“Many Christians will have differing answers to this question and various arguments.”
That’s ridiculous. If EVERYTHING is up to the various opinions of “Christians” then Christianity has no real definition.
Real Christianity means following Jesus, which means keeping His commandments. Jesus showed love and compassion to sinners, and He honored God and family through things like attending a wedding. But when the religious leaders defiled the sacredness of the temple courtyard, He was physically violent. He did not go there and show them how tolerant He could be.
Is there ever a case where a follower of Christ could be at a “homosexual wedding”? Maybe as a police officer there on official business when responding to a murder. Maybe for a firefighter who is there to rescue people from a fire. But to celebrate? There is not even any debate among real followers of Christ.
“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.’”
Why? While technically the Bible does NOT forbid Christians from eating with homosexuals who do not profess to be Christians, these are people who are not merely the victims of sin, they are openly embracing it and rebelling against the laws of God that they KNOW. They are acting in stubborn rebellion and pride.
But there are homosexuals who claim to be Christians. I met a lesbian couple once who actually were telling me about how to be a Spirit-filled Christian. One of them was drunk and nearly stepped out into oncoming traffic, and she narrowly missed being killed by it were it not for me yelling for her to stop.
The Bible makes it clear not to fellowship with, including social eating, professing Christians who we know are engaging in an immoral sexual relationship. See 1 Corinthians 5:11.
Whenever Jesus encountered someone who was unrepentant and proud, He directed them to the laws of God. He did not placate them. He openly declared to the world that its works were evil. And this is why the world hated and still hates Jesus.
This attempt to show how compassionate, tolerant, and caring we can be as Christians is really a mask for wanting to be accepted by the world. Real Christians are going to be rejected by the world, ultimately.
A Christian can not conduct himself in a manner superior to the example Christ gave us. If the world hates Christ, it will also hate the Christian.
“Christians” who attend “homosexual weddings” are not being like Jesus. They are being like Lot’s wife. Remember her? Jesus warned that the last days would resemble those of Sodom. He warned about the dangers of conducting ourselves as Lot’s wife did.
well said!