More on Alistair Begg and Same Sex Weddings
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Begg's error is symptomatic of the pragmatic worldview that elevates evangelism over glorifying God.
Christians use the "room for disagreement" argument on just about every moral and ethical issue, leading to weakening of the backbone.
Wally Morris
Huntington, IN
My reasoning:
- Christians must not approve of so-called homosexual marriage.
- 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...").
- 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 show 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 happiness, but to recognize the beginning of a new household, a new social unit, where they've left their parents to cleave to each other.
From what I've read, Begg gets it that true marriage is between one man and one woman. But he doesn't get it that marriage is the business of the community, and so people who attend a wedding ceremony without speaking up are implying overall approval.
Michael Osborne
Philadelphia, PA
Christians use the "Jesus ate with sinners" and "Christian Liberty" arguments to defend a wide range of associations and behavior. But having lunch with a homosexual in order to explain the gospel and help him is VERY different than attending his wedding. Begg, for all his expertise in exegesis, does not understand that.
Wally Morris
Huntington, IN
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