Can a Christian Attend a Homosexual/Trans Wedding?

Opening Banter and Recent Move to Billings

Welcome to the program ladies and gentlemen, my name is Justin Peters. I hope that this finds you and your family doing well today. I want to thank you so much for joining me for this podcast. First real briefly.

You might notice those of you who follow my channel that things look a little bit different. And that is because Kathy and I have moved from Bozeman, Montana To just outside of Billings, Montana, and so I'm still getting my new office set up here so that explains that.

Alistair Begg’s Comments on Homosexual and Transgender Weddings

Now on to the More important matter here the subject matter that I want to deal with it today and that is probably all of you who follow this channel by now have heard of the comments that Alistair Begg made in reference to whether or not a Christian should attend a homosexual.

Transgendered.

Wedding ceremony for those of you who may not know who Alistair Begg is. He is the pastor of Parkside Church in the Cleveland, Ohio area and he has been a faithful preacher of the gospel for many years is Reformed in his soteriology as a high view of God's sovereignty and salvation and Has been much loved and much respected and I have appreciated Alistair Begg over the years.

I've only met him once about oh as Of right now maybe about 14 months or so ago Jim Osman and I were in the area. They're doing some filming for the American Gospel film and We got to meet with him briefly then very gracious guy.

Very nice. He spent some time with Jim and me and we had a very nice conversation with Alistair But that is the that is the only time I've ever met him only time that I've ever had any Conversation with him at all and it was just you know, I don't know 15 or 20 minutes About 14 or so months ago.

So all of that as background Alistair has said to the surprise and shock of Many of us myself included that basically it is okay for a Christian to attend a Homosexual and or transgendered wedding now.

I want to I want to be completely fair in this.

And.

Difference, please do watch the entirety of this video shouldn't be too terribly long. But some of the most important things I'm going to say will be towards the end of this video. So, please do watch it all.

I'll try to put some time stamps there so you can navigate this a little bit more easily and quickly. He did say these things. I'm going to show you the clip or at least the audio clip of him saying these things but I also want to show you a Video clip of an interview where he dealt with the same issue.

Not the wedding ceremony specifically, but the homosexual Issue and you've heard the term conversion therapy. And so I want you to watch this video first. He was. I believe this was aired in June of 2023 just a few months before the more infamous Interview that is getting everybody's attention.

So watch this from June of.

2023 I'm gonna ask you a controversial question now if there was a conversion therapy ban in place in Ohio where you are and it was very broad and it meant that by urging an individual in your church to embrace the Christian sexual ethic You would be breaking that law.

What would you do Alistair?

Well, I think that that would be absolutely straightforward. I that you know the exception clause if you like, you know. Just for yourselves whether it's right for us to pay attention to you or to obey God.

We don't want to be hauling that out every 15 minutes. But in an instant like this instance such as that it wouldn't even be a question for me. I mean I'm facing that right now in many ways. I mean because the material that I've just done in the second half of Romans 1 You know goes out on the airwaves and I'm amazed or perhaps disappointed that it hasn't actually Reached into the the realm about which we're talking and we've been protected from that.

But I'm of the conviction that eventually unless this thing turns around Some pastor and hopefully it'll be a sensible soul will end up having to go to jail for Violating the commands of the state and of course the Scots as you know I have a very long history of doing that especially against Kings and authorities and not always.

Desirable, but nevertheless, no, it's not controversial to me. It's not even a question. The Bible is the Bible.

Amen, and amen. I agree with every word that he said. He said basically when it comes to this that's not even a question you don't even have to think about it. This the Bible is. What it is. The Bible says what it says.

And even if that means us going to jail Over that if that's what it means so be it we go to jail. Amen, and amen. Praise God for those comments. Which makes those comments what we're about to hear anyway makes what we're about to hear.

So hard to understand because what I just showed you was in July of 2023 and what you're about to hear was from an interview that he did or at least was aired in September of 2023, but it it didn't make any waves.

Apparently nobody really heard about it. Someone apparently found it and posted a clip and I guess it went viral to use that nomenclature and Here just a week or so ago, and it really started making the rounds.

So.

Yeah, so I'm gonna let you listen to this interview that he did that's causing all the controversy and then we'll discuss it and.

