Should the people
coming into the Christian Faith from non-Christian backgrounds continue to
follow their former non-Christian matrimonial rituals, or should they leave
them? Should we wait for the Lord to change them?
Answer:
God’s word the Bible has many things to say and teach
about marriage and marital relationships, but there are no
specific instructions given regarding particular
marriage rituals, ceremonies, and practices – neither
in the Old Testament and the Law given through Moses, nor
in the New Testament teachings of the Lord Jesus or in the epistles written
under the inspiration and guidance of God’s Holy Spirit. Momentarily, this may
seem quite odd and unacceptable, but in fact it is a proof
of God’s wisdom and foresight. Had it been written at any place in the Bible
what the marriage related rituals and ceremonies ought to be, then
all marriages not solemnized according to those rituals and ceremonies would
have become Biblically ineligible and illegal. In such a situation, on the acceptance of the Gospel by the Gentiles and their coming
into faith into the Lord Jesus, all their marital relationships (not
having been solemnized according to the Biblically stated rituals
and ceremonies) would have become ineligible and illegal, resulting in disruption of families, and
causing a social chaos, making it even more difficult,
rather well-nigh impossible for people to accept the gospel and come to Faith
in the Lord Jesus. But in the existing situation, there is neither any need nor instruction to annul marital
relationships on accepting the Gospel and coming into Faith in the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 7:10-14).
All the marriage rituals, ceremonies and practices
that we see amongst Christians, are actually not Biblical
practices and ceremonies, but those brought by the European settlers from their
places. Wherever they went in the world and wherever the Gospel was carried by
them, they also carried their rituals, practices and ceremonies
with them; and the local people of those places also
started to emulate them and follow their “christian” practices. But at the same
time over a period of time, some local practices also got
mingled into those “christian” practices. Nowhere in the Bible has this been
said to be an unacceptable or wrong practice. All that the Bible teaches and
asks is that whenever a matrimonial relationship is entered into it should be lived
out with all faithfulness and fidelity, as the Lord Jesus does
with His Bride –the Worldwide Church, and
as the Church is expected to live towards the Lord (Ephesians 5:22-32). Therefore for Biblical
marital relationships, there is no other prescribed
practice to be followed. Generally speaking, what the world accepts as “Christian” marital practices and ceremonies, are not
from the Bible but from the European settlers who brought with them the Gospel
of Salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus and spread it in the lands they
settled in.
Marital practices, e.g. wearing of Sindur
(Vermilion) on the forehead, Mangal-sutra (Marriage
Necklace), Marriage Bangles, and
other similar practices etc., are all local practices of
different regions of the Land. But all of them have some religious implications
or significances attached with them. When these practices are followed, then automatically the understanding that goes out amongst the
people is that the religious implications and significances associated with
those practices is also being acknowledged and given due honor, even
though the now Christian person has no intention of conveying such an implication. But on seeing the presence of those signs and their
observances, inadvertently the message that goes across is that a
religious acknowledgement and honor is being accorded to those non-Christian
practices and rituals.
Since it is the purpose of the life of Christian Believers
to glorify and honor the Lord Jesus through their lives and
to preach and propagate the life of salvation received from the Lord Jesus, therefore the presence of these practices and signs inadvertently and unknowingly negates this very important and
primary purpose of a Christian Believer’s life, it runs
contrary to the Christian Believer’s life of witnessing for the Lord Jesus. Moreover,
it provides an opportunity for non-Christians to raise the question that when you can accept and follow these marriage
related practices and signs then why can you not also accept and follow other
religious practices and ceremonies of our religion? In
such a situation if the Christian Believers says that they only accept them as
signs of marriage, but do not accept any of their religious implications and
significances, it can be a stumbling block for the people
of other religions, and provoke them into giving an
adverse reaction, they may take it as an affront or insult
to their religion and religious practices, which can have
serious adverse outcomes. Therefore it is better to observe and follow only
those rituals and practices which the community and people know and accept as “Christian”; and after coming into faith in the Lord to leave aside all the
other rituals, practices and ceremonies (1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:15)।
The Lord has given the
responsibility of taking His teachings to other people and of helping them in understanding
and following His teachings to us Christian Believers (Matthew 28:19-20)। Therefore it is our responsibility to convey this
message regarding the truth and implications of the marriage rituals, ceremonies
and practices to those still engaged in following them. We cannot compel or
forcibly ensure that people accept and follow these teachings – that
is God’s work, He will do it in His way. But to bring God’s teachings to the
people so that God can work in their lives is our responsibility. Therefore
prayerfully and humbly explain the situation and its implications to the people, and God will use the seed of His Word sown by us
in His own time and method to bring about the required change in
the lives of the people (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
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