Of course, one of the most preached topics today in the church is "marry from your church". The idea is that when you marry from your church, both couple stay and worship in your church. When you are in one church, you have the same faith and believe.
Well, I would like to ask; what is this same FAITH? What believe or believe of what do these many refer to?
Church is the body of The Christ and Christians are the members of the Christ. When we talk about church, we talk about individuals who are Christs unless OTHERWISE.
The church is therefore ONE and should not be seen as separate entities (bodies of the Christ). In fact, such perception is myopic and needs cure.
Christ is the pioneer and finisher of our FAITH. Thus the faith of the same people who are one entity, one body and not separated. The faith of Christs, Christians or Carriers of the Christ. We are ONE and Carriers of the Christ, the faith is then One. In fact, there are no types of Faith from this concord.
If this continues to be preached as a sermon, then the gospel of the Christ is not proclaimed but the gospel of doctrine. It is doctrine that divides people (Christians) into various individuals called churches and groups. Be reminded that you are a Christ (ian) and a "doctrian".
Love has no boundaries. However, if we continue to hold to this notion of marrying from your church, then we setting boundaries for ourselves and the entire body of the Christ.
This matter would compel people to concentrate solely on their immediate environment. It would cease communication between them and God. They would refuse to wait upon the Lord, let alone hear His voice. This is because they would be busy monitoring people around to see how best they fit their liking. What a mess!
Listen to this story:
Three years back, a friend of my elder brother came from the States. He was seriously in for marriage because he had less than four months to return. My brother introduced him to this lady. Upon their meetings, everything was almost on track until one day she asked of his denomination.
The long and short of the story of the story was that, she sacrificed the marriage and her Visa for a reason that "the man is not in her church and for that matter has different faith".
Is my point built on the Visa and the money? NEVER.
This lady is still single and desperate for marriage. The truth is that, she won't get anyone to marry her if she continues to be myopic. I have my reasons;
- She is almost older than all the unmarried (single) guys in her church.
- She is actually waiting for someone from her church to propose to her. Because of this, how can she pray or see when her husband is coming from outside her church?
- The chance of she accepting ANY proposal and regrets much later is very valid.
I end with this, the outdated idiosyncrasy should not be followed by the youth because my church believes so. Where is the church without you? Follow what the Bible says and pray for your partner no matter where he or she comes from.
DON'T AIM AT MARRYING FROM YOUR CHURCH BUT YOUR LOVE.
