The General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has expressed concern over a popular phrase in Christian marriage vows. Especially as seen at many marriage ceremonies in Nigeria.
“Who invented the cliche ‘For better for worse’?
“Almost all weddings are ‘plagued’ with that recitation, and we have all accepted it as a norm over the years. Longevity is not legality,” Apostle Suleman wrote on his X handle on Saturday.
The cleric stated that the phrase be changed. He said: “I feel the right word should be ‘in all conditions of life’..
Not declaring ‘WORSE’ on a home at infancy. My opinion.”
A search through the scriptures show that there are no specific marriage vows stated in the Bible that must be taken by Christians during their wedding ceremony. However, many couples desiring a Christian wedding ceremony often request the presiding Pastor/Bishop or officiating ministers to incorporate marriage vows for them.
Most churches have also ‘crafted’ written marriage vows given to couples to recite during their joining. The most popular of the marriage vows, which has the ‘for better for worse’ cliche, however, has been a topic of discussion for ages among modern Christians.
The popular vow reads: “The vows: “I, [Name of Couple], take you, ___, for my lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”