Weddings, Funerals, and Unbelievers
— Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 —
Every community has “that guy,” the minister of the gospel who thinks he is called by God to be a Justice of the Peace, officiating as a kind chaplain at the weddings of whoever asks.
Last week, The Gospel Coalition ran an article of mine on whether a minister should officiate at weddings of unbelievers. I said, and say, “no.” Marriage is a creation ordinance, given to all people, yes. But the church has authority to bless and sanctify only what the church has the authority to discipline and hold accountable. Here is a longer version of the original post, from here at this site.
Since the post has run, I’ve received several questions from folks asking whether a minister should officiate at funerals of unbelievers, to that I say yes, and you can read this article to find out why this isn’t the same thing as officiating at the weddings of unbelievers.
“But the church has authority to bless and sanctify only what the church has the authority to discipline and hold accountable.”
I love an argument that is clear, persuasive, and short!
Dr. Moore or Anyone Else Reading,
My wife and I just bought a home and we have been praying for our realtor to come to Christ. We’ve shared Christ with him some (by “some,” we’ve lobbed a lot of gospel softballs and they keep hitting him without much response) and prayed that our testimony throughout the process would be salty and magnify Jesus. By the grace of God our relationship with him has continued and this past week he called me and asked if I would be interested in officiating his parents 45th Anniversary/Vow Renewal Ceremony.
The wife attends a local church semi-regularly and the husband attends on holidays, and his parents weren’t comfortable with that pastor officiating so I was contacted. I have a meeting with them next week at about this time. Any advice on how to proceed since they were already married by The Justice of the Peace and now want to renew their vows with a Pastor?
Is there a difference between Renewing Vows (which I don’t even know if any are said at the JoP) and a Marriage Ceremony? If so, what is that difference?
Do I call this Pre-marital counseling or Post-marital/I can’t believe you’ve lasted this long without Christ counseling?
One further clarification…I have not yet agreed to perform this ceremony.
I agree that ministers should not officiate at weddings of non belivers but from my own experiance brides still want a minister at their wedding, i think they have lost touch with what a marriage ceremony is in the eyes of god, and only want to have a minister because that is what other people are doing.