Should a Christian attend a gay wedding ?

[Hazelelponi]

Clergy being involved is not necessary for God to acknowledge that.

But isn't our own faith?

Why would God consecrate a marriage he wasn't invited to?

When two pagans are married and one is unsaved and the other finds Christ, if the one who isn't saved wants a divorce they can have one, Biblically.

But that's not the case with two who are Christian and know what marriage is.. divorce is special circumstance only.

There's something different when you invite God into the marriage covenant.

It's just... Different.

(This is as much experience for me as Biblical, since as a Muslim I was married to a Muslim and now as a Christian I have a Christian husband... And I can tell you the Spirit over the marriage is different...)

Edit to add:
The two questions I started with in this post are not rhetorical... I enjoy discussion here and want your answers)

 

[ralliann]

But it is not your sin.

God is Lord of our consciences.

Even if you choose to show love to a couple and attend the wedding.

I do not need to show love by attending a wedding. It is not loving to attempt to Lord over my conscience, to shame others. MUTUAL respect is not so mutual. The Lord is the Lord of my conscience and yours. Let it be so.

I don't think we are condemned for not celebrating homosexuality. They are just there, whether we agree with them or not. I only see folks condemn Christians when Christians interject themselves and judge or condemn gays. All our obligation consists of is responding yes or no on our RSVP to the wedding.

Alot of things are just there. Sin is just there (here, there, everywhere) Which Christ died for. I do not get all this loving stuff, except when one's conscience is different in the Lord on this one issue?

 

[ralliann]

But isn't our own faith?

Why would God consecrate a marriage he wasn't invited to?

When two pagans are married and one is unsaved and the other finds Christ, if the one who isn't saved wants a divorce they can have one, Biblically.

But that's not the case with two who are Christian and know what marriage is.. divorce is special circumstance only.

There's something different when you invite God into the marriage covenant.

It's just... Different.

(This is as much experience for me as Biblical, since as a Muslim I was married to a Muslim and now as a Christian I have a Christian husband... And I can tell you the Spirit over the marriage is different...)

Marriage existed in the very beginning. Male and female he created them and blessed them to multiply. Marriage therfore of natural law is known among all nations. Pagan, Christian, Jewish. And these various religions are distinct not in the matter of marriage.

Mt 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
An institution acknowledged in civil societies, from the beginning.
But Noah, a preacher of righteousness, warned them while God waited. He preached the way a man should go. All societies acknowlege marriage. It is the concern of civil government natural law.
It was a woman;'s father (or other male of the family, if father not able) Who gave here in marriage.

 

[Hazelelponi]

It is the concern of civil government natural law.

Hmmm.... That gives me something to contemplate a while...

 

[Brihaha]

Alot of things are just there. Sin is just there (here, there, everywhere) Which Christ died for. I do not get all this loving stuff, except when one's conscience is different in the Lord on this one issue?

This is the issue all of us reconcile. How do I show love for neighbors with whom I disagree? For some, showing love for the betrothed couple means avoiding the wedding to prevent discord. For others it's easy to support the couple because love and mercy trump judgment and condemnation.

 

[ralliann]

This is the issue all of us reconcile. How do I show love for neighbors with whom I disagree? For some, showing love for the betrothed couple means avoiding the wedding to prevent discord. For others it's easy to support the couple because love and mercy trump judgment and condemnation.

As far as I am concerned, we as Christians here are expressing our conscience on the matter. Granting that they may vary. The problem is the judgment going on to a brother here. I honestly do not think the Lord is pleased by it. Do you. I honestly could wish to agree with you, but sincerlely I cannot. My conscience is based upon Marriage and how I believe it was and is from the beginning. My conscience Is that many are ignoring that, and judging me because of it. God created MAN male and female. I do think this is a second creation story but The marital covenant man was created in to procreate in blessing. I am sorry we disagree, but we do.

 

[Brihaha]

As far as I am concerned, we as Christians here are expressing our conscience on the matter. Granting that they may vary. The problem is the judgment going on to a brother here. I honestly do not think the Lord is pleased by it. Do you. I honestly could wish to agree with you, but sincerlely I cannot. My conscience is based upon Marriage and how I believe it was and is from the beginning. My conscience Is that many are ignoring that, and judging me because of it. God created MAN male and female. I do think this is not a second creation story but The marital covenant man was created in to procreate in blessing. I am sorry we disagree, but we do.

I can agree that marriage between gays should have likely been created as a different social construct than marriage between heterosexuals. Like a GED and a diploma are different, but essentially equal in terms of law. But like Paul said in Corinthians, we'd need to leave this world to avoid its varied warped ways and proclivities. Gays are legally allowed to get married in America. I'm not judging you friend. I understand where you're coming from.

That serenity prayer has been an important tool for me in my recovery from alcoholism. I was forced to accept certain truths that denial and selfishness were preventing me from acknowledging. I wish you well today. Peace

 

[ralliann]

I can agree that marriage between gays should have likely been created as a different social construct than marriage between heterosexuals. Like a GED and a diploma are different, but essentially equal in terms of law. But like Paul said in Corinthians, we'd need to leave this world to avoid its varied warped ways and proclivities. Gays are legally allowed to get married in America. I'm not judging you friend. I understand where you're coming from.

That serenity prayer has been an important tool for me in my recovery from alcoholism. I was forced to accept certain truths that denial and selfishness were preventing me from acknowledging. I wish you well today. Peace

Thank you much. I don't Judge civil union. It is a tool to afford these persons the same benefits of "kinship" as male and female relationship. That is all. Marriage brought that element in naturally because of CHILDREN. So our spouse became mutual responsibilty in EVERYTHING. The two were vested in this way, that no others were because of CHILDREN. A household needing care and sustenance to thrive for it's own good. Ok, so gays want similar benefits with regards to their partner. Otherwise, making a separate contracts for each thing is avoided. Buying a home together, visiting rights when ill, medical decisions etc. all just come through civil union. That's it.

