Should a Christian attend a gay wedding ?

[Hank77]

The Marriage Covenant that God gave to man is based on old Hebrew wedding customs.

If I remember correctly the first description of a wedding is between Isaac and Rebekah found in Genesis 24.

62And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. 63And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. 64And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 65For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. 66And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 67And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

There were no traditions like you speak of, those came much later. Men and women do like to doll things up and add to simplicity. It's rather like when they weren't happy with God's justice system of judges, they insisted on having a king like the Gentile nations did.

 

[Divide]

but all of these stem from a character flaw created by traumatic experiences, selfishness, lust, and peer pressure.

I think it might go deeper than that. I believe that all sin, as well as all sickness, can be traced back to the original sin and the Fall in the Garden of Eden. Sin corrupted the flesh and the entire earth.

That's what caused mans heart to turn to wicked and deceitful, and later on...mankind learned to use these excuses for their own selfish lusts.

 

[Divide]

There were no traditions like you speak of, those came much later. Men and women do like to doll things up and add to simplicity. It's rather like when they weren't happy with God's justice system of judges, they insisted on having a king like the Gentile nations did.

Did I say that wrong? Sorry. The Hebrews did not invent Marriage and give it to God, God invented it and gave it to man, lol. And of course later it was layed down and prescribed and turned into Tradition. I think the actual Marriage contract is called the Ketuba.

 

[ralliann]

Did I say that wrong? Sorry. The Hebrews did not invent Marriage and give it to God, God invented it and gave it to man, lol. And of course later it was layed down and prescribed and turned into Tradition. I think the actual Marriage contract is called the Ketuba.

I think the ketuba distinguishes from a concubine.

 

[Strong in Him]

Whoa. I don't believe you said that. Marriage is not a Reigious event?

I didn't. I said,

A wedding doesn't have to be a religious event or in a church.

And I'm sorry, but that's true.
Christians obviously want their wedding to be in church, before God using the wedding service, or appropriate liturgy.
If a couple are not Christians, they may not want all that and they don't have to have it. The celebrant at a wedding does not have to be a vicar or ordained Minister.
As I said, my cousin had a humanist wedding, they had poems read, they made their vows and signed the register. It's all valid and legal.
Ditto with my niece who was married in a converted barn with a ceremony lasting 20 minutes. In law, both couples are married.

 

[Benjamin Müller]

I think it might go deeper than that. I believe that all sin, as well as all sickness, can be traced back to the original sin and the Fall in the Garden of Eden. Sin corrupted the flesh and the entire earth.

That's what caused mans heart to turn to wicked and deceitful, and later on...mankind learned to use these excuses for their own selfish lusts.

Agreed. It's because man chose to take of the knowledge of good and evil and decide for himself right and wrong and boot God out of our lives. It's lack of the Holy Spirit working in people which has caused corruption, sin and every perversion alike.

 

[Divide]

I didn't. I said,


And I'm sorry, but that's true.
Christians obviously want their wedding to be in church, before God using the wedding service, or appropriate liturgy.
If a couple are not Christians, they may not want all that and they don't have to have it. The celebrant at a wedding does not have to be a vicar or ordained Minister.
As I said, my cousin had a humanist wedding, they had poems read, they made their vows and signed the register. It's all valid and legal.
Ditto with my niece who was married in a converted barn with a ceremony lasting 20 minutes. In law, both couples are married.

Wouldn't that be holding man's traditions to be over the word of God?

Do you have any scriptures which support your stance?

 

[Strong in Him]

You believe that a sexual attraction to children is that's how they are. I don't see how anyone can repent of that.

No, paedophilia is about adults choosing to abuse children. Adults are old enough to know right from wrong. They may be attracted to kids; they
will be arrested and jailed if they act on it.

Someone who is gay will probably know from an early age that they don't fancy people of the opposite sex - they may even feel repulsed at the thought of being kissed by them.
They do not choose that; just as you and I did not choose to be heterosexual. In fact, there is little about our bodies and circumstances that we can choose. We can't choose if our parents are married, involved in a cult, use drugs, have criminal records, are rich, or very poor. We can't choose to be born able bodied, with all our limbs and chromosomes in tact. We can't choose our eye colour, who we will look like, who we will take after and what likes and dislikes we will have - and we can't choose our sexual orientation.

If being gay was a choice, then those who live in countries, or belong to faiths, where it is illegal, could simply choose not to be that way.
They can't - and some would rather end their own lives than have their family find out and be disowned, or worse. I know, because I speak to some of them on the phone.

 

[Brihaha]

i don't think anyone is denigrating people, but we need to call sin for what it is, an offense that we need to deal with it, or have dangerous risks.

OK, sin is ubiquitous among humans. Every one of us does it occasionally. My bible teaches me to deal with my own sins and repent them in order to do God's will and gain eternal life in heaven. It doesn't tell me to judge pagans and their sins. It tells me to love others as I love myself.

