Why is it that in weddings, I often hear the pastor say something to the effect of "with the authority vested in me by the Lord Jesus Christ as a messenger of his gospel" or other assertion that the power to wed people comes from God? It makes us feel all holy and stuff, but where is that authority vested?
Maybe there's a scripture I don't know. Help?
Thursday, August 24, 2006
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it might come from the idea that marriage is a sacrament (like baptism or communion) in which case it may make sense that a minister of the gospel then has the authority to administer this sacrament. In the RCC there are seven sacraments which include those Jesus spoke of, marriage, and a few other things. I wonder if it's in the same in Eastern Orthodox church. If only we knew someone we could ask.
I thought the authority was in my vest. Oh well. Would it be better to say: "with the authority that I give myself because I'm the pastor and you're not"?
In the Orthodox Church, there are also the seven "mysteries" analogous to the seven "sacraments" in Western traditionalist denominations (Roman Catholic, Episcopal, etc.), and marriage is one of them.
However, the ministers of the mystery of marriage are the bridegroom and the bride themselves! The Orthodox presbyter or bishop who "performs" the blessings of the betrothal and wedding services for a couple, and who "signs the papers" does so as a representative of the faith community as their witness, and as the legally constituted agent of the secular state (unless, of course, a civil ceremony was enacted prior to the temple blessing). That's for starters. There's an entirely different aspect to the concept of marriage in Orthodoxy than in the Western denominations of Christianity. For example, although an article I just read on the internet says that Orthodox can have "vows" in their weddings, I myself have never been to an Orthodox wedding where there were vows taken.
Check out this internet article for more information on the Orthodox concept of marriage:
http://www.unicorne.org/orthodoxy/articles/alex_roman/vows.htm
I think that the idea of minister as representative of the community is the best answer I've heard about how this came about.
The sacramental nature of marriage, traditionally at least, I supposed to be the reason the pastor says and does these things. But in the sola scriptura environment in which I grew up, such a clear claim to authority (namely: authority to wed people, claimed almost as though a layman could not do so) I don't see in Scripture seemed contradictory.
I mean, if we like to bash tradition, or avoid things because they're "Catholic," why keep this vestigal remenant? Is it because we long for a communion with things more permanent than our passing fancies, especially at the solemnest and most important times of our lives? Then why not at other times, too?
I grieve daily for the veil that is over the eyes of free-born-again brothers and sisters, placed there by centuries long oppression by the false authority of the Roman Catholic papal machine. It infects completely the whole Western world, Catholic by adherence to it, Protestant by reaction to it. It infects partially even the Orthodox Eastern world, because we as humans are weak, and sometimes have adopted Romanish vocabulary and hence Romanish attitudes. But, glory to God, somehow we have survived, and in each generation God has given us new life and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to live together as the first Christians did, in meekness of heart, in obedience and, most of all, in mutual love, considering the good of the other before our own good.
Why say all this?
Because I am baffled by what I am seeing and hearing in the "evangelical" environment.
Today, I heard tell of a young worship leader who was told, when she said she wanted the group to pray before rehearsing, that "it wasn't necessary," that "they didn't have time," and that "God knows what we're doing and give us His blessing" anyway. This may seem trivial to some, but to me, it is heart-breaking. No one should ever say NO to prayer, especially those in ministry. This was a Baptist pastor in charge of "worship."
Where has the arrogance of man taken us?
Back to marriage…
Sacrament = Roman Catholic terminology
Mysterion (Mystery) = Christian Greek terminology
Mysterion defines an instance of Kairós (acceptable time of the Lord, differentiated from Chrónos, sequential time). Mysterion defines a time, a place, an action, in which the Living God, Yahweh, meets us tangibly, and in a way that cannot be produced by ceremony (though it often is accompanied by ceremony). Though He is with us always, even unto the close of the age, we miss Him because the "world is pulled over our eyes" (quote from The Matrix). Mysterion is a defining moment, invited by our free will in cooperation with God's earnest and constant desire to be with us always, in which something we do is done consciously in Him, and in which He reveals Himself to us.
Breaking bread together, because He was at table with them in the Mystical Supper, at the inn on the way to Emmaus, on the lakeside sharing grilled fish with His disciples, who recognized Him.
In the wedding feast, because at Cana He did not flinch from joining in the nuptial joy of a young couple whose marriage blessing He witnessed, He attended. That's why the bridegroom and the bride are ministers of their marriage, in the presence of the Living One, Jesus.
Good morning, brother! I hope this ramble hasn't tired your patience!
Not in the least. I'm truly grateful to have exposure to other branches of the faith, especially from the mouth of a man with a heart like yours. The gift of a different perspective is one that I value, and though it takes you some words to express it, I believe I still have greater prowess at drowning others with my words.
There is so much time and energy wasted on battles among the brances, I am glad for occasions to remember our unity in the Vine.
"…our unity in the Vine."
Yes, Amen, brother! How true! It reminds me of something I heard from an old elder about "church unity"…
He said, "The Church has never been divided. If you think that the Church has been divided, you've got a problem!"
He simply wasn't recognizing denominations. He was simply loving us with the single eye of faith.
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