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Should married Christians wear wedding rings?

Should married Christians wear wedding rings?
Fall Apologetics Culture

TL;DR:

The Bible doesn’t require wedding rings, but they can publicly symbolize a Christian’s commitment to marriage. In cultures where rings signal “married,” wearing one communicates that commitment.

what does the bible say?

Wedding rings are culturally specific displays of marital status, not universal symbols. Additionally, even in the United States, their use has changed, as men did not begin wearing them regularly until the last 50 or 75 years. Therefore, Scripture does not require their use. However, it provides principles to guide a Christian couple in their use. First, marriage is sacred (Hebrews 13:4). Rings don’t protect the marriage. A man and woman working in unity to honor God does (Ephesians 5:22–33). That should be at the heart of this decision. Second, believers are witnesses to the world (1 Peter 2:12). Since wedding rings in the West signify marriage, a Christian must consider whether not wearing them sends the wrong message about marriage’s significance. Third, practically speaking, not wearing a ring signals, “available.” Christians should consider the possibility of increased temptation toward infidelity as unaware people flirt with them. Additionally, those who assume availability may misunderstand one's meaning during normal conversation. The Bible does not prescribe rings, so Christians are not required to wear them. But as a society-standard display of marriage, the message sent by not wearing them also deserves consideration.

from the old testament

  • God established marriage to be between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Married believers most need to be careful to represent God’s design for marriage rightly. Wearing rings is not prescribed, but in the West, it is a key distinguishing mark of a married versus unmarried individual. Thus, they still have theological significance.

from the new testament

  • Because marriage is to be a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman, any sexual activity outside of that damages the marriage. For example, Hebrews says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” (Hebrews 13:4). Wearing a ring doesn’t protect the marriage bed, but in the West, they signal to others that an individual is unavailable. A ring can help minimize temptation to infidelity by warning off others.
  • Believers are called to be witnesses in the world. A large portion of 1 Peter discusses how believers are to live in public as Christians (e.g., 1 Peter 2:12). The goal is that the unbelieving world might come to know God (1 Peter 3:15). Rings won’t save anyone, but they are a public display showing that one considers marriage sacred. They also display one’s commitment to one’s spouse.
  • The key to honoring God in marriage is not the rings but living out God’s design for marriage. Ephesians 5:22–33 is particularly instructive in showing that marriage represents Christ’s relationship with the church. Publicly displaying one’s marriage and then living righteously before those who know one is married helps reflect God’s theological design for marriage.

implications for today

Society is at war against God’s design for marriage. That fight ranges anywhere from endorsing same-sex marriages to promoting polyamorous relationships to championing infidelity. Additionally, large portions of society have come to view marriage as a temporary arrangement that is useful for a time but can (and should) be terminated when one wants to “move on.”

Scripture requires nothing of believers to wear wedding rings. However, it encourages Christians to think carefully about what not wearing a ring may signal to the world in cultures where wearing a wedding ring is the most commonly recognized symbol of marriage. Wedding rings can, then, be one way Christian couples signal and display their biblical marriage to the world. Therefore, they can function as much as a theological symbol as they do as jewelry.

So, since Scripture doesn’t require wedding rings, we shouldn't either. However, Christian couples are urged to strongly consider the theological implications of wearing or not wearing their rings. If they prefer not to use them, they may want to consider alternative ways to display their marriage publicly. That way, the watching world can still learn through them what God-honoring marriage looks like.

understand

  • The Bible does not prescribe wedding rings, but it does offer principles on whether Christians should wear them.
  • Because wedding rings in the West publicly signal marriage, they carry theological significance as a display of one's commitment to God's design for marriage.
  • Wearing a ring is a wise decision, but one grounded in biblical principles of marriage, faithfulness, and Christian witness.

reflect

  • How does thinking of your marriage as a public witness to God's design shape your thinking about something like rings?
  • How do you communicate to the world that you consider your marriage sacred?
  • How does the biblical call to live above reproach shape the practical decisions you make about how you present yourself as a married person?

engage

  • How does the comparison of marriage to Christ and the church in Ephesians 5 elevate the stakes of how Christians publicly represent their marriages?
  • What biblical principles should guide a Christian's decision-making when Scripture says nothing about a specific symbol, but culture has infused it with particular meanings?
  • How should Christians balance the importance of the heart with the reality that outward symbols can communicate meaningful messages to others?

More Resources

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