Why He Says Christians Should Attend the Ceremony and Give a Gift

In very specific areas this comes across. I mean you and I know that we field questions all the time that go along the lines of.

Okay, dear ones just a quick interruption. I stop here just because he said, you know, we're faced with questions like this all the time so what you're about to hear is Not an off-the-cuff comment, this is something that he has thought about in thought through.

My grandson is about to be married to a transgender person and I don't know what to do about this and I'm calling to ask you to tell me what to do, which is a huge responsibility. And in a conversation like that just a few days ago.

And people may not like this answer. But I asked the I asked the grandmother. Does your grandson understand your? Belief in Jesus. Yes. Does your grandson understand that your belief in Jesus makes it such that you can't countenance in any affirming way the choices that he has made in life.

Yes, I said well then okay as long as he knows that. Then I suggest that you do go to the ceremony and I suggest that you buy them a gift. Oh, she said. What? She was caught off guard. I said well, here's the thing.

You're not going to 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 and it is a fancy.

It is a fine line, isn't it? It really is and people need to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. But I think we're going to take that risk. We're going to have to take that risk a lot more if we want to build bridges into the hearts and lives of those Who don't understand Jesus and and don't understand that he is a king.

Dear friends, that is a terrible Terrible answer. I want to walk us through a few things here. Number one. I do not believe in homosexual or transgendered marriage. However, that would work and when I say I don't believe in it. I don't merely mean That I disagree with it, which clearly Alistair Begg does disagree with it.

That's abundantly clear. But I don't simply mean that I disagree with it. I mean that I don't believe in it. Like I don't believe in the tooth fairy. I don't believe in homosexual marriage like I don't believe in square circles.

There's no such thing. Marriage is God's creation. He gets to define it. Not you not me. Not any court. Not the United States Supreme Court. 2015 the United States Supreme Court codified into law what it calls homosexual marriage, but it's not marriage.

God defines marriage not the United States Supreme Court and God defines marriage As a committed union for life.

Between.

One man and one woman and anything outside of that Is not marriage not by God's definition, which is the only definition. So there's no such thing as homosexual marriage. Homosexuality is an abomination before God.

If you die in that sin You will not inherit the kingdom of God. First corinthians chapter 6 is very clear now. It is not the only sin that will send you to hell, but make no mistake about it. It absolutely will.

Send you to hell, uh, first corinthians 6 read romans chapter 1. The bible is not unclear. That homosexuality is an abomination before God and merit to call a union of of two homosexuals or transgendered whatever.

Uh.

To call that a marriage or to call it a wedding that is to mock God That is an makes an open mockery of marriage. It is it is open mockery of God himself. And there is no scenario in which a christian in good conscience Could attend a ceremony That is a deliberate and intentional mocking Of God.

And stay silent. There's no way for a christian to do that. No way for a christian to do that. Romans 14 verse 22 says blessed is a man who is not condemned by what he approves. Dear friends. We are condemned Not only by our own actions, but also the actions of others that we give Approval to.

And I understand that allister said well as long as the Transgendered person understands that you don't agree with what he's doing. You see whatever you don't agree with that grandson. I guess as long as he understands that your faith in christ Prohibits you from agreeing to that Then it's okay to go to the ceremony.

And to even give a gift.

Dear friends.

To attend. A ceremony that is an abomination before god is tacit approval To that ceremony. You cannot attend that ceremony and remain silent about it.

And not.

And not see that as tacit approval of it. It absolutely is. And then.

As if.

It couldn't get any worse. Then he says Give a gift to them. To give a gift in honor Of a of a ceremony that makes a mockery of marriage and makes a mockery of god himself. To give a gift in honor of that.

Dear friends that is approval. That is tacit approval. There is no way To put lipstick on that pig. It is hopelessly incongruous to say I don't approve of this, but i'm going to attend it. Not object to it and even give a gift in the honor of it, but I don't approve of it.

That is.

Hopelessly.

Incongruous.

What if your.

Child or your your son or your grandson were to come up to you and say uh, i'm going to i'm going to Run this online scam and i'm going to swindle old people Out of their money with one of these online scam things, you know.

