Would You Attend a Same-Sex Wedding? {ans by Joel Osteen}

Christian Post ^ | 18 Oct 2011 | R Albert Mohler

[Cronos]

Would you attend a same-sex wedding ceremony? That question was posed recently to Houston pastor Joel Osteen, and Osteen said that he would attend, if the wedding involved friends. This came just after Osteen indicated that he could not perform a same-sex marriage ceremony, since he believes that homosexuality is a sin.

I recently wrote about this exchange, suggesting that Osteen’s position is morally and theologically incoherent. As I said:

This is beyond mere incoherence. It is moral and theological nonsense. More than that, it is a massive statement of ministerial malpractice. . . . You cannot celebrate what you say you know to be sin. You cannot honestly say that same-sex marriage defies the law of God, and then join in the celebration of that ceremony.

In recent days, Uri Scaramanga of “Out of Ur” and Leadership magazine posed the question to readers, using my comments as a point of reference. The question: “Is Al Mohler right? Is attending a same-sex marriage ceremony the same as performing one? Is it ministerial malpractice? What would you do?”

The responses to that question are revealing. I did not, however, argue that attending a same-sex marriage ceremony is the same as performing one, I did say - and I repeat - that it is incoherent and inconsistent to refuse to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony, and then to attend one.

[stuartcr]

???

[Popman]

No

[Belteshazzar]

se ohio young conservative wrote:
“im not going to tell them they are worthless and cut off all ties. im a sinner myself.”

I’m not trying to stir up trouble here, however, no sensible person is going to “cut off all ties.” No Christian is going to deny that he or she is “a sinner myself.” Those are givens. But there is a goodly piece of ground between being “nice” and in so doing condoning - intentionally or not - what is clearly wrong and cutting off all ties. I know several gay (and I do not even like that term) people with whom I am still on good terms even though I have spoken the truth to them about the wrongness of what it is they are doing. Of course, there are also a few who chose to base their entire self-identification and self-worth in their being gay. There is little to be done in such a situation when a person’s view of him- or herself and the world around them is so narrow and self-absorbed. It would be the same thing for the guy who runs off with his secretary and leaves his wife and children. And one could list many other such things that at one time with frowned upon generally, but today are either winked at or openly accepted.

It is a sad and deteriorating situation that can be changed only one person at a time, one doing and saying right - gently, kindly, and yet firmly - and the other accepting correction in the spirit it is given. Believe it or not, sometimes it really does work. But only if it is attempted.

[longtermmemmory]

that in no way requires you to attend homosexuals “wedding” nor does it obligate you to invite them to any events on holidays.

[DejaJude]

No.

[Mrs. Don-o]

No, and I wouldn't attend the "re-marriage" of a divorced person, either. This actually came up involving a good friend. I told Donna (call her Donna) that I loved her dearly but I could not celebrate a re-marriage after divorce because it would violate my Catholic faith.

She said that other Catholic friends were attending, and I was obliged to make the point a little stronger. "Donna, if they are Catholics they know that a valid marriage creates a permanent bond. You have never claimed that your (25-year)marriage with Ted was never a valid marriage from the git-go. I have nothing against you personally, or your fiancé. But I can't witness an invalid attempted second marriage."

No raised voices, no accusation, nothing of that sort. I just stated something I am convinced of: the reality of the marriage bond which only death can loose. That was the end of the discussion.

And it's the same as the "gay marriage" question. No raised voices, no harsh words. But the attempted marriage would not be a valid marriage,so it's not something I can witness.

[stuartcr]

Sorry for the repeats. Happens when I use my mobile. Don’t know what you meant.

[bella1]

agree

[LonelyCon]

I faced a similar question when my cousin decided to marry a divorced man. I did go to the wedding because I love my cousin and I want to remain part of her life and be a good example to her, even though I believe she and her husband are living as unrepentant sinners and their marriage was a violation of God’s law.

[bjorn14]

I have an uncle who is homosexual and it would be a no brainer for me not to attend his wedding. Just like I don’t attend baby showers of unwed mothers.

[Mrs. Don-o]

See mine at #66.

It seems to met that you can express love and a desire to be an ongoing part of that person's life, without pretending to "celebrate" the breaking of God's law.

A person who loves YOU, would not insist that you violate your conscience. Public approval is one way of participating in the sin. It makes one an accessory or accomplice.

You don't have to lecture them on moral law as long as they know, calmly and simply where you stand. That doesn't mean you stop showing them love. Inviting them over for dinner, for instance, is a way to express care for them as people, without publically affirming their irregular union.

[rollo tomasi]

Heck no and for the same reason I did not attend my brother's second wedding to his adulteress; both types of "weddings" are a testament to depravity and weakness.

A festival of faggotry is just as pathetic as a same sex ceremony as well.

[GenXteacher]

“Your church may call this an abomination, I can’t call it that.”

Actually, God called it that:
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination”
- Leviticus 20:13

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

” For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
-Matthew 5:18-19

[GenXteacher]

Nope. I would simply say that my religious beliefs forbade my attendance and let it go at that.

[DejaJude]

But the truth does not have to spoken with anger, self-righteousness, or contempt. It should be spoken humbly, lovingly, and in the fear of God. For finally, all are sinners before God, who so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son. There is forgiveness also for this sin. In other words, God is deadly serious about sin and its reward, but He is just as serious about the forgiveness that He sent into the world in the person of His Son, the One who was “delivered up for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.”

My daughter and son-in-law continue to pray for them, treat them as neighbors (errant though they may be) and simply lead their own lives as Christians. To which I can only say, “Amen.”

I believe you and your daughter and son-in-law have the correct position on this issue. Be they neighbors, friends or family members.

[fwdude]

First, Pat Robertson sez that Alzeimers is a “form of death” and now Olsteen sez this. There must be something in the air.

First, Pat Robertson has almost always been a loon.

Oh, yeah. Joel Osteen, too.

And that's not a slam on biblical Christianity.

[dfwgator]

Robertson and Osteen are nothing but two-bit hustlers.

[fwdude]

We even plan to share a plot at the cemetary when the time comes.

I think his time might be coming a LOT sooner than most people. But hey, that's what love is, right?

[CodeToad]

I wouldn’t want to go see some queer hump a farm animal, either. Same thing, really.

[fwdude]

Your daughter and her husband are salt and light in this world, something becoming quite rare. What they have done may very well have an enormous impact on their homosexual landlords, while “going along to get along” may have confirmed them in their sin.