Which marriage is holy? Church Officiated or Traditional? Some people claim that if a couple can’t marry through the church then that’s not a holy marriage.
Marriage is an institution that was created by the Lord. We read the words of the Lord in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” We have the words of the Lord Jesus addressing this in Matthew 19:4-6, “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” In marriage, two people are made one in the sight of the Lord. A union intended to last a lifetime. How important it is for a couple to be before the Lord and make sure that He is bringing them together and it is His desire for them to marry. 1 Corinthians 7:39 tells us that marriage should be “only in the Lord.”
With that in mind, let’s read Romans 13:1-3, “LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS. For there is no power but of God: THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINDED OF GOD. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.” Here, we are instructed to obey our laws and our leaders. It is a sin for a believer to break the law of his country, state, county, or city. We must obey because the Lord tells us to obey!
In the USA, a marriage must be officiated by someone authorized by the government. It can be a church leader, a magistrate, a judge, a ship’s captain, etc. There are many people that can officiate a wedding that will make it legal and binding. Since, the Lord instructs us to subject ourselves to our governmental leaders, we must follow the law in marrying someone. When we obey the governmental powers in our wedding ceremonies, then the Lord honors our marriage. It is really no more complicated that that.
It doesn’t matter if you are married in the largest and grandest church building you can find, or if you are married in a simple ceremony by a Justice of the Peace, as long as the ceremony is legal and legally done, then you are married in the eyes of God. Although an officiant will pronounce you married, it is really the Lord who joins us together and makes us ONE FLESH. And, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” We read in Malachi 2:16, ““For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce…” (NKJV). The Lord created marriage to be a lifetime partnership. TWO become ONE! I cannot overstate how important it is to make sure that the one you marry is the one the Lord wants you to marry. Before you commit to this relationship, both of you should pray about it together and separately to be sure that your marriage is in the will of God. (315.6)