Posted on 04/24/2018 9:50:02 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Someone asks "I have friends who are gay and planning a wedding. They know my beliefs on homosexuality — that it is not God's creative design. I'm expecting to receive a wedding invite anytime. What should I do?"
Tim writes:
These are tough questions — at first glance. What do I mean? One could agonize over such a question, but I believe the follower of Christ would recognize that he or she has one loyalty — to Jesus Christ. That means doing what the Bible says.
I could refer to that text about not being unequally yoked — meaning a believer should not marry a non-believer, but there's a more basic argument here.
A wedding is a God-ordained event. Genesis 2:21ff reads, "So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man."
Notice that God Himself brought the woman to the man. God is pictured as the father of the bride.
Many Christians will have differing answers to this question and various arguments. I do not believe a Christian should attend such a wedding for this basic reason ... this is not a "get-together" or a social event. God Himself is being called on to oversee this solemn event and those in attendance are "witnesses" of it.
Remember, God ordained this holy event.
That's my answer. Having said that, I am not opposed to inviting the couple to a dinner at a local restaurant sometime later where I treat them to a meal. Why? There is no theological conflict here and such a meal would provide an opportunity to enjoy the meal and conversation. This is in my thinking a way to say "I value each of you as persons and appreciate your friendship."
This keeps the doors of communication open.
There is no need to discuss why you did not attend the wedding; place the focus on the present time — a meal and fellowship. If there are pointed questions from the "couple," "why did you not attend the wedding?" deflect them with a bright smile and something like "we wanted to enjoy your presence in a smaller setting." Then move the conversation in a different direction.
You want to keep the lines of communication open while honoring Christ. It can be a fine line to walk, but it can be done — because "with God, all things are possible."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tim Wilkins is the creator of the conference MORE THAN WORDS which focuses on walking (versus talking) people out of homosexuality. MORE THAN WORDS has been conducted across the United States among various denominations. Tim's expertise in this area of ministry stems from his own freedom from homosexuality some thirty years ago. He advocates people turn down the heat on the issue and turn up the light. www.crossministry.org
definition of reception - “a formal social occasion held to welcome someone or to celebrate a particular event. “a wedding reception””
What’s to welcome or celebrate?
Bmk
No. And devout is a movable feast I’d think. None of us are worthy, and you work everyday to make yourself worthy even though its not possible.
That invite would end up in the trash and ignored. A gift or card is acceptance.
Attend a Black Mass? No.
Do as you please but the church is a hospital for sinners, not a waiting area for saints.”””
Gross oversimplification. How many of those sinners hold up their sins as a basis for life or a lifestyle?
The video has most of it in text along with closed captioning.
NO!
Still, the answer is especially NO.
No. As the article states, a wedding is a God ordained event. A wedding, with the initial concept designed by God, can only be between and man and a woman. Anything else is not God ordained. God wants man transformed to Him, not conformed to the world. A gay wedding is an oxymoron. It is not happy, nor is it a wedding.
My Wife and I attended a lesbian wedding.
The Priest cried.
____________________________________________
They were that ugly, huh?
well said!
Many Christians believe that Halloween has satanic undertones.
Apples and oranges, and you know it.
I understand.
No. It is an implicit endorsement.
Jesus dined with sinners. He also told sinners to go and sin no more.
Socializing generally is entirely valid; effectively proclaiming this a genuinely God-pleasing union is not.
No, more like tangerines and clementines.
Gay "marriage" and straight "marriage" with a second "spouse" while your valid first spouse (or partner #2's valid first spouse) is still living, are both cases of attempting marriage with someone you are not, per the Holy Scriptures, eligible to marry.
No.
So, what was Moses, a tangerine or clementine?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.