Married! (or not?)

Emily and I are finally getting rested up from our busy last few weeks. June 4, our wedding day, went very well. In fact, it was one of the best days of my life. Knowing that God was joining me and Emily together formally for life was a great worship experience, and our wedding ceremony reflected that. We participated in a communion and a servant-declaring foot washing. Many individuals told us later what a biblical, spiritual experience it was.

So, the last few weeks were filled with our honeymoon in Gatlinburg, a week and a half of house set-up and returns to jobs, and then a few days at Carowinds in Charlotte for a Christian concert weekend (and a second honeymoon). Things just seemed to be getting back to normal when yesterday, our pastor received a letter. It said that our marriage license form was rejected...apparently someone forgot to put in a couple of dates. So...are we married?

Well, of course the answer is "yes." Matthew 19:6 says, "So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." There are two things that happen at Christian marriage ceremonies - they fill out legal paperwork with witnesses to gain legal recognition as married and they go before God with family and friends surrounding them, and vow to stay true to one another, entering into a holy covenant. Many people today consider marriage a contract, and once either party violates the terms of the contract, the remaining party is free to end the marriage. That, sadly, leads a lot of individuals to the big D - without really understanding that God is calling them to stay together for their entire lives. Marriage, as I'm learning, takes work, and Em and I haven't even hit any big issues. But, I know that we are in this for life, and we both know our responsibility is to God first - He is not only the author of our salvation, but our reason for living each day - married and not married.