Featured Should a Christian attend an immoral wedding

Don't Be a 9Marxist

"Jonathan Leeman is the Editorial Director of 9Marks, and an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D. C."

 

But what an opportunity it'd give you to testify.

 

Your presence at any wedding is an endorsement of the marriage. If I could not endorse the marriage, I would not attend the marriage. If I did not personally believe that the two getting married would qualify under the biblical definition of marriage, I would not attend. No definitions needed.

 

Is it?

It you are correct, I need to interview the bride and groom before I attend any wedding in a series of meetings before I RSVP. I also need to run a criminal background and credit check on both bride and groom, so I can be assured that they are not making a big mistake.

What if if is simply standing with your friends at a very important moment in their lives, pledging support for the stability of the home?

If I attend the funeral of a person who committed suicide, does that make me an advocate of suicide? I have visited the religious meetings of a few cults, more than a few abusive churches, and a couple of meetings that turned out to have charismatic excess... does that indicate my endorsement?

 

A compromise suggested by Russell Moore, chief ethicist of the Southern Baptist Convention:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/southern-baptists-gay-community-break-bread-at-conference-1414691923

"What if you get invited to a same-sex wedding ceremony?" Russell Moore, president of the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, was asked on stage. "In that case, I would not attend the wedding. I would attend the reception," he responded. In that way, he said, a Baptist could say, "I love you and I'm here with you. I disagree with you, but I love you."

 

Why? If it's a bride and a groom it qualifies under the biblical definition of marriage.

Did God forbid criminals and/or fiscally irresponsible people from marrying? I guessed I missed that...

If they can biblically be married, go for it.

Apples and oranges. God did not ordain and establish the funeral ceremony. He did, however, the covenant of marriage.

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that you really can see the difference and not insult you by explaining the difference.

 

There are lots of men and women that marry, who should not marry. I don't approve (think it is a good idea) of many of them. Does that mean I won't attend or do things to undermine the marriage? Not at all.

Is the bond of marriage an important commitment that should not be entered into lightly? Obviously yes. Should people work to get their lives in order before they enter into marriage? They should.

My presence at a wedding does not mean I approve or endorse the union.

 

You would think so, but I often don't know much - if anything - about the bride or groom.

For instance, I am attending a wedding in the middle of October where I know the bride fairly well, but I have never met the groom since he lives in another city and they have only been dating about a year. I know nothing about him. I do know that the bride has been anxious to get married for several years, so I have more than a few concerns about the relationship.

My presence at the wedding and good wishes for their future does not mean I'm endorsing their relationship or their marriage.