Alistair begg gay weddings

Does Alistair Begg have a indicate about gay weddings?

By Drew Berryessa, Op-ed contributor

A contentious debate among believers was reignited last week.

This firestorm erupted after advice from pastor and Bible teacher Alistair Begg surfaced, where Begg advised a grandmother that she should attend her grandchild’s wedding to a transgender individual. The advice came after Begg asked if the grandchild knew what the grandmother believed about sexuality and sin and if the grandchild knew that the grandmother could not celebrate the union. After the grandmother confirmed that, Begg advised her to go, take a gift, and demonstrate the loving kindness of God to those who are hostile to Him.

I am not at all surprised by the opposition he has received; this is a painfully familiar issue for me. 

Over a decade ago, my identical twin brother married another man. After much wrestling and prayer, my wife and I decided to attend the wedding.

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My reasoning:

  1. Christians must not approve of so-called homosexual marriage.
  2. Wedding attendance implies that the attender approves of the marriage (unless they "speak now" if and when the minister asks, "If anyone knows of a reason why these two should not be joined").
  3. Christians must not attend a so-called homosexual wedding ceremony.

Begg agrees with me at least on #1. He does not agree with me on #2.

I don't necessarily read this as crass pragmatism; he's not doing something he believes is necessarily wrong for a "greater good" of evangelism. He just doesn't believe it's wrong.

But I think when someone fails to understand premise #2, they reveal that they have a deeper misunderstanding of marriage. Marriage is a public institution: the church, the state, the parents, and the community, have all traditionally been involved in marriages because the wellbeing of the community depends on healthy marriages. It is not a private relationship. So when you gather at a wedding, it's not just to be glad for the couple's private happines

Alistair Begg recently said Christians should attend gay weddings. He said:

“Well, here’s the thing: your love for them may catch them off guard, but your absence will simply reinforce the fact that they said, ‘These people are what I always thought: judgmental, critical, unprepared to countenance anything.’”

His words made him a trending topic yesterday on social media. Some progressive “Christians” are using his words to make their LGBT-affirming stance appear more legitimate, and other Christians are denouncing him.

One of the people denouncing Alistair Begg said: “You have geldings like Begg, who can use decades in quiet, nice, respectable ministry, but inwardly be total cowards worthy of nothing but disgust. There is a desperation for men who act enjoy men to lead…Conservative evangelicalism is desperate for men to verb, but the pathways for men-as-men to climb their way to leadership are completely cut off to them from the initiate. The only way forward will be to have churches which incentivize masculine leadership from the get-go and that attract and train young men wh

I have never attended, or even been invited to a same-sex wedding. If I were, I would feel very conflicted, especially if it were of a close family member. Would I go?

This is a reality facing an increasing number of Christians who are committed to biblical orthodoxy and firmly believe that marriage can only be between one biological man and woman.

Alistair Begg, a Scottish pastor ministering in America, recently caused controversy over pastoral advice given to a grandmother invited to attend her grandchild’s wedding to a transgender person. He said it was matter of wisdom. Many have criticised him, and he has been cancelled from some ministry opportunities.

In an episode of his ‘Truth for Life’ podcast, Begg gave this advice: “Well, here’s the thing: your love for them may catch them off guard, but your absence will simply reinforce the fact that they said, These people are what I always thought: judgmental, critical, unprepared to countenance anything”. He added that, as long as the grandson knew she was not “affirming” his life choices, “then I suggest that