From Andy Anquoe serving in Oregon City, OR
QUESTION:Wedding Service?
A young couple in my church asked me to perform their wedding. Part of the Groom’s extended family will be coming from a Muslim country. The couple's desire is that the gospel be shared in the ceremony because it might be the only time that the extended family hears it. Do you have any input as to what wedding songs we could include to make the service evangelistic?
RICK MUCHOW:
Weddings can be a great evangelistic opportunity. A couple of songs that I use consistently are “Your Name” by Paul Baloche and “Household of Faith” by Brent Lamb and John Rosasco
Choose your music wisely. Your music will speak louder than your words.
Three things to consider:
- The song itself – ask is this a good song? Will the people relate to the song? Are the lyrics supportive of or counter to the wedding message? For example, a love song might be a natural choice for a wedding, however the wrong lyrics or musical style could easily distract from the Christian ceremony.
- The soloist – he or she does not have to be the next American Idol, but they do have to be able to deliver the song without bringing attention to their flaws as a singer. Consider their range, nerves and memorization. Insist that the soloist is rehearsed, which leads me to. . .
- Rehearsed accompaniment – Wrong notes, poor tempo, the appearance that the song is sloppy or unplanned takes away from the beauty of the song and its message within the service.
Often overlooked but extremely important is getting to know the couple personally. Memorize the names of the parents, the Best Man and Maid of Honor, and of course the Bride and Groom. Don’t overlook the correct pronunciation of each of those people’s names.
The message at a wedding is “God’s love” and his commitment, sacrifice and promise to us. This is a natural time and place to share a message of what God has done for us. Share how the Groom needs to lay his life down for his bride as Christ did for the church. In return, the Bride needs to love the Groom just as the church should love Christ. The wedding is the message, much like the wedding is symbolic of the commitment the Bride and Groom are making for the rest of their lives, or like the way in which baptism is a great declaration of a believer’s commitment to Christ.
Weddings are also evangelistic in that you can minister to a felt need and offer hope. Take some time in every wedding to offer hope and a time of recommitment for all who attend, to trust the future of their marriage or their future marriage into the hands of the all knowing, all loving God who says “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” in Jeremiah 29:11.
Keep the ceremony joyful! Christians are often perceived by non-Christians as having kill-joy personalities. Your authenticity speaks volumes while also honoring the day as a sacred day: a day of celebration where couples commit their lives to God and to each other in the presence of treasured family and friends.
