Posted on 01/16/2026 3:55:46 PM PST by Morgana
Joe Thorn is the founding and Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in St. Charles, IL, which is a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. The author of the books Note to Self: The Disciple of Preaching to Yourself and Experiencing the Trinity, he has contributed articles to the ESV Men’s Devotion Bible, The ESV Story Bible, and The Mission of God Study Bible.
Along with writing at Joethorn.org, he’s been a regular contributor to For The Church and Ligonier, and has been featured on Founders Ministries and The Gospel Coalition.
This past summer, Thorn’s daughter, Katherine, ‘married’ her lesbian partner in a courthouse wedding.
Despite previously stating his opposition to homosexual ‘marriages’, Thorn and his family were in attendance, celebrating the event and taking pictures of the nuptials.
While Thorn declined to elaborate (at least on the record) his specific motivations and justifications for attending the wedding, he did tell us regarding his theology:
“My views haven’t changed since 1990. I believe marriage is, by God’s design, for one man and one woman. Same sex marriage isn’t biblical, and sex is designed to be experienced in the context of real marriage. This is my position and the position of our church.”
Notably, along with attending the wedding, several of Thorn’s children have been publicly celebrating the relationship, either by “liking” social media statuses of the couple hugging and cuddling, or commenting on it directly with statements like “Lgf” (“Let’s F****** Go” or “Let’s Freaking Go.” While their approval has been prolific, here are a few examples.
It’s not just his children getting in on the action, however. Thorn himself has “liked” several images related to the couple celebrating their romantic affection for each other.
And more:
And more:
Thorn declined to comment on questions regarding his motivations for ‘liking’ these posts.
Editor’s note. Our view at Protestia is that attending a marriage gives tacit approval, support, and celebration of the union. As a result, Christians should never attend.
Put another way, if you wouldn’t attend a wedding between two incestuous brothers, or a man and his 11-year-old child bride, you shouldn’t attend this type either.
pics on link..
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My wife and I were faced with this. Our foster son married a man. We did not attend ceremony but did make appearance at reception. They both know we don’t approve but they also know we love them and pray they someday embrace Jesus.
That is not a marriage.
A father attended his daughters courthouse wedding. I would have done the same. Shame on these folks judging him.
I salute you for your intelligent and loving response to something that must have been very difficult for you.
Not sure. It’s family. Maybe no marriage but reception. We had an issue with a baby dedication, child artificial to “married” lesbians.
Lost a bundle of worshipers on that.
Homosexuality is badly dividing churches and closing doors
Personally don’t think any pastor should “wed” these people. They have the Unitarian church or Methodists for this?
What’s a baby dedication?
He is a religious leader who leads and sets the example and he led in the wrong direction, his duty was to not attend.
The poster was referring to the legality. They clearly stated that they didn’t attend the ceremony, and that is adequate to communicate their opinion as to whether it was a valid ‘marriage’.
As it was in the days of Lot (Sodom and Gomorrah), so shall it be at the coming of Jesus Christ…
Same sex marriages are not recognized by God. Why would you recognize it?
It’s not hypocrisy when you don’t believe the Word of God and clearly, many in church leadership do NOT believe it or even know it.
The enemy is consolidating power in the seminaries and they are churning out apostates
Shame on your for celebrating sin. And I say that in the most Biblical way possible. The scripture is clear that those that commit sin AND those that celebrate it are both guilty.
👍🏻👍🏻🙌🏻
I think some guy once said, ‘But the greatest of these is Love’.
And one even more important stressed the value of the Spirit over the Letter.
I don’t think God cares if someone who may disagree with a child’s choice decides to be present at an important occasion for that child.
I think God cares about the impulse in the individual heart.
And I doubt He is going to look kindly on those whose first impulse is to judge and condemn.
If you are there with someone when someone commits murder, you’re an accomplice.
The same applies here.
Are you saying that a parent who attends his homosexual child’s wedding reception is a ‘murderer’?
That’s insane.
My son and his wife asked me to do their wedding, but told me they didn’t want any mention about God or anything resembling a bible verse.
I told them I would not do the service. I am a pastor, and not a justice of the peace. They are left-wingers and won’t even see me or acknowledge any attempt I have made to contact them. I haven’t seen my grandson in about seven years. He wasn’t even walking yet and has no memory of either me or my wife.
All this gay stuff is the divisive plan of the devil.
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