Question
Why can't I have "Love Me Forever" or my favorite Barbra Streisand songs at my wedding?
--"To die for" in Tampa
Answer
Perhaps the best way to address this question is to make a comparison with another ritual activity.
Sports and other professional activities begin their game with the Star Spangled Banner. Other popular patriotic songs are not used because of the ritual which has been standardized by society. Another response is to say that popular music creates images which congregations associate with unrelated meanings. "Church music" has been written specifically for the ritual, drawing the scripture, presidential prayers, and theological meanings together.
Some popular songs do use scripture as a reference. However, as mentioned above, the most appropriate place for "secular" songs is at the reception.