Marriage in a Church (take 2)

[blovedwolfofgod]

I read the question that on PMer had about being married in a church. I read the answer and it only seemed to say that it had to be in a church. I was wondering if there was theological reasons, practical reasons, or if it was tradition. I know marriage should be in a church, but I dont know the reasoning behind it and I was curious as to why it had to be in a church.

[BLAZEr]

The reason is both theological and symbolic. You can have a marriage outside of a church, for valid reasons (such as a terminal spouse in the hospital or if you couldn't be assured of personal security in a church such as is the case in Communist China or Saudi Arabia).

A marriage is between three people. The man, the woman, and God. This marriage is witnessed in front of the WHOLE church, which is represented by the people in attendance as well as the symbolic building, which represents the whole church.

That a marriage is contracted inside of a Church is the concrete assent to what marriage really is, which is a relationship to help build the Kingdom of God.