If we were actually celebrating sin at weddings we attended, and that celebrating sin is wrong, we couldn't attend any weddings because the bride and groom are sinners too.

People are dealing with this, albeit in a counterproductive and judgmental fashion. Compassion, respect and tolerance seem reserved for the people who hide their own sinful proclivities well. I have never seen folks boycott and whine about adulterers, criminals, liars and other troublemakers having the audacity to invite people to their weddings. Singling out one particular sin is judgmental and hypocritical. According to James 2:13, God will not show mercy on those who haven't been merciful. And that mercy triumphs over judgment.

I don't agree with gay people getting married. It's different from marriage in my view. It seems to marriage what a GED is to a diploma. Yet it involves two people celebrating love. And in the eyes of the law, it is equal to marriage. If it bothers one to attend a gay wedding, don’t go. But if one decides to attend, he should show respect for the couple and not ruin the joyous occasion of others with personal hang-ups.

I think homosexuality is a test for all of us. It's certainly a test for those born that way, and it seems to be a stumbling block for those with faith as well. Judge not lest you be judged doesn't seem heeded by God-fearing folks as often as it probably should. I am still learning in my faith, as most believers learn throughout our lives. I know I am not above other sinners and shouldn't judge them, unless they are part of my group (church, family etc). And that is only to keep each other in line with God's word. My own proclivities keep me busy enough without worrying about condemning everyone else's shortcomings. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned. James 5:9.

 

[ralliann]

I didn't. I said,


And I'm sorry, but that's true.
Christians obviously want their wedding to be in church, before God using the wedding service, or appropriate liturgy.
If a couple are not Christians, they may not want all that and they don't have to have it. The celebrant at a wedding does not have to be a vicar or ordained Minister.
As I said, my cousin had a humanist wedding, they had poems read, they made their vows and signed the register. It's all valid and legal.
Ditto with my niece who was married in a converted barn with a ceremony lasting 20 minutes. In law, both couples are married.

Wedding is an event which comes from God's word in scripture. We used to call "holy matirmony". This is the problem. Taking terms which are biblical "holy" and dismissing them out of hand. So as Christians should we do that? Or should we retain their original meaning?

 

[SavedByGrace3]

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV
13. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

So either God is in fact NOT faithful to give you an escape from this temptation, or this temptation is NOT common to man.

But you have to want to escape. Indulging yourself and making up excuses why it is ok for you to do what scripture clearly says is sin is not seeking the escape route.

 

[Hank77]

No, paedophilia is about adults choosing to abuse children. Adults are old enough to know right from wrong. They may be attracted to kids; they
will be arrested and jailed if they act on it.

Isn't true that paedophiles are sexually attracted to children?

Do you believe they were born that way?

Do you believe they can't help having the attraction to children that they do or do you believe that there is some other cause for this attraction?

 

[Divide]

If being gay was a choice, then those who live in countries, or belong to faiths, where it is illegal, could simply choose not to be that way.
They can't - and some would rather end their own lives than have their family find out and be disowned, or worse. I know, because I speak to some of them on the phone.

Oh, P'shaw! It isn't anything more than a spirit of Lust. Have no choice, Lol! The Lord Promised that He will not put upon you more than you can bear...does Strong in Him believe this? If you have some scripture which exempts gays from that, I'm living to hear it!

 

[Hank77]

I think the actual Marriage contract is called the Ketuba.

Yes, it is.

 

[Strong in Him]

So it's more about the party and gifts than God? Isn't there a term for that?

For some non Christians it might be.
My husband's family are not Church goers, nor Christians - yet they have all had their children baptised.
Now God can certainly use that. It was, in fact, how my husband came to faith; he felt that, as he had been baptised in a church, he should learn something about the faith. His sisters didn't think that. And further down the line those children may be curious, or be drawn back to the church. But that wasn't my point. At the time the parents chose to make those vows before God, they didn't believe, and probably knew they had no intention of taking their children to church.

People accept and agree with what is going on whenever they remain silent after the Pastor says...if there is any here who thinks they should not be Married speak now or forever hold your peace?

The Pastor/Minister does NOT say "if anyone thinks they should not be married ....." They say "if anyone knows any just cause or impediment ...." = legal reason. It's not a question of "if you don't think it is a good idea/your morals will not allow it, speak now."

That must be why I've never attended a gay wedding! That's a tall order, forever hold your peace. If you did keep silent, would God say you agreed to it? God's opinion is the only one that counts.

But the fact is that if you did go to a gay wedding, spoke up and said "yes, I know a reason - it's wrong", that would not be a reason to stop the wedding.

