Saturday, August 11, 2007, 12:30 PM - Wedding
Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
Wives, 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.
Husbands, 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 favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.
No 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 honor her husband. Ephesians 5:21-33 (The Message)
Heather and Mike, you've known each other a long time, you grew up here in this church. You couldn't agree if you ever broken up as a couple because one of you maintained that the break up in 4th grade doesn't really count. Even as youths you planned to have your youth leader Sue Tinker in your wedding. So it is good you are here in the church for your wedding, for marriage is one of the best examples of the relationship of Christ and church.
The Presbyterian Church and all churches serve Christ and Christ gave up his life for the church. This union is so close that the church is called the body of Christ. You two know about closeness for is one of the strengths of your relationship, you find it easy to do things together because you genuinely like to be together as a couple. You are the first couple I've married to score 100% on communication issues. You both strongly agree that you can express your true feelings to your partner even during times of conflict. You completely trust what your partner confides in you. Others have picked up on this closeness, telling me, that you are married already. You are one and this wedding is a celebration of that oneness, that closeness that you share.
You have some tests coming up, and not the college kind you are used to. Short-term I know you wonder about your first airplane flight later today. But marriage is long term. Marriage is different that dating, a marathon compared to a 50 yard dash. Long term, the financial pressures of education and employment are a concern to both of you. Your closeness will help you, but I want to also remind you that isn't the only close relationship you have. You have your families and friends with you. Let's take a moment from looking at each other, you already have memorize each other's image, turn and look at the people gathered here today. They are not just a part of your wedding, but a part of your marriage. They are here to support and help you not just as Heather and Michael, but as a married couple, they are commitment to the health of your relationship as well. You can call on them for a listening ear in times of stress, advice during difficult decisions, and consolation and encouragement when things go wrong. Don't let your closeness close out your family and friends.
Look again at the congregation. It is a great view from up here isn't it! If you look past the individuals seated here today you can see the generations that have sat here before, praising God and loving one another in the Body of Christ the stained glass brings us back to the beginning of that close relationship of God with God's people. That is the third closeness I want to lift up today. The Closeness of God and God's People. We have a Christ who knows about the struggles of life, trying to do right and live well in an indifferent and sometimes hostile world. Christ is with us in the church universal; it is his body, his spirit unites us and makes us one. No matter how difficult the journey, God is with us in Christ, that is why we call Jesus Christ Immanuel; it means, “God with Us”. Do not let your closeness as a couple crowd out the closeness of God here among God's People gathered in churches around the world. We can be a part of your marriage as well, helping you to cherish your relationship as Christ cherishes the church gathered for worship and service.
You are in for surprises! Seat backs do not recline in the last row of the airplane is one coming up pretty quick. Others are coming as well, but no matter how bumpy the ride might be, you only have to look over to your partner to remember your closeness to the one you love. And you only have to walk into a church, Christ's body, to know you are close to God, who has loved you from birth, without break ups! and will be as close to you for eternity as you are close to each other now. Be close to each other, to your family and friends, and to God and his church. Amen.
