Sadly, I’ve seen several otherwise ‘solid’ individuals claim that attending a gay wedding (like Karen Swallow Prior has said she would attend under the right circumstances) or a gay wedding reception or after-celebration (like Russell Moore has said he would attend) is a matter of Christian liberty or “Christian conscience.” Is it? Is it really? Very sadly, it was reported to me today that a pastor in ARBCA has stated that attending the wedding or reception was a matter of Christian conscience (I’ve not confirmed that, and I’m skeptical).
I believe so strongly that celebrating sodomy or the profaning of marriage is not a matter of liberty or conscience that my church membership passed (unanimously, by the way) a bylaw making the attending of a gay wedding or celebration result in immediate church discipline.
Any member of this church body, officiating or attending a non-heterosexual and monogamous “wedding” or wedding-related reception or celebration shall be subject to discipline according to our policies already set forth in church bylaws.
Why does attending a gay wedding or celebration warrant church discipline?
1. Attending a gay wedding or celebration is a tacit approval of the sin taking place there.
Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. – Romans 1:32
Unless one attends the wedding for the explicit purpose of standing up to object when the “minister” says, “If anyone has a reason these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace,” they are giving a tacit approval of sin. To attend the celebration afterward in which the sodomite couple is putting cake into each other’s mouths, opening presents brought for the “warming” of their home, and receiving them as a couple (hence the term, reception) is to approve – at least at some level – of what is happening there. To attend a wedding in which people are given the opportunity to object, for you to remain silent, is affirmation of the proceeding.
2. Attending a gay wedding or celebration is to affirm there’s something taking place that is not abominable or unholy. Chiefly, it is to call good, evil and evil, good.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! – Isaiah 5:20
In an article at Huffington Post, megachurch pastor David Anderson wrote that it was not sinful to congratulate the LGBTQ “community” for the Supreme Court ruling. Anderson said on CNN, “Congratulations to all those in the LGBTQ community who are celebrating the marriage equality decision by the Supreme Court today.”
Who could not see that as affirming homosexuality? Anderson continues…
I made it clear, respectfully, that I would not perform a same-sex marriage, as I believe it goes against my understanding and convictions of the scriptures. That said, Gracism demands that we, as followers of Jesus, reach out and engage the gay community, building bridges to one another as God has built bridges to us.
Riiiight. Gay marriage “goes against [his] understanding and convictions of the Scripture.” And yet, he can still tell homosexuals “congratulations” on their knew “right” to be married? Like all those who would attend gay weddings or celebrations, Anderson is affirming their behavior by his actions – actions, which by the way – always speak louder than words.
Hey pedophile, while I don’t officially agree with you sodomizing that young boy, I just want to say “congratulations” for getting away with it. Who would say that’s not affirming and approving?
3. Attending a gay wedding or celebration demonstrates a double-mindedness we do not demonstrate toward other sins.
[4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:4-8 ESV)
Would you accompany a mother getting an abortion, while being in disagreement, in order to show her “support”? Divorce parties have become a thing, as of late. Would you attend the divorce party of a loved one, in order to show your support and unity or to “be there” for family? I mean…what if it was close family that was getting divorced, “marrying” a homosexual, or getting an abortion? No. Hopefully, anyway, you would see that attending these functions would be a reproach to your savior, and your close proximity to the one in sin doesn’t make your tacit support for their sin any more acceptable to God. In fact, the Scripture speaks clearly to this.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:26
If God finds something detestable, abominable, and wicked, how can we expect our attendance or “moral support” at such a function to be taken as anything but affirming approval (even in spite of saying otherwise)? Furthermore, since when did Christians start providing “moral support” for sin in the first place?
This has to be our line in the sand. We will not attend to watch or celebrate your abortion. We will not attend to watch or celebrate your pedophilia. We will not attend to watch or celebrate your spousal abuse. And we will not attend to watch or celebrate your profaning of marriage.
Stand fast, beloved. The world is falling all around us. There’s nothing great about the Great Apostasy. Don’t bend your knee.
[Contributed by JD Hall]
