Major Christian Publication Argues Christians Should Attend Gay Weddings+ Gay Baby-Showers

Staff Writer

Christian publication Crosswalk has waded into the recent backlash to Alistar Begg recommending some people attend same-sex weddings, releasing several articles on why Christians should attend gay weddings and should probably attend and participate in baby showers for same-sex couples.

Crosswalk is a Christian website owned and operated by Salem Web Network, a division of Salem Media Group, that owns a large swatch of prominent Christian and conservative publications, including CCM Magazine, BibleStudyTools.com, Christianity.com Crosswalk, Godtube, Hot Air, Jesus.org, Lightsource.com, Townhall, Christian Headlines, Townhall, PJ Media, and many other apps, podcasts, and radio stations.

In the article Can Christians Attend a Same-Sex Couple’s Baby Shower? author Amanda Idleman suggests they can and should. She begins by revealing that “As same-sex marriage has become more prolific and socially acceptable, there is a growing number of same-sex parents. Personally, I’ve interacted with same-sex foster parents who also attend the same church as I do.”

“We know that God’s Word clearly states that God’s best for marriage and family is for one man and woman to come together. Yet, hard black-and-white lines don’t work when talking about people you love.

..It’s our job to be Jesus to our lost friends. To encourage those who know God but continue to struggle with sin. We need to remain faithful to the standards God gives us for living in the Bible. We must also ask God to help show us how to love well.”

One of the ways to “love well” includes the prospect of attending a baby shower hosted by a same-sex couple, which really is a celebration of that baby into a life of abuse, robbed of a father and mother.

“A baby shower is different from a wedding in that every child is a gift from God. This sort of celebration is designed to joyfully support the arrival of a new person whom God has a special plan for. While we may understand that same-sex relationships are not God’s best, we are called to nurture and love every child. Even if we do not feel called to participate in the baby shower, we should find a way to love this family and their child. “

Another article gives no such out: Should You Attend a Gay Wedding? by Dr. James Emery White. White summarizes Begg’s advice to attend a gay wedding and even buy the couple a gift, and then lends his support to this position, encouraging him not to back down.

Despite the fallout, Begg stands by the advice he gave. He should.

This is not about a theological “drift.” Neither I nor Begg affirm a homosexual lifestyle. But does that mean it is never appropriate for a Christ follower to attend a gay wedding?

Let’s break that down a little—first by addressing whether it is okay to participate in one, and then second, whether it is okay to attend one. I would argue that participation and attendance are distinct from one another.

Participating in a gay wedding means lending support, helping to facilitate it, enabling it to happen. It’s being involved in such a way as to bring it about. Biblically, that isn’t something a Christian can do.

He explains:

When Christians refuse participation in a gay wedding, they are following important Christian convictions. For a photographer to shoot it, or a baker to make the cake, or a florist to design the centerpieces would be a violation of conscience and conviction. As would serving as a singer, musician, bridesmaid or groomsman. If your participation is enabling it to happen, facilitating its act, then the answer on whether to participate has to be no.

But what about just attending, as Begg advised the grandmother to do? Let’s say you have a gay friend or family member and you’ve been invited to their wedding. Is it okay for a Christian to attend? You’re not participating in a way that is making it happen or helping it to happen—you’re just at the happening. Didn’t Jesus dine with tax collectors, hang out with prostitutes, and go to parties hosted by people of ill repute?

Emery clearly does not understand the purpose of weddings, much less LGBTQ ones. To quote Dan Phillips:

“Given that there is no such thing as a marriage of two men or a marriage of two women- so take that away- then what is this occasion that the grandmother is being asked to go to? It is just a celebration of perversion, and it’s just a celebration of two people promising each other that they will never repent of the sin that will send them to hell.”