Guess What Happened in Church Today?

Depending on one's perspective, this question could be negative or positive. Too often, I've been on the receiving end of such a question, only to hear the querist describe an "uncomfortable situation" he or she experienced. On the other hand, I've also heard this interrogative remark followed by a moving depiction of God at work in an assembly.

CrossBridge is one of those places where the unusual is the usual. Yesterday was an unforgettable first, both for our church and for yours truly. In my 19 years of ministry, I've performed many weddings in a variety of settings, e.g., church buildings, homes, backyards, pool sides, chapels. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to join a loving couple in holy matrimony during our Sunday morning worship.

Admittedly, I wondered about how this was going to work. Was it going to force worshipers to participate in two strangers' marriage ceremony? How would it be received? Would it be a moving moment of experiencing the triune love of God concretely displayed, or would it be perceived as a gimmick, a spectacle of human hubris?

A couple of things coelesced to ease my mind. First, an organization devoted to family values sent out a nation-wide email, urging ministers and pastors to preach on the sanctity of marriage on the Sunday in question. Second, a lunch with the couple revealed their honest desire not to be the centerpiece of the service. They simply wanted to vow their commitment to each other at the end of the sermon.

Though quite different from anything we've ever experienced before, the entire service was a meaningful encounter with God. LifeSong, the worship team at CrossBridge, did an absolutely fabulous job in moving all of us into the presence of God through amazing songs. Jack and Julie exchanged their vows, much to the delight of all. As far as the sermon, someone with a bit more objectivity would need to judge!

Upon reflection, and after hearing many positive responses to the service, I began to better understand why this experience was so generally moving. Paul spoke of the mysterious marriage relationship as a reflection of Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:32). Jack and Julie stood as concrete expressions of the relational mystery between Jesus and each of us--His church. As they said "Yes" to one another, we were experiencing God's "yes" to us in the context of worship. In turn, we all were moved to utter our own unique "yes" to Him as well.

In a day when marriage is under viscious attack, it was a holy moment to see two people, commit to one another in the most appropriate place of all--in the context of a worshipping community. My prayers are with Jack and Julie as they begin their life together as husband and wife. And, I am profoundly appreciative of them both for allowing God to use the rather ordinary recitation of marriage vows to become a catalyst for praise...and transformation.

Guess what happened in church today....