If you are in a country where gay marriage is legal, the only thing, I think, that could stop a gay marriage from taking place is if one of the couple were already married and not legally divorced. Opinion, personal morals and Bible passages would be very unlikely to stop a ceremony - unless there were so many people who caused disruption that it was briefly halted until they had been removed.

Oh but it's ok, it's not really a God thing, bill & bob are tying the knot to legitimize their relationship and to not live in sin anymore...????? That, Sister, is nonsense! God can not just be cut out of this one service here...Vows don't even count for anything?

Sorry, but it is a fact that people do not have to make their vows before God before they are considered to be legally married. And if a couple don't believe in God, they cannot be forced to do so. There are non Christian celebrants who are registered/accredited by law to perform marriage ceremonies. Couples who choose this are still legally married, entitled to financial benefits and have rights if one person dies suddenly.

Yes, God gave marriage - but not everyone believes that. Just as not everyone believes that Christmas is about God coming into the world, or Easter Sunday is about Jesus conquering sin and death. Not everyone believes that God made the world, in fact they may not even believe in God, attributing everything to "fate" or "luck."
We can't force Christian standards and understanding on those who don't believe.

 

[ralliann]

For some non Christians it might be.
My husband's family are Church goers, nor Christians - yet they have all had their children baptised.
Now God can certainly use that. It was, in fact, how my husband came to faith; he felt that, as he had been baptised in a church, he should learn something about the faith. His sisters didn't think that. And further down the line those children may be curious, or be drawn back to the church. But that wasn't my point. At the time the parents chose to make those vows before God, they didn't believe, and probably knew they had no intention of taking their children to church.

The Pastor/Minister does NOT say "if anyone thinks they should not be married ....." They say "if anyone knows any just cause or impediment ...." = legal reason. It's not a question of "if you don't think it is a good idea/your morals will not allow it, speak now."


But the fact is that if you did go to a gay wedding, spoke up and said "yes, I know a reason - it's wrong", that would not be a reason to stop the wedding.

If you are in a country where gay marriage is legal, the only thing, I think, that could stop a gay marriage from taking place is if one of the couple were already married and not legally divorced. Opinion, personal morals and Bible passages would be very unlikely to stop a ceremony - unless there were so many people who caused disruption that it was briefly halted until they had been removed.


Sorry, but it is a fact that people do not have to make their vows before God before they are considered to be legally married. And if a couple don't believe in God, they cannot be forced to do so. There are non Christian celebrants who are registered/accredited by law to perform marriage ceremonies. Couples who choose this are still legally married, entitled to financial benefits and have rights if one person dies suddenly.

Yes, God gave marriage - but not everyone believes that. Just as not everyone believes that Christmas is about God coming into the world, or Easter Sunday is about Jesus conquering sin and death. Not everyone believes that God made the world, in fact they may not even believe in God, attributing everything to "fate" or "luck."
We can't force Christian standards and understanding on those who don't believe.

Adam and Eve.........
Ge 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Did their belief or unbelief have any bearing here?

 

[Strong in Him]

Oh, P'shaw! It isn't anything more than a spirit of Lust. Have no choice, Lol! The Lord Promised that He will not put upon you more than you can bear...does Strong in Him believe this?

As this is addressed to Christians and is referring to temptation, or testing; yes, of course I do.
That is not what being gay is about.

Can you prove that we do have a choice about our sexuality? Were you asked, at the age of 6 months, 18 months or 3 years whether you wanted to choose to have a boyfriend, or a girlfriend? Did your hormones lead you to fancy people of the same sex and you told them that that was wrong and you were choosing not to listen to them? Have you had the experience of being strongly attracted to someone of the same gender, and finding that that person makes you happy? If you have, you can certainly choose not to give in, tell the other person you can only be friends, leave town so you don't have to see them again, even go to church and beg for help. But you wouldn't have been able to stop the attraction in the first place.
That is also true of heterosexual couple who are married and one of the couple is attracted to someone else. You can't help, or stop, the attraction; you can choose not to act on it.

 

[Strong in Him]

Oh, P'shaw! It isn't anything more than a spirit of Lust. Have no choice, Lol!

You can LOL and mock this all you want - I am telling you that there are some people who are gay, whose family/faith/society tell them that they shouldn't be and who would rather end their lives rather than be punished, ostracised or imprisoned. You don't have to believe me - it doesn't change the facts.

Dismissing their distress as "a spirit of lust" is unkind. If you haven't walked in their shoes, don't judge.

 

[Strong in Him]

Adam and Eve.........
Ge 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Did their belief or unbelief have any bearing here?

It doesn't say, "and in order to cleave to their wives they have to go through a full Christian ceremony, performed in church by a vicar".

 

[Strong in Him]

I think it might go deeper than that. I believe that all sin, as well as all sickness, can be traced back to the original sin and the Fall in the Garden of Eden. Sin corrupted the flesh and the entire earth.

Yes - sin messed everything up, including sexuality.
I said that.