Is Al Mohler right? A definite "yes!" from me. There's a difference between encouraging and accepting someone's choice to sin (whatever that sin may be; same-sex marriage here). As Christians (let alone as pastors!) how can we celebrate when someone does something which clearly contrary to the will of God?
Is it ministerial malpractice? I'd say yes - because it seems to be Christian malpractice...

As for attending weddings from other religious traditions... as long as they don't contain anything that contradicts God's revealed will - I'd be attending! (But also trying to get a gospel word in to whoever invited me!)

I'm conflicted, but generally on the side of attending.

On the one hand, I can think of the sellers in the Temple courts, where Jesus would not tolerate a display on sinfulness in an institution he designed. This also presents a distinction to marriages in other religious traditions - the burden is higher if you claim to be married in the sight of YHWH. I'd be more comfortable attending a civil ceremony outside of a church.

On the other hand, Jesus never shied away from eating with sinners and tax collectors. Now he didn't condone sinful behavior, and I feel if you're close enough friends with the couple to be attending their wedding, you can find a way to express your happiness at their happiness, while making it known you don't support the institution.

No, I would not attend a same-sex marriage ceremony. As a person who left homosexuality, and made free by rebirth in Jesus Christ, I know sexual immorality of every kind is slavery. I don't hate LGBT people, I understand what they are going through, but I know God frees us from slavery. A believer in Jesus of Nazareth must not do anything which strengthens the chains of bondage, broadens the gap between God and sinner, or deepens the darkness surrounding a lost person.

Jesus frees the slave to sin. A believer in Jesus Christ should not celebrate the trappings of the slave holder.

I suppose the real conflict comes in when I consider the hypothetical situation of one of my children being in this situation. Would I attend a wedding ceremony of one of my children if it was a homosexual ceremony? I think my support for them would mandate me being there. Would I perform the ceremony? Well . . . that's even more conflicting . . . great discussion to have. It's something we should all wrestle with before being put in that position - more and more of us will find ourselves in that position and our presence (or absence) will speak louder than just about any sermon we preach.

I don't see what the big deal is. I don't just attend weddings where the couple are committed Christians, I don't think that anyone does. If I believe my friend is making a horrible choice in who she is marrying I would still attend because she is my friend and I support her as a person. I don't see any difference with homosexuality.

I haven't and wouldn't. I've been invites and have, appreciatively declined. There is a world of difference between same sex and hetero couples in marriage.

I've been to a same-sex wedding and it actually felt holier than most of the regular weddings I've been to.

It was between two people in love who were daring to make a lifetime commitment of love to each other in the face of society's disapproval. I felt the presence of Christ that day.

It was totally different than "the bride's best day ever!" that I normally experience, where the focus isn't on love but on the pageant and the horsedrawn carriage, catered meal, thousand-dollar dress and so on.

Sorry for the second post, but take Kim Kardashian's televised wedding, which had to have cost well over a million dollars.

If you want a wedding that is disrespectful to the institution of holy matrimony, it's a great example. It was nothing but a showcase for wealth and a fulfillment of the bride's self-centeredness.

I saw absolutely nothing biblical about it, except for the fact there was a pastor present who read vows and had them say "I do."

I suppose it depends on if you equate going to same-sex ceremony to 'eating with tax collectors and sinners.' Didn't Jesus spend a large amount of his time with people who's actions he didn't endorse? That's what got him into trouble with the pharisees - not that he loved sinners, but that he liked them. Oh boy.

Following Jesus involves not just his teaching, but going to the places He goes. I understand that I'm presuming Jesus would go, but I think he would. I think he'd be the life of the party and I think a whole lot of people at that ceremony would rethink who God is because of Jesus.

I'm nothing like Jesus and my presence isn't electric like his, but I'm trying to follow Jesus.

Oh, and not for nothing, I'm thrilled Jesus chose to eat with sinners, otherwise I likely would never have ended up following Him if he hadn't first reached out to me. For the record, my sin is of the hidden variety. I sin like a pharisee, not like a prostitute. My sin can even get me promoted in churches. But because Jesus invited me to eat with him, I joined his team. Best. Decision. Ever. Now I don't have to think I'm better than anyone else. My identity is in Christ, not in self.

I'd probably go.

I wonder what would offend God more, one of His children attending a same-sex wedding or going to watch an R-rated movie with gratuitous sex and violence? Attending a same-sex wedding or a conservative Republican potlitical event where the "others" (Democrats, people of other faiths & other ethnicities, the poor, etc.) are thought of as anything but as someone who is our neighbor?

