Posted on 01/26/2024 5:04:10 PM PST by Morgana
Last week, The Dissenter reported that Alistair Begg, a prominent pastor associated with The Gospel Coalition, urged Christians to not only attend homosexual weddings, but to also buy them a gift—a position that starkly contradicts the biblical view of marriage as a sacred union exclusively between a man and a woman. This alarming advice from Begg, a respected figure in evangelical circles including the late R.C. Sproul’s Ligonier ministry, represents a growing trend of Evangelical leaders to abandon sound Christian doctrine in favor of man-pleasing cultural orthodoxy. It is a glaring example of the moral compromise seeping into the church under the guise of progressive tolerance.
While Begg continues to state that he believes homosexual marriages are invalid and that homosexuality is wrong, by advocating attendance and gift-giving at such ceremonies, Begg not only disregards the scriptural condemnation of homosexuality but also encourages believers to participate actively in what is portrayed in Scripture as an abhorrent act to God. This is a distressing trend within certain evangelical factions, indicating a troubling drift from biblical authority and the command to flee from sin—not tacitly endorse it.
Yet, despite confrontation with other Evangelical leaders and lay people alike, Begg has doubled down on his position causing American Family Radio (AFR), who hosted his show, Truth for Life, to drop him after 12 years. AFR Vice President Ed Vitagliano along with American Family Association (AFA) Vice President Walker Wildmon, reached out to Begg’s team to ask for clarification or withdrawal of these statements. According to Wildmon and Vitagliano, Begg’s team defended Begg’s comments and said that he would be standing by them.
Now, let me just say from the outset, and then I’m gonna get Walker to join in here too, that the the two individuals that we talked with, as Walker and I with two individuals from Alister Begg’s ministry, they made it clear that Alistair Begg believes that homosexuality is wrong, he hasn’t changed that his views on that he does not believe that homosexual marriage is valid, and that the practice of homosexual activity is, as the Bible says, an abomination.
So all four of us were in agreement with that. But Walker, what we could not get them to change—and they said that Alistair Begg is not going to change his mind—was on the issue of whether Christians should attend because that is what Alistair Begg was saying. Yes, he was saying Christians should attend and bring a gift.
Yes, that’s right. And the goal of the call, and the goal of all Christians when approaching these issues should be reconciliation, but reconciliation and truth. And so that was our goal with a call with Alisha Begg’s team. And unfortunately, we didn’t get there. But we did press the issue multiple, multiple times. And we even asked point blank, “So are you guys stating that Pastor Alistair Begg is standing by his original comment? He has no regrets? He didn’t misspeak? He doesn’t want to further clarify? Nothing?” and they said, “Yes, he’s standing by his original comment.” So very disappointing.
AFA and AFR presidents also argued, as we did, that attending a homosexual wedding is, in fact, a tacit approval of the abomination and that there really is no escape from that truth. They gave the example of a man who wants to divorce his wife and marry his secretary. If this man were to ask one of them to be his best man, would you do so? According to Begg’s line of reasoning, the answer would be yes.
Let’s be clear, Begg has embraced an extremely dangerous teaching that if worked out to its logical conclusion, is a damnable heresy. Hopefully, he will see his error and repent, and hopefully, other influential leaders who surround Begg and his ministry, such as Voddie Baucham, Steven Lawson, and even John MacArthur, will press this issue with hm call him to repent of these statements. We understand that even the best among us can make mistakes and have blind spots, but the fact that he has now doubled down on these statements is extremely disturbing and not something his ministry partners should take lightly. We are grateful that AFR has done the right thing, and we agree with them that the goal is always reconciliation, but reconciliation in the truth.
I beat you by 2 minutes ... just sayin
Another disappointment. Sad.
You never know.
I think that has been true for a long time. But I have found myself saying it rather often recently.
Remember Ravi Zacharias? You never know.
Back to this Alistair Begg thing: Since AB is a person who communicates detailed and important information on a regular basis, I don’t think he has failed to explain what he thinks here. I think AB has failed to clearly see how faulty his own logic is on this matter.
Then screwups like this cause further scrutiny, because, many would wonder “since this is so far off from what is correct, where else might he be wrong?”
Sad sad SAD
Some people sincerely believe that supporting Trump is against their sincerely held religious beliefs.
agree whole heartedly....
aching with the disappointments that come most of the time now.
Lots of mainline folks believe that - ranging from PCUSA, ECUSA, ELCA, and UMC to Roman Catholics (likely including the Pope).
I’d like to meet those holier than thou people who don’t want to vote for a man for president because he’s not perfect. I don’t think that stance has anything to do with homosexual marriage.
I have been following this from its beginning. To summarize for folks who don’t want to read the whole article. Alistair Begg still believes homosexuality is a sin and does not recognize the legitimacy of homosexual “marriage”. He encouraged the woman to go to her grandson’s “wedding” only as long as he knew she did not approve of his lifestyle. Her attendance, as Alistair saw it, would not be an affirmation of the wedding. It would only show that she loved her grandson.
I still think it was very bad advice. There is no way people would not see it as affirmation.
A few years back, my wife’s daughter married another woman.
To say that I was flabbergasted when I found out she was gay and marrying another woman would have been an understatement.
I outright refused to attend the wedding or have anything to do with it. The pastor of the church we were attending at the time sought me out to discuss it. He felt that I should attend primarily for my wife’s sake.
Long story short, I reluctantly attended but only in support of my wife. I found it totally disgusting and a mockery of God’s plan of marriage. I will NEVER attend another gay wedding if I have anything to say about it. I ended up eventually leaving that church over it. My wife still goes to there, but I go somewhere that adheres more closely to the Word of God.
I started praying for that gay couple though. Three years later: divorce, but not before they had a little girl thru artificial insemination. These people are insane.
If you mean that Trump has much the same views as this man, you may be right.
I don’t hold that blinders will be an excuse, however.
I’m broadminded and non-religious. I believe if people want to bugger each other in private, it is their freedom, but they should clean their own sheets and keep it to themselves. It should not be condoned by law or religious institution. Certainly not promoted and encouraged by government.
Ravi was slandered. I’m friends with Nathan Zacharias, Ravi’s son, and am very familiar with inside information. You can rest easy knowing that Ravi was not a lecher, as has been alleged.
Your gut told you “no”.
Then you listened to other people and worried about what other people thought.
That was an error.
Trust your initial gut reaction—it will never steer you wrong.
I’m so glad they cut ties with that heretic.
Ravi did an amazing amount of good for the kingdom of God. I tend to believe your report, but even if he did sin, who among us does not sin? I only know of One. And He forgives, and wipes the slate clean. I fully expect to meet Ravi when I go home to be with the Lord, myself.
Ravi was not “slandered.”
“..Your gut told you “no”.
Then you listened to other people and worried about what other people thought.
That was an error.
Trust your initial gut reaction—it will never steer you wrong....”
Yep. Looking back on it, I now realize that it wasn’t so much as “my gut” telling me ‘no’. It was the Holy Spirit telling me ‘no’.
Yeah. I listened to other people instead of the Lord. I was concerned and felt bad for my wife (that was an attack by the enemy that I failed to realize).
I learned a lesson to trusting the Holy Spirit and to walk close with Him. He will never steer me wrong.
And He has confirmed that lesson to me many times since that incident.
Sometimes, maturing in the Lord can be quite painful and with harsh consequences.
You are claiming facts not in evidence
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.