Where I sell them gift cards and get their bank account number all that you've probably seen some of that. Uh, what if you were to say well son. Uh, I um, I don't approve of that. I I don't think that's right.

That's wrong. But I will sit right beside you At your computer and watch as you do it.

No.

Of course not. Of course, you wouldn't do that because to sit there in silence and watch your son do it Is to give tacit approval to it. What if your son said Uh dad, i'm i'm kind of short on cash and i'm really strapped right now.

I'm going to go rob a liquor store. Would you say? Well son, I don't agree with that. There's better ways an honest way to make your living but I don't agree with what you're doing, but i'll drive the getaway car.

No, of course not. What if your son were to say dad? I you know, I I feel like a woman and i'm i'm going to go have.

Um.

Gender reassignment surgery and i'm you know. Would you give would you say well son? I don't think that's a good idea, but let me drive you to the hospital. No. No, you wouldn't do that. That is hopelessly incongruous.

Blessed is the man who is not condemned by what he approves and beg says that that is a. If you don't go then that will just entrench them. And what they believe about christians that they're close-minded and judgmental.

But if you do go you might uh, you know catch them off guard with your love. Dear friends that is not love. Standing there sitting there in the pew or whatever as this abomination. Before god this mockery of god goes on and to sit there.

That is not showing them love at all. The most loving thing you can do for someone in that situation in any situation is to tell that person the truth. You tell them the truth and you trust god with the results, whatever those results are being there.

In in sitting there in silence is not love. In fact, dear friends the bible defines love for us. Does it not first corinthians chapter 13 verse 6 specifically says love does not rejoice in unrighteousness.

But rejoices with the truth. Giving a gift in honor of something that the bible explicitly condemns. Is the definition of rejoicing in unrighteousness? It is not love. And some people might say well, what if you go to the.

You know the homosexual wedding and you go in hopes of Speaking the truth to someone you go in hopes of evangelizing them. I would say no not under any circumstances. Do you do that a? You don't have to go to a homosexual wedding.

To find someone to witness to. You don't have to do that. Walk around your neighborhood and you can find someone to witness to. You don't have to go to give another example. You don't have to go to a nude bar.

To find lost people, right? I mean walk out your front door. You're going to run into a lost person in pretty short order. You don't have to do that to be a witness the only way. The only way that I would ever attend a the ceremony of a homosexual wedding would be as if I knew with 100 certainty.

That there would be a time in the.

Service.

Where the whoever's doing it would say If there's anyone here who has any objection any reason as to why this these two people Uh should not join themselves in holy matrimony speak now or forever hold your peace.

You may have heard that line. Preachers used to say that I don't think they even say that anymore. But if I knew with 1000 certainty that that would be said I might go. Just to have the opportunity at that point to stand up and say I object.

Here's why I object. This is an abomination before I would say it in front of everybody. This is an abomination for before god. And then I would give the full crystal clear gospel. And call everyone there including the couple to repent.

And then I would walk out if i'm not thrown out first. That is the only conceivable scenario. But you you have no way of knowing that you would have that opportunity in all likelihood. You're not because I don't think preachers even say that anymore.

I think that's a Something they said in a bygone era. I don't think they do it anymore. So you'll never have that opportunity. So in other words Don't go. Don't go. There's other opportunities to share the gospel without Attending something that is an abomination before god and speaking of the desire to be a witness the desire to share the gospel.

What does it say not only to the to the couple but everyone else? And in attendance at this ceremony. And everyone in a wedding ceremony, I mean you're there for a reason you're there because you know that couple, right?

You're either a family member or you're a friend. That's why you're there. And so when everyone else at the ceremony Sees you and they know you profess to be a christian. But you're just there kind of mingling and attending and not saying any not one syllable of protest.

They're going to assume Well, here's a christian and he and he or she is there right here at this homosexual transgendered wedding. What kind of testimony is that? It's a horrible Horrible testimony. And what about our witness to god?

Dear friends, how can you attend something? That is an abomination to god and sit there silently. What does that say to him? I could no more Attend something like this and sit there silently. I couldn't do that any more than I could attend the execution of a brother or sister in christ who's being executed simply because Of their faith in christ.