My sense is that Jesus was speaking about more than just food when He said:"What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
These are what make a man 'unclean';"

I think this can dangerously get us close to being hypocritical if we have done any of the following:

1. Attended the wedding of family/friends who were marrying someone of a different faith.

2. Attended the wedding of a family/friend who everyone knew has been sleeping with their now-spouse prior to the wedding. This applies even to those who co-habituated.

3. Attended the wedding of a family/friend in a civil ceremony by the state and no religious figure at all.

I don't have the answers to these, but question and the response implies that hetro marriages are always acceptable(no matter the circumstance of how the couple got to that point) and that homosexual marriages are always not acceptable.

This is one of many reasons the LGBT alliances can point at our hypocrisy. When our own people fail in sexual purity, we lose any integrity to speak on this issue in front of the world.

Fish makes a good point, namely, that a heterosexual marriage ceremony where the focus is on the glorification of the self and which leaves a couple thousands of dollars in debt is no more pleasing to God than a same-sex marriage. I'm curious why we never ask ourselves if Christian pastors should attend or officiate THOSE types of weddings!

I think the bigger question, though, is not so much whether Christian pastors should attend same-sex marriage ceremonies (SSMC); but rather, in light of Romans 14, is this an issue where we should be judging each other? Some feel the conviction that attending an SSMC would be the same as condoning same-sex marriage. For those who have that conviction, fine, don't attend. Others feel it is acceptable and, in fact, an opportunity to be Christ's witnesses in that environment. Those who feel it is acceptable should not judge those who are convicted not to attend, and vice verse!

Why do we have such a desire to separate ourselves into camps? Why do we think that every issue that is important to US must be used as a litmus test to see who is a real Christian or not??

I saw the interview Olsteen and Morgan had.It was a trick question by Morgan to trip up Olsteen, and trip he did.We either hate sin as much as The Lord does or we are toying with it.
The flesh is so cleaver at weaving and dodgeing that at times it does trip.
People are afraid to say what they really believe, for fear of repercusions. For fear of the consequenses. They have something to loose, if they are fearful. It is only when one can stand as the good soldier of Christ and speak their mind without fear that freedom is felt.
Christ said if you love me you will keep my commandments.
By going to a ceremony of same sex partners you are saying that it is acceptable.You may weave and dodge for a time, but sooner or later people will see thru you.
as Ephesians 6 says having done all to stand, STAND!

I sure appreciate people's rights to express themselves and their opinions. I don't think Al, or anyone else has the place or sufficient knowledge to pronounce or ajudicate in this manner. I am sure that Osteen lives in tension in this area of his life, as I do. My confusion comes from those I know and love, who are homosexual.

There is a theology of love which supercedes other specific beliefs , ... I believe ... I think ...

That has always made these sorts of decisions difficult for me. It is always easier to walk by on the other side of the road.

Karl

From the introductory set up in this post, I expected Olsteen's comments to reflect an utter equivocation on the issue of same-sex behavior/marriage. I did not. I saw the same struggle I would expect to see with any right-believing Christian who has not checked their sense of empathy and compassion at the door of the life of faith. If he were asked about *performing* a same-sex marriage, and had no problem with that, that would, of course, be different.

It seems to me also that support for persons and *accepting* another's choice (where our own words and choices make it clear where we stand) does not equal and does not have to be construed as *condoning* their decision. In another situation, it just might represent such a compromise, but it seems to me the same action can have very different meanings depending on the nature of the relationships and individuals involved. IOW, I think Bill also makes a good point. I'm not sure Mohler or any of us is truly in a position to judge this for another--especially if we don't know that person intimately.

In wedding ceremonies of yore there used to be a line to the congregation, "Does anyone here know of any reason why this couple should not be joined together? If so, speak now, or forever hold your peace." I would make an attempt to find out from the couple whether such an affirmation would be asked of the congregation. If it will be asked, I will not go. If not, I will go.

In short, I don't buy the "my presence sends a message" argument.

Tough question. I don't have an answer...but some other questions. What about someone on his or her third marriage? Should we not attend that heterosexual wedding that certainly is not God's plan for marriage? Is it better (even though it's a sin) for gays to engage in an exclusive monogamous commitment than the stereotypical gay lifestyle of the past? Even though it's a sinful relationship, should we nonetheless "approve" monogamy? If we're inclined to believe that drinking and smoking are sinful behaviors, do we not shop where both are sold? Or eat at restaurants where alcohol is served? Is that a tacit endorsement? Again, though these questions may seem loaded...I honestly am not sure what to think about some of it.

If I do not attend same-sex weddings, then I would also have to refrain from the weddings of divorcees, or people who cohabited before marriage or have children out of wedlock. Why stop there? Don't attend weddings of all characters mentioned in Romans 1:28: gossipers, slanderers, God haters, people who disobey parents, those who have no mercy, atheists.

