How should prayer be done at a wedding when the in-laws are Muslims?
Question:
Hello,
I have a friend in our Bible study group whose son is getting married to a gal who converted to the Christian faith a couple of years ago and has been immersed, but her family is Muslim (except one brother). The couple, both in their early 30s, chose to have a garden wedding instead of a traditional church wedding. They did so out of concern for the bride's family who is coming from Afghanistan and are all Muslim. The groom's father asked our study group for advice and prayer about what to do at the rehearsal dinner. The concern is praying before the meal in Jesus' name, as he feels he should, but not wanting to intentionally offend the bride's family members who he won't meet until the weekend of the wedding. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Answer:
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
Jesus and his disciples taught that there is only one faith (Ephesians 4:4-6). That faith is not the faith of the Muslims, who came hundreds of years later. While I would not suggest purposely causing problems, such as serving pork at the reception, at the same time there is no reason to hide the truth that Jesus is the Christian's Lord and Savior.
Prayers overheard by Muslims and Jews which mention Jesus would be offensive to both groups, but it does change the fact that Christians follow Christ.
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38).
