Every occupation has their stories. Doctors have them. Teachers have them. Office workers have them. And so do pastors. A few years ago, a pastor friend of mine was telling one of those stories and it went something like this... "One day, I was out in the yard when a car pulled up with a man and a woman in it. The man asked, "Are you the preacher?" So I replied, "Yes I am. How can I help you?" "Me and the woman here would like to get married this afternoon." he said."
As my friend tells that story, he explains to the man in the car that preachers meet with couples before they get married. We call them "pre-marital counseling sessions". The man in the car quickly replied, "We don't need any marriage counseling! We know all about it. In fact, we've both been married before so there ain't anything you can teach about marriage that we don't already know."
Needless to say, my friend didn't perform their wedding ceremony that afternoon. It is easy to see what is wrong in that story... that couple wanted to treat that church like it was a wedding chapel.
What is the difference between a church and a wedding chapel? First, let's look at what a wedding chapel is and then see how the church is so different from a wedding chapel.
How does Wikipedia describe a wedding chapel? "A wedding chapel is a place, other than a legal court, and usually also, other than a church, where couples can get legally married. A church may also be used as a wedding chapel, but churches are usually called that by the marrying couple when the ceremony only involves those contracting matrimony."
So far we see that a wedding at a wedding chapel is different than going to the courthouse. We also see that the wedding chapel is a different place than a church. There is an interesting phrase used in this description... "where couples can get legally married". So the wedding chapel is not a government office nor is it a local church, it's a business designed to help couples get legally married.
What requirements does a wedding chapel have for each couple who wants to get married there? The "wedding chapels must usually require: a marriage license and proof of age of the couple." Vegas.com says "Easy peasy lemon squeezy. That's what it's like to get married in Vegas. No blood tests, no waiting period, no hassle. Just wham bam married ma'am."
How fast can you get married in a wedding chapel? "If you want to get MARRIED TODAY..... we can Help. We are available 24/7 to perform your Wedding (by appointment). We are world famous for performing Same Day Wedding Ceremonies. Simply walk in to our office and we issue you a Marriage License. Next, we go in to the Wedding Chapel and a couple of " I Do's" later, you are officially hitched! Walk in Single.......Walk out Married" says Great Officiants in Southern California.
HOW DOES A CHURCH WEDDING DIFFER FROM A WEDDING AT A WEDDING CHAPEL?
First of all, a church is not a business and a church is concerned about more than just getting you "legally married". The man performing the wedding ceremony is a minister, usually ordained by a church, who will give you marriage counseling, not just someone legally qualified to get you "officially hitched". The counseling sessions are designed to help you prepare for your marriage. But there is so much more to consider here. The wedding ceremony is not viewed as an entertaining event, it represents Jesus Christ and His bride. Weddings are very serious and not to be taken lightly.
WHERE DID MARRIAGE COME FROM? Marriage is designed by and empowered by God Himself. Genesis 2:18–24 (ESV) — 18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
HOW SERIOUSLY DOES GOD VIEW MARRIAGE? God honors the union of man and woman in the covenant of marriage but punishes those who are sexually immoral and unfaithful. Hebrews 13:4 (ESV) — 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. God says that our prayer lives are directly affected by how we relate to our spouse. 1 Peter 3: 7 (ESV) —7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. God does not want you matched up with the wrong person. 2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV) — 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
HOW SERIOUS IS THE COMMITMENT BETWEEN THE HUSBAND AND THE WIFE? The relationship between the husband and the wife is to reflect the relationship between Jesus and His bride which is the church. Ephesians 5:21–33 (ESV) — 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. By meeting the sexual needs of each other, the husband and the wife are to protect each other from being disobedient to God because of sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 7:3–5 (ESV) — 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
As a preacher of the gospel, it is my goal to share these Bible verses and more with you to help you see the importance of a Biblical wedding. We will discuss what it takes to honor God in your ceremony and in your marriage. In order for your wedding to be blessed by God, you have to do things according His Word. A wedding ceremony is not a show, it is a time of worship and devotion.
I hope this post will help you understand the difference.
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