I couldn't sit stand by idly at that Silent at that not in a million lifetimes. And I could no more Sit silently at a homosexual wedding than I could sit silently as one of my brothers and sisters in christ is being executed Simply for their faith in jesus.

You know, the only measure that we have of our love For god is our obedience to god. Our love for god is not measured by feelings and emotions because feelings and emotions come and go they ebb and wane.

If you want to know how much you love god ask yourself this question. How much do I obey?

God.

Jesus said he who has my commandments and keeps them obeys them. He is the one who loves me. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. So if you want to get an idea of how much you love god Just take some spiritual inventory.

Look at your life. How much do I obey him? How much do I obey him not when it's easy. But when it's hard. And then to give a gift in honor of that. I wouldn't give a gift to the men who Burned hugh latimer and nicholas ridley at the stake in oxford england in 1555.

These men were burned at the stake simply because they stood on the gospel and stood against The roman catholic church and all of its heresies. They stood on the gospel salvation by grace alone through faith alone in christ alone.

I would no more give a gift in honor of a homosexual wedding than I would present a gift To the men who burned hugh latimer and nicholas ridley at the stake several days ago I Wrote a letter to Alistair begg as I said at the beginning of this video.

I've only met him once. Uh, I don't have his phone number. I don't have his email address. I don't have any of his contact information. All I know is his is where his church is. So I wrote a letter and addressed it to to alistair begg care of parkside church and address and mailed it.

And it's there's been enough time now. He certainly should have received it. Whether or not his eyes have seen that letter I have no idea but I was going to wait and give him time to To see if he would respond to me in some way.

I gave in the letter. I gave my cell phone number and email address and all that. Uh, and I.

I.

Lovingly begged him to rethink this and come out and um and and clean up his mess and apologize because this is this is this is not just a matter of Conscience. This is a sin issue. I believe his advice I truly believe is sinful advice and I asked him to please rethink this and come out and publicly uh repent of this.

In hopes that maybe he would but then uh, just yesterday I saw the story where the american family association And the american family radio, which is the afr american family radio is the radio branch of the american family association and they carry Alistair begg's program.

And his program is carried around I think about 1800 different radio stations nationwide through afr, however that works and um. So they contacted Him now from what the article says, in fact, i'll put the link down below in the article.

You can read it for yourself if you haven't already uh, it's from what I gather from the article, they were not able to talk to him personally, but uh afa the higher-ups at afa did talk to some of alistair begg's staff and they asked begged alistair begg to recant this.

And um, he's not going to uh, there is agreement between afa and alistair begg that it is a homosexual Wedding is a is a sin. Homosexual marriage is sinful. I would say it doesn't even exist, but they they they agree that it's sinful, but He apparently is standing By and doubling down on the advice that he gave tragically.

Sadly.

And so when I saw that I then realized it really doesn't matter. Whether or not he sees my letter.

Um.

It doesn't matter because he's already been confronted. And I am sure he has been confronted by many many others as well because a lot of people a lot of people Have been shocked by this. Uh. He knows That it's caused an awful lot of controversy and confusion and yet he apparently has no No plans on on changing.

He's only doubled down. So, um, and if if he wouldn't If he wouldn't repent, uh after being confronted by afr and having his radio program drop from 1800 different stations Then he's certainly not going to change his mind.

If he ever sees my letter and whether or not he's seen it I have absolutely no idea. So, um Dear friends that those are my thoughts. I I think that's this is horrible advice. It's unbiblical advice profoundly profoundly disappointing and because of this I It breaks my heart to say this because of this I can I cannot in good conscience recommend.

Allister's.

Ministry. And that pains me to even say that but I I can't. This is egregious error. This is sinful advice and um there's. There's no way I can at this point. Nor could I in good conscience sit under his preaching?

So I I hope and pray that at some point he will come out and he will repent of this. I truly hope and pray that he does. So, uh as we conclude dear ones, let me let me throw out a couple of other scenarios dealing with weddings.

Some people might have These questions. What? Can a christian attend a wedding ceremony? Of two non-christians.

Yes.

Yes, marriage is one of those things. You can call it a common grace of god, but Whatever term you want to give to it, but marriage is god's institution. He defines it one man one woman.

And.

