A screenshot of a now-archived version of the Shepherd's Conference website shows Pastor Alistair Begg listed as a speaker for the March conference. Begg's name is no longer listed on the website.
Posted on 02/04/2024 8:56:15 PM PST by SeekAndFind
A screenshot of a now-archived version of the Shepherd's Conference website shows Pastor Alistair Begg listed as a speaker for the March conference. Begg's name is no longer listed on the website.
Pastor, author and Christian radio personality Alistair Begg continues to face fallout from comments he made in a podcast last year about advice for Christians and same-sex weddings.
Begg’s bio has been removed from the website of the Shepherd’s Conference, a ministry of Grace Community Church led by Pastor John MacArthur, following controversy over Begg’s advice for a grandmother about attending her LGBT-identified grandson’s wedding.
An archived version of the site from November shows Begg listed as one of the speakers after MacArthur and Desiring God founder John Piper.
The theme of this year’s Shepherd's Conference scheduled for March 6-8 is “Truth Triumphs.”
It wasn’t clear who made the decision for Begg not to participate. The Christian Post reached out to Grace Community Church for comment but did not receive a response.
Begg is also a guest lecturer for the Doctor of Ministry program at The Master's Seminary, which is run in partnership with Grace Community Church and where MacArthur serves as chancellor. It’s unknown whether Begg’s role at the seminary was also impacted by the decision to drop him from the Shepherd’s Conference.
The move is the latest in the backlash against the 71-year-old Begg, the senior pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, who's also the voice behind the radio ministry "Truth For Life," carried by nearly 1,800 radio stations nationwide.
In recently resurfaced comments Begg made in a podcast for "Truth For Life" in September, in which he discussed his new book, The Christian Manifesto, and touched on a specific question he said a grandmother asked him about her grandson, whom she said was "about to be married to a transgender person," and whether she should attend the wedding.
Despite the podcast being nearly three months old, Begg’s advice resurfaced on social media, leading to a controversy that ultimately led to American Family Radio (AFR), the radio ministry of the American Family Association, making the decision to "no longer air" "Truth For Life" after more than a decade.
After initially declining to comment, Begg addressed the issue in front of his congregation during his Sunday sermon at Parkside Church last week.
In the message, taken from Luke 15, titled “Compassion vs. Condemnation,” Begg warned about our “inclination toward Pharisaism” that is “alive and well within all our hearts.”
“In that conversation with that grandmother, I was concerned about the well-being of their relationship more than anything else,” he explained. “Hence my counsel. Don't misunderstand that in any way at all.
“If I was on the receiving end of another question about another situation from another person at another time, I may answer absolutely differently, but in that case, I answered in that way, and I would not answer in any other way no matter what anybody says on the internet.”
In his message, Begg also acknowledged the controversy threatened his ministry’s popularity and said if that’s the case, he would much rather “go down on the side of compassion.”
“If I’ve gotta go down on the side of one or the other, I’ll go down on this side. I’ll go down on the side of compassion, with people actually accusing me of just weakness, rather than go down on the side of condemnation, which closes any doors of opportunity for future engagement with those who know exactly what we believe about the Bible and about Jesus,” said Begg.
It is absolutely correct that we can slip into "Pharisaism" or self-righteousness when it comes to dealing with sins in other people's lives - we must strive to avoid that. Avoiding that attitude is a far cry from engaging in actions which condone the sinful activity, however, by participating in a ceremony honoring sinful behavior.
The author beats around the bush a lot. The closest he gets to what Begg said is a comment Begg made about why he said whatever it was he said.
That’s exactly how I read it as well. Thanks.
[incrementalism]
Exactly.
It’s how the Marxists work. It’s why every Democrat says “Democracy” instead of “Constitutional Republic”. It’s to subtly brainwash the masses.
It’s why we can not and will not remain silent.
It all started with the Enemy of man’s souls saying “Yeah, hath God not said....?”
“I didn’t quite see the guy’s “advice” but I’m guessing he told her to go. (obviously) - I was skimming and probably missed it.”
_____________________________________________________
You have to watch the video, linked in the article...if you want to skip to where he spoke more directly about what he said, start around 14 mins in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2bmFuA40T4
He twists himself and scripture into a pretzel attempting to justify what he feels and does. Quite weak.
Oh. Thanks!
Would Begg counsel.somebody to go to a “swinger” birthday party if invited?
How about being invited to an evening “boys night out”, bar hopping and going to strip shows?
Should the grandma go to her granddaughters bachelorette party with male strippers?
I would bet that Begg would not go to a party where the foods and evening were dedicated to Zeus.
How about going to a dinner where bank robbery loot is being distributed?
Sadly, Begg just got “punked”.
Why is it that folks who are putting a lot of time and effort into presenting their view of the world, removing others from speaking on their dime about stuff that does not match their agenda?
>> It is not “compassion” to endorse by your attendance and participation this mockery of marriage. That is not what “compassion” means.
100%!
While Jesus met sinners “where they were” with compassion — and thereby CHANGED them! — Jesus NEVER, NOT ONCE *celebrated* sin and evil.
And attending a gay or tranny wedding is precisely *celebrating* and *endorsing* sin and evil.
I see.
I thought there was one exception?
Well said.
I think if I were that Grandmother, I would handle it in this way…….
In a private talk with my grandson before the wedding day I would remind him that as a Christian I have no other choice than to renounce a sin that God so obviously points out in the Bible, so you must know that my heart is breaking to know what you are doing. That said, the fact remains that I am your Grandmother and my love for you is unconditional and forever. No matter what, I will always love you. That is something that we learn from our Heavenly Father, for He is like that. He sees us sin (me, you, everyone) and yet he still loves us. He hopes that one day we will want to ask his forgiveness for that sin and want to stop doing it. I want you to know that I won’t be coming to your wedding to condone or participate in a celebration of your marriage ….. I WILL be there to celebrate my deep and abiding love for you. I will probably cry, I always do at weddings, but this time let it be to remind you of that love and prayers for you.
I'm gonna try to straighten, because I've internalized this:
The Book indicates that you would be living the right doctrine if you illuminate the ERROR that others put forward.2 Timothy 3:16-17
16. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17. so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.1 Timothy 4:1-2
1. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.1 Timothy 4:6
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.1 Timothy 6:3-5
3. If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
4. he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
5. and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.Titus 1:11
They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.Titus 2:15
These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Now THIS is a loving Gramma!!
Not bad 👍
>> How is it a win-win if you compromise your principles?
Yep! Atheist that she was, I’m not a big fan of Ayn Rand... but her statement there is an absolute truth!
2 Corinthians 6:14 cf
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.
As God said:
“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the LORD Almighty.”
My wife listens to Allie Beth Stuckey’s podcast. Allie is a young lady with very good insight. She delves into hard topics like this often. She’s had guests who we into and escaped the homosexual lifestyle. They say that the people they respected and turned to when they had trouble were the ones who loved them enough to tell them they disagreed with their lifestyle. In other words, those who would not attend the “wedding.”
Alistar Begg is 100% wrong on this.
>> I WILL be there to celebrate my deep and abiding love for you.
Well and good, but regardless of the “understanding” between Grandma and Grandson, all the OTHER attendees of the homosexual wedding will see Grandma as a Christian at a homosexual wedding to thereby *endorse gay marriage*.
In other words, Grandma will cause them to stumble... bad news and not in accordance with GOD’s Word.
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