Unholy union

Today, I attended a wedding for the first time in two years. It felt refreshing and different because everything about the process seemed new to me. From the exchange of vows to the prayers, the entire ceremony was a learning experience. We danced with the couple, gave offerings, and celebrated their union in the church.

After the church service, we moved to the reception, which was in a building just next to the church. The hall was well-decorated, and everyone seemed excited to continue the celebration. Drinks were soon distributed, and that’s when things took an unexpected turn. To my surprise, the main drink being served was beer. I couldn’t believe it. Just a few moments ago, we were praying and celebrating in a sacred space, and now beer was the drink of the occasion.

What shocked me the most was the way the drinks were being shared. A man sitting beside me was almost forced to take a bottle of beer even after politely refusing. The person sharing the drinks told him, “This is not the church,” as if that justified the behavior. The man boldly declined again, clearly uncomfortable with the pressure. It seemed like there was no regard for God and the occasion we had just witnessed in the church.

It was heartbreaking to see how quickly people could switch from a place of worship to such casual disregard for the values we were celebrating. I left the event disappointed.