Yet Jesus attended the wedding without first conducting a grand jury on the characters of the couple.

Some here suggest those of us who refuse to attend a same sex wedding are being inconsistent if, at the same time, we attend weddings of cohabitating couples, of a person marrying someone outside the faith, etc. I don't believe this practice is inconsistent. In a traditional marriage with sinful/broken foundations, I can genuinely pray that God would redeem the sinful/broken parts of the relationship so that the marriage would ultimately result in a permanent union that honors God. That is, given that wrong choices have been made in entering into such a relationship, the choice to now leave sin does not mean leaving the marriage. Perhaps some will question this but I believe this is biblical. I stood in my best friend's wedding even though he was marrying a non-Christian on this basis. However, I would not have attended his wedding if he were marrying a man because I cannot ask God to bless the marriage while at the same time praying for my friend to leave sin. Leaving sin would necessarily mean ending the marriage - which is celebrated and solemnized a wedding. It seems like there are plenty of other venues in which to socialize with gay friends that for a pastor to attend a celebration and solemnization of a same sex relationship is highly inconsistent and problematic in my mind, unless the pastor saw same-sex relationships as biblically permissible.

Yes.

I guess it depends on if you want to continue to have a relationship building bridge into their lives in the years to follow. If you do, definitely go. If you don't, stay home and get used to the isolation your self-righteousness has created.

Wow.

A double header.

An article about two public christian leaders I wish weren't or would at least talk less.

It's like looking into the cultural abyss of reality television and seeing the human wasteland of delusions, pettiness and self-importance from both sides of the same coin.

Breathtaking.

oh, yeah.

One more thing.
The whole "a Christian attending this event, MUCH LESS A PASTOR, blah, blah, blah" makes blood shoot out of my eyes and my skin crawl.

It's fine to have your convictions, but the notion that a pastors attendance is somehow more problematic is really silly.

If it's wrong, then it's wrong. Please don't complicate it with some sanctimonious notions of priestly piety.

No. The kiss alone would upset my stomach, as abominations normally do.

It is important to get the issues clear. Marriage is a creation ordinance which God gives to all humans whether they are Christians, people embracing other religions, or atheists.

But as a creation ordinance, it is meant to one man and one woman, as a permanent and exclusive union. Thus, I would not go to a same-sex ceremony, nor would I go to a ceremony where a man or woman marries a second spouse. To do would be to express in actions my acceptance that these unions are given by God to people. The only marital unions that God gives to all people are between one man and one woman.

I can still show love to people who are gays, lesbians, polygamous, etc. Showing love to people of all different life-styles must be distinguished from a public act (like attending a wedding) in which I give my recognition to the validity to the nature of that ceremony. In marriage, I would argue that a Christian can only give that recognition to a heterosexual union.

Al Mohler, I understand your desire for a black-and-white world. But it just ain't like that. Jesus, friend of sinners, seems at ease walking through shades of gray, without worry.

Wow. Osteen is just trying to walk the tightrope that we HAVE to walk every day of our lives as Christians in a secular society. Do you attend a christian wedding when you know the poeple getting married only pay lip service to being Christian? Do you share a BBQ with a neighbouring family who are clearly living together but not married? Do you attend a same sex ceremony for a friend, even though you know it is wrong? YES, YES and YES.

And before judging Osteen too harshly, what if it were a brother, or a son or a daughter? You'd be judged by society even more if you DIDN'T attend! And you would send a message to your son or daughter or brother that may break the relationship completely.

Osteen probably got the balance right, from my perspective.

Seekingclarity makes a very good point. (Thank you!) I, too, believe this is an important and necessary distinction to make.

Any other thoughts from pastors who have had ethics training? Does my attendance at a ceremony to "bless" or publicly ratify a union that ultimately can never fulfill God's purpose for marriage (even given redemption of the individuals involved) imply that I as an attendant representing my faith in no formal or official capacity condone such? Or does it just show that I care about the participants? It is this latter aspect that is still unclear to me.

As distasteful as seeing same-sex PDA would also be to me, my goal would be to continue to cultivate a relationship of mutual love/respect (necessary for effective witness to the gospel). If Christ's own natural revulsion for sin had superseded His compassion for sinners, where would we all be? Still lost and like sheep without a Shepherd!

why do we confuse issues?

We are Christians. Same sex marriage is different from all these other scenarios being painted all over the place here! You can choose not to attend any heterosexual marriage if you have issues personally with whether they are godly, expensive, not convinced its God's counsel etc

This is different from same sex marriage. When someone like Joel Osteen attends a same sex marriage, he legitimates it. Simple. Lets be different and show the confused world the difference. Lets stop trying to be nice. Lets support what the scripture says.

