By Fawaz Adebisi
Apostle Johnson Suleman, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, has recently cast doubt on the traditional Christian marriage vow phrase, ‘for better for worse.’
This commonly recited vow has been a staple in wedding ceremonies, particularly in Nigeria.
In a tweet shared via his former Twitter account, posted on a Saturday, Apostle Suleman raised the question, “Who first coined the cliché ‘For better for worse’?” He further remarked that “almost all weddings are marked by this recitation, and we have collectively embraced it as a norm over the years. The passage of time doesn’t equate to legality.”
The clergyman proposed an alternative phrase, suggesting that ‘for worse’ should be replaced with “in all conditions of life.”
He argued that declaring ‘worse’ during the inception of a marriage was not suitable.
It’s essential to note that this perspective represents his personal opinion.
Christian marriage vows, as outlined in the Bible, do not specify particular phrases or wording, according to him.
However, he stressed that couples desiring a Christian wedding often request that the pastor or officiant incorporate vows into the ceremony.
He said that while certain Bible verses relate to love, marriage, and weddings, they are not obligatory for believers.
Nonetheless, various churches provide their own marriage vows for couples to recite during the union.
Among these, the most prevalent includes the ‘for better for worse’ clause, which has ignited discussions among contemporary Christians for an extended period.
This conventional vow typically reads: “I, [Name of Couple], take you, ___, as my lawful wife/husband, to cherish and uphold from this day forth, in all conditions of life, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
