Should christians attend a gay wedding

There is no doubt that you, as a Christian, ought to place a high priority on preserving and maintaining a positive relationship with the family member in question. To do this, you need to find consistent ways of expressing and demonstrating your love for him or her. Some would contend that a Christian should have no qualms about attending a gay wedding and that one’s presence at a gay wedding does not necessarily indicate support for the homosexual lifestyle.

Rather, they view it as extending Christ’s love toward a friend. A Christian attending a same-sex wedding would be living as a hypocrite, affirming a same-sex marriage when they don’t believe the ceremony is legitimate. If the couple prefers you live authentically, then they should honor your decision to decline to attend, without expressing contempt towards you.

With that clarifying comment, we can address the question head-on: Why would a Christian feel conscience bound not to attend or participate in a gay wedding? It’s not because of bigotry or fear or because we are unaware that Jesus spent time with sinners that leads us to this conclusion. “Suppose a Christian could attend a gay wedding and somehow communicate clearly that he is supporting only the individuals getting married and not their lifestyle.

Should I attend the same-sex wedding of a family member? This is a dilemma I never dreamed I'd face, and I'm agonizing over the decision. I don't want to destroy a relationship or forfeit my opportunity to have a continuing positive influence in this person's life. At the same time, I can't help feeling that it would be wrong as a Christian to validate and celebrate what I regard as a sinful event — an event that grieves the heart of God.

I'm not being judgmental; I just want to do what the Lord wants me to do. Can you help? But the cultural implications, as important as they are, pale somewhat in comparison to the personal pain and confusion this scenario entails for you and your extended family. We want you to know that our hearts go out to you in the midst of your agony. You have a difficult decision to make, and one that will require a great deal of love, wisdom, and discernment.

Our position on homosexual behavior and same-sex marriage is well known to everyone who is familiar with our ministry. It makes that statement to the couple, to others attending, and to society at large. Even so, we recognize that there are other considerations at play, foremost among them your desire to maintain an ongoing relationship with this family member. He will likely be in the best position to offer wise, scripturally sound guidance to you in this situation.

Dilemmas of this type can only be resolved by an appeal to conscience and careful consideration of the basic moral and spiritual principles involved. Viewed in these terms, your dilemma does appear to be practically insoluble. There may be other ways of looking at the situation. Modern society often confuses love with approval. There is no doubt that you, as a Christian, ought to place a high priority on preserving and maintaining a positive relationship with the family member in question.

To do this, you need to find consistent ways of expressing and demonstrating your love for him or her. But you must realize that love and approval are not always the same thing. Here, as in so many other cases, Jesus is our example. In John Chapter 4 we find an account of His remarkable conversation with the woman at the well.

is it a sin for a christian to attend a gay wedding

According to the mores and values of Jewish society at the time, Christ had at least three good reasons to steer clear of this individual: 1 she was a woman; 2 she was a Samaritan; and 3 she was sexually confused and promiscuous. Under the circumstances, Jesus had to be aware that His decision to speak with this woman would invite questions and criticism. In spite of this, He scandalously overleapt all of the social barriers in order to show His love and concern for her.

But in doing so, He never once expressed approval for her lifestyle or behavior. On the contrary, He guided the discussion in such a way that she eventually came to see her illegitimate liaisons with men for what they were — sinful errors that needed to be acknowledged, confessed, and repented.

For Jesus, as a first-century Jewish man, it may not have been entirely convenient or comfortable to engage this woman in conversation. Whatever decision you make, we think it would be a good idea to express your feelings openly and honestly to this family member. At the same time, I have sincere, faith-based concerns about same-sex relationships. For instance, perhaps you can meet for coffee or lunch on an ongoing basis.

Furthermore, it could also well be an initial building block to an authentic, honest, and positively influential relationship despite these differences — one that genuinely embodies Christ to these individuals.