 

[ralliann]

I didn't claim you hate homosexuals.

But looking at this thread it seems clear to me that some here do, even if they don't want to admit it to themselves. We don't talk this way about other things, we don't say that a Christian can't buy their spouse a diamond ring because it condones the blood diamond trade and modern slavery. When was the last time you heard that being condemned?

But there's no shortage of words exchanged about homosexuals and trans people. Why is that? Why does it seem, at least from my own observations, that it is always someone else's sin that is the problem, and not our own?

Am I saying no Christian speaks against blood diamonds? No. Am I saying all Christians hate gay people? No.

But I am inviting all of us to really listen to our own words ("Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths" Ephesians 4:29), consider our own thoughts ("Holding every thought captive" 2 Corinthians 10:5), and take seriously the darkness of our own hearts ("The heart is deceitful above all else and desperately sick" Jeremiah 17:9).

-CryptoLutheran

Oh, but I don't call it a marriage. It is not what biblical marriage is. And it is an abomination in scripture. Am I condemning to acknowledge scripture here? They hate homosexuals, but just don't want to admit it? Are you reading their minds or hearts here? Could it then be said of you, you hate Christians that condemn homosexual acts? You just don't want to admit it? Is the Lord pleased with all this back and forth among brothers in the Lord?

 

[ralliann]

This is the issue all of us reconcile. How do I show love for neighbors with whom I disagree? For some, showing love for the betrothed couple means avoiding the wedding to prevent discord. For others it's easy to support the couple because love and mercy trump judgment and condemnation.

Love for neighbor can only be found by first loving the brethren. If we cannot first do that, how can we love another? Just my opinion on the matter.

 

[ralliann]

Some Christians of the time clearly thought not only that they had a choice, but the only acceptable choice was not to partake. Paul says otherwise.

What? What's the choice? To not defile the conscience of another?

 

[Brihaha]

Love for neighbor can only be found by first loving the brethren. If we cannot first do that, how can we love another? Just my opinion on the matter.

As Christians, we are supposed to hold each other to account regarding God's word. This is love, being honest with each other. If you feel condemned or judged, try putting yourself in a gay person's place one time. States are busy legislating against their rights and churches seem to single out their sins above any other.

 

[DamianWarS]

One thing I notice on this thread...

One camp proposes understanding that is drawn from Scripture - and the references are largely ignored by the other camp.

The Other camp leans heavily on experience which seems to lack concern for any reference to scripture at all.

This seems to be the rub.

What place does scripture have in understanding appropriate response to modern life ?

If we ignore it - are we not simply doing what seems right in our own eyes ?

Gagnon points to 1 Cor 5 as a response. I agree but lets use the whole thing not just up to verse 9... how about verse 10?

 

[ralliann]

As Christians, we are supposed to hold each other to account regarding God's word.

Yes we are. That is why God's word is being used on both sides.

This is love, being honest with each other. If you feel condemned or judged, try putting yourself in a gay person's place one time.

You think I have not? I have. I also have had plenty of sin in my own life. Can't repent of things you cannot acknowledge as sin. I simply do not wish to add this as well.

States are busy legislating against their rights and churches seem to single out their sins above any other.

Which are those?

 

[Aldebaran]

There may be a very good reason God has kept me from organized religion in America. I haven't been tainted by false doctrine and biased, flawed church practices. I would love to find a comfortable church in which to worship God. The sad thing I have discovered is there are far more compassionate, honest folks in my AA meetings than I encounter in my church visits. People who share a common character defect who understand that working together helps each of us. We don't need to view ourselves as superior, we are all equal in our suffering. And we all gain more by listening and understanding than we gain from criticizing or marginalizing people who are different.

The difference between your AA meetings and what certain people consider to be "DEI" standards for homosexuals is that those in AA meetings see alcoholism to be their common enemy to be defeated as opposed to celebrated.

 

[Brihaha]

The difference between your AA meetings and what certain people consider to be "DEI" standards for homosexuals is that those in AA meetings see alcoholism to be their common enemy to be defeated as opposed to celebrated.

How do you know that?
We cannot defeat our disease friend. We can merely keep it at arms length until we take the first drink of alcohol.

 

[Strong in Him]

No it would not make it right. You need to learn the difference between conviction of the Holy Spirit, and the condemnation of the enemy.

Are you implying that I don't?

Those of us who have actually read scriptures see that, being friends with the world is to be at enmity with God...How do you reconcile that?

And some of us who have read the Scriptures see that they say, love your neighbour as yourself, and love your enemies.

 

[Aldebaran]

How do you know that?
We cannot defeat our disease friend. We can merely keep it at arms length until we take the first drink of alcohol.

Ok, but whether it's to defeat a temptation to drink, or a resistance to do so, it's a far cry from embracing it as "who you are", and then publicly celebrating it. The equivalent to a gay "marriage" would be going to an AA meeting and announcing that you're throwing a drinking party at your house tonight, and everyone is invited. Those who refuse to come will be seen as hateful and judgemental.

 

[Aldebaran]

Are you implying that I don't?

And some of us who have read the Scriptures see that they say, love your neighbour as yourself, and love your enemies.

They also say something about loving God with all your heart, mind, and strength. Don't forget that part.

 

[ralliann]

How do you know that?
We cannot defeat our disease friend. We can merely keep it at arms length until we take the first drink of alcohol.

Just an aside. How long sober?