An article at FoxNews.com addresses a disturbing trend in wedding vows. It appears that instead of the traditional 'Til death do us part," some couples today are opting for these much less permanent-sounding alternatives:
- "For as long as we continue to love each other."
- "For as long as our time shall last."
- "For as long as we are together."
If you want to go that route, why prettify the language? Why not just say what you really mean? "Until I get sick of you," or "Until someone better comes along," or "As long as I'm not bored, inconvenienced, or unhappy."
Marriage is a life-long union of one man and one woman. Divorce happens and I understand that. That is evidence of the brokenness of creation. All of us children of Adam are sinful and do sinful things. In some circumstances, divorce may actually be the lesser of two evils. It can be very complicated. Divorce, when it happens in the church, should be addressed with loving application of Law and Gospel (Call to repentance and Absolution). Compassion must be shown to those whose hearts, lives and homes are broken. But to begin your life together publicly acknowledging that "hey, we're gonna give it a shot, but this gig may not work out y'know," is insane. What kind of commitment is that?
Human marriage is an image of the relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Holy Church. If I look in a carnival mirror, my face may be all elongated and distorted in funny ways. But thankfully, that's not how I really am. Honest. Human marriage, after being expelled from Eden, is sadly often a warped reflection of the beautiful thing it is meant to display.
What would our Lord's wedding vows sound like? "I will love you with an everlasting love," or "I'll stick this out until someone with shaplier legs saunters by?"
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