Many families and individuals are under the impression that they can take a vacation not only from work and school but church as well.  A common mindset is that, ‘I can take the whole week off—including Sunday!’  This, however, is a misguided understanding of vacation and especially worship on the Lord’s Day.

Few people are aware that the government of France has a department dedicated to the preservation of the French language.  This department monitors the use of language throughout the country.  Their desire is to preserve the French language from deterioration.  For example, if other nations and cultures dilute the French language with foreign words, then the people of France begin to lose their identity as a people.  They are no longer marked by their unique cultural heritage but instead bear the marks of mass marketing.  For example, many words within our own language are not actual nouns but name brands.  Today’s words were often yesterday’s brand names: Kleenex used to be tissue, Coke used to be cola or soda, White Out used to be correction fluid, Jell-O used to be gelatin, and Band Aids used to be adhesive bandages.  Due to the power of mass marketing, companies have literally changed the American lexicon and have influenced people to be walking advertisements.  This trend is not limited to the secular realm but has also found its way into the Church.

The idea of internships often brings up negative connotations—images of employees passing off their work load upon an unsuspecting intern so they can relax and take it easy.  Perhaps it conjures up ideas of making the intern perform menial tasks, such as retrieving dry cleaning and washing cars.  While there are certainly many who abuse internships, it is important that we understand why Geneva will have a pastoral intern this summer.  Far from promoting sloth, a pastoral internship plays an important part in building the Church.  Let us explore the importance of a pastoral internship by examining, the nature of the church, the importance of training pastors, and the need for church to work towards building the Church.

Why must a man and a woman make a vow to one another in a public wedding ceremony in order to be married? Why can't a couple pledge their love for each other in private? Are we indentured to a cultural tradition or is there a biblical principle at work?

Ultimately, what underlies the wedding ceremony is a promise or an oath that the betrothed make to one another. They both promise to love one another until death separates them. This oath is taken in the presence of God and the church to hold the couple accountable to their promises. But what does a marriage ceremony have to do with church membership?