When two non-christians get married. They are in fact married. It's not the ideal marriage, of course, because they're not believers but but they're married nonetheless, so when two Muslims get married.

They're married. When two hindus get married. They're married. Two mormons get married. They're married. Will they inherit the kingdom of god? No, not if they don't repent before they die. They won't but they are married.

So I could attend the wedding ceremony of two non-christians. I could do that.

Um.

Could I attend the wedding ceremony of a committed? Professing christian to someone who is. Who does not claim to be a christian? No, I could not I could not do that. Because the bible is clear. We are not to be unequally yoked.

Uh as a christian you are free to marry whomever you wish to marry as long as that other person is a fellow believer in christ.

Um.

But if if if you're a christian and you Knowingly marry someone that is not a christian. This person does not profess to be a christian then biblically You cannot marry that person in good conscience.

So so if it were say let's say you have a son and your son Definitely professes to be a believer. But he's been dating this girl who is not a believer and then they get engaged. And your son says dad, um, I propose to sally sue and we're going to get married.

Uh. Our our wedding is going to be in in three weeks. We want you and mom to be there. Could you be there? No, what I would counsel you to do is say son. You can't do this. You're a christian. You're a believer.

You cannot marry an unbeliever. You'll be unequally yoked. Uh, and if your son says well dad i'm in love with her, you know, i'm we're gonna get married then if you've confronted your son and he chooses to remain in that sin and chooses to With forethought go down this sinful path and marry an unbeliever in violation of god's word then Then in good conscience, I do not see how you could attend That wedding.

Because your son would be knowingly with forethought sinning against god. And that's not something you could give your blessing to.

So, uh.

And it would be a reason for you to see your son as a as an evangelistic prospect because If he goes through with that that's forethought sinning with forethought and that's not a good indication That he is actually a believer.

So he himself may be a false convert. So you want to see him as an evangelistic prospect. All right, dear ones. Uh. One final thought one final thought. When it comes to witnessing to homosexuals. Some of you have heard me say this before I witness to homosexuals the same way that I witness to anyone else I give them the gospel.

I don't have to drill down on their homosexuality. I've witnessed to a lot of homosexual people I mean most of the not all the time most of the time you can tell. But I share the gospel with them the same way that I would with anyone else.

Will their homosexuality send them to hell. Yes, but they've got 10 000 other sins that will also send them to hell. And so you don't necessarily have to drill down on the homosexuality. You just give them the gospel and if god saves that person through the gospel then guess what goes away?

The homosexuality will go away. They will move from first corinthians chapter 6 verse 9 To first corinthians chapter 6 verse 11 when paul says such were some of you. You were those things you were an idolater.

You were a fornicator. Excuse me. You were a reviler. You were a swindler. You were a drunkard. You were all these things. You were a homosexual. But you're not anymore. You were washed. You were sanctified you were justified.

So those things pass away. The only time I would drill down on homosexuality. When i'm witnessing to someone is if that person professes to be a christian and also Admits to being homosexual at the same time then I drill down on it.

Uh, there's no way a christian can attend a homosexual wedding in good conscience. Stand your ground don't go. On any level do not go. And you know what.

If.

By god's grace, he saves one or more of those people involved in that wedding ceremony. If he saves them later um, and they're made new creatures in christ. Uh, then they're going to remember, you know.

My.

Grandfather who wouldn't attend my ceremony my wedding ceremony to.

Um.

Now I get it. That's going to be a powerful testimony To those people and um, that's what we should pray for and want. All right, dear ones. Uh, this is one of those videos. I never thought I would have to do.

Um, But I hope it has been helpful. And I know a lot of people out there have been wondering well, what's justin think about? Alistair beck because I see a lot of comments and uh, Uh, i've received some emails, you know, what do you what do you think just what do you think?

I haven't done the video. Uh I have not done this video because I was hoping to hear a response from alistair. But at this point since he's doubled down with afa afr. It's a moot point doesn't matter.

So I wanted to do this.

I.

Didn't want to but I needed to felt like I owed it to you and um. Wanted you to know where I stand. All right, dear ones. Thank you very much for watching. Until our next time together. May the grace of our lord.

Jesus christ the love of god and the fellowship of his holy spirit. Be with you all.