Ephesians 5:21-33 (The Message)
Relationships
21Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
22-24Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
25-28Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favour—since they're already "one" in marriage.
29-33No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honour her husband.
Source The Message Bible- from Biblegateway.com
I came. I saw. I blog.
Ruthie x
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