Please note: these opinions do not reflect the views of The Revolution Church, nor of its members. This blog comes out of my frustration as a pastor who has to perform weddings on behalf of the state of Pennsylvania.
Marriage is an opportunity to tell couples about Christ, and I am always grateful for that privilege. However, you may not be aware that, according to a survey done by George Barna, when asked what was their least favorite responsibility, over 90% of pastors said “Weddings.”
I confess to disliking most, though not all weddings. Those couples who just want a pretty picture and to get the job done test my limits of kindness. A wedding requires 15 to 20 hours of my time away from my family, beyond the 50 to 60 hours per week I already serve at the church. Couples pay thousands of dollars for flowers, cakes, decorations, dresses, alcohol, limos, dinners, and hall rental, but for some reason resent the church asking for $250 to cover our expenses for an organist, janitor, and pastor.
I have struggled for years with what could improve this situation, and I believe that I have an answer: that churches no longer be agents of the state in regards to marriage. The state should get out of the marriage business and into the “civil union” business, and let the church define what marriage is and what it is not. Morality is the realm of the church, and legality should be the realm of the state. The church, for too long, has abdicated its moral authority to the state, especially in regard to marriage, so we have simply become a state agent when it comes to marriage.
I DO understand that the result of this is that some churches will stick to a traditional view of marriage, and others will not, allowing for gay marriage and more. The argument for and against traditional views, however, will become a moral issue to be debated in the church, not a legal issue to be debated politically.
I know that many will disagree, and that’s OK. Debate away.
