S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The primary difference between a Christian wedding and non-Christian wedding is Christ. Christians who marry are making a commitment to Christ, as well as to each other, and that commitment should ...

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July 01 2013 • 5 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Danny Hickman Supporter Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

A wedding is a joyous event that should be filled with all the gusto imaginable. 

The difference between the life of a believer and an unbeliever is Jesus. Jesus is to be honored at the believer's wedding. Of course the unbeliever might not find that to be of importance, so Jesus might not be invited at their wedding.

As far as who should be invited and how much excitement or what kind of music a believer's wedding should feature, that's unimportant vs. Showing that Jesus is your Lord.

Consecrate yourself for your wedding. Invite the people you want to witness your bonding. It's your wedding so order the food and drinks you like. The apostle Paul said not to worry about those who would judge you in food and drink or holy days or new moons and such, the truth is found in Christ Col 3:16-17.

Again, the presence of The Lord Jesus Christ is the major difference between the wedding of a believer and an unbeliever. Read John 2 and get an idea of what kind of fun you're ALLOWED to have.

Again, consecrate yourself. Be yourself. Enjoy yourself.

September 10 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Vazquez Supporter

As it pertains to the question of Christian vs non-Christian weddings there is but one example that is given to us in the New Testament. In where Christ Jesus at the bequest of his mother ensure that the festivity continued with nothing less than the best wine (John 2). We also know that he went to other activities during his ministry time here. We also know that weddings are used in various parables as examples of what is heaven like. I can only conclude, that weddings are to be joyous events.

Now, as to the question of differences, there is a focal difference in Christian weddings vs non Christian wedding and that is Christ Jesus. In most pre-marital conversation I have engaged in, I have found that everything but God is more prevalent in the couple. This has been present in Christians and non-Christian alike. Now a Christian marriage is a prescribed suggestion from our apostles with a very precise mandate in the roles that we are to exercise in the context of our Christian married life. That is not always the case in a non-Christian context. There are principals that can be taken from the Christian context or examples, however, for a non-Christian this is a matter of choice. Therefore, the celebrations differ in meaning and presentation according to the belief’s and faiths of the couples. The Christian main focus is Christ Jesus in the middle or top of the union of the two. Not so, with a non-Christian couple.

As to the validity of wedding ceremonies, the celebration of marriage is but a call to witness a committed union between two individuals. How this is carried out depends on the faith and believes of such couple. Understanding that a Christian couple is under the authority of our God and a non-Christian is not. None the less they are public demonstration of their claims to be unified. So they differ in meaning and context, not in purpose. 

Thank you and God bless you all

January 05 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Matthews Supporter Retired Professional Singer, Conductor and Seeker

There is no example in the Bible of a Christian "wedding." There are references in the Old Testament concerning Jewish unions. There is only one reference to a wedding that involved Jesus and that is the Jewish celebration in John 2 

The idea of a specifically Christian "wedding" was unheard of before the 12th century. The concept of a wedding, as we know of it today, happened long after that time. It became a sacrament after the 1184 Council of Verona. A Christian wedding is a tradition instituted by man, not God. At least I could find no reference anywhere in scripture about the institution of marriage Christian marriage.

The union of a man and a woman is blessed by God, if the two are believers. I am not commenting on the occurrence if only one of the couple is a believer. I won't second guess God in knowing whether or not the union of one believer and a non-believer is blessed or not. 

Jesus talks about the union of man and woman in Matthew 19:3-6 He says "What God has joined together, let no one separate." This is not an example of a Christian wedding. Jesus was quoting established Jewish tradition as the union was blessed by God. Man can't usurp God, ever.

Specifically, the Christian wedding became a "sanctified" event by the Roman Catholic Church. After the Protestant Reformation, the Christian symbol of marriage was carried over to become something done in the different Protestant denominations. Each Christian denomination has their rite, tradition and/or requirements for marriage. Most of the standards are relational in nature, according to scripture; that is, assuming both participants are believers.

In the "eyes" of God, only a commitment from both parties constitutes a blessed union. But, to specifically answer the question, a Christian marriage glorifies Jesus Christ as the couples' Savior, blessing the union of the two. A non-Christian ceremony does not.

January 17 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report