Respect for sinners does not mean you will sanction killing another person because its wrong. IF ITS WRONG AND UNSCRIPTURAL - IT IS. Will you counsel and pray for a sinner who kills - yes but you will not sanction it! THEY ARE 2 DIFFERENT THINGS

What will Jesus do!
Jesus will only go to a gay marriage to woop them with whips like he did to people selling in the temple. Jesus forgave sinners but he fights abuse. Male and female created he them - scripture!

Mohler's right. That's for sure.

If you want to keep communication or relationship lines open with one or both of the homosexual partners, pray about it and make use of any opportunities or avenues that God presents to you.

But don't dishonor Christ and the Scriptures by giving low-key back-door approval to gay marriage mess. Don't do it.

Simply tell the homosexual partners that you cannot be a part of any such gig--not even as a supportive attendee-and tell them why you cannot. Be honest with them.

Under Mohler's logic, if Osteen attended a wedding (or a baseball game) and there were people drinking to the point of drunkenness, Osteen would be endorsing being drunk. His statement strives for the standard, but neglect the grace. In my opinion it is legalistic....

Let's get this straight.
According to the Word of God, in Genesis and throughout the Bible, God is CLEAR that "marriage" is defined as 1 male and 1 female united as one. If you want to attend a celebration of two same-sex people, PLEASE DO NOT add to God's Word by calling it "marriage".

I agree with Nathan's comment that those in the ministry don't automatically have have a 'priestly" presence by our mere attendance.
I am a conservative Christian, opposed to gay marriage as well as gay sex on NT Biblical grounds. If I were working with someone on death row and he/she wanted me to be a witness I would go, despite my misgivings about how capital punishment is administered. I would attend a gay wedding of a friend if invited. I have attended LGBT groups and felt I learned something each time. I would not perform a gay wedding, or offer a blessing of congratulation. I would thank them for their kind invite, eat the cake, and duck out when the toasts were given.

So if Mohler believes this stance on sin-specifically homosexuality-is his stance consistent or just applied to that sin in specific? So lets get specific here-does he with people who are overweight since there may be gluttony? Does he ride in a car or go to a person's house who bought it on credit or overspends? Does his wife shop with women who are covetous? Does he never talk with someone who lies? What does he do with people who exhibit pride? I don't get this. Where does his sin police start and stop? Or does it only apply to homosexuals? Jesus attended sinner's events? Is he better than the compassionate Lord? Joel Osteen is not my most favorite person but this is truly undeserved and says more about Mohler than about Joel Osteen-or maybe it does indeed say more about the man who loves more than the man who hates.

D. Moore, your analogy only holds if one was attending a basketball game to observe the drunkenness, and not the game itself. You can't control what the people around you do, if they're behaving in a manner that is immaterial to the actual point of the event.

This is a different situation than that of attending a wedding, where one's attendance is basically representing one's willingness to be a witness to the marriage ceremony.

Would you attend a potluck dinner at church if you knew that gluttony would be practiced there?

You could say attendance at a prof. sporting event in this country materially supports the immoral economic "priorities" of our society.

I enjoy leisure, but exorbitant pricing to support immoral pay scales for grown men to simply play a game that adds negligible cultural capital to our lives is a morally fraught exercise.

Bottom line, we could split hairs all day long, but this is an issue of personal conscience on how to live out our convictions. It's called soul freedom.
And it's sadly a historic baptistic distinctive Mohler forgets.

* Baseball, not basketball. My apologies; my eyes aren't working so hot today.

nathan... so I'm continuing to split hairs here :) But one can attend a sports game that doesn't cost anything, and still run into the same drunken tomfoolery D. Moore was referring to; your attendance can fully indicate interest in the game and the players without any intention of supporting the drunkenness in the stands.

Not so with a wedding; your attendance indicates support, at some level, of the "main event"; whether you're there to support a particular person and not condoning the rite, OR if you're in full support of the union, your presence still in effect says "I'm here for this particular event, and support it at some level." Individuals would need to prayerfully discern whether or not they should attend, given what their attendance (or non-attendance) implies, considering their relationship to the people in the ceremony.

OR, the person is at the event because they love the people involved. full stop. end of thought. nothing more. nothing less.

It's not for me to decide how best for that person to maintain relationship with the couple.

We need to remember what pastors are. Pastors, by the very nature of their callings, represent God. This is why people often do act and react differently whenever a pastor walks into a room. So does a pastor's presence at a same-sex wedding send a message? Absolutely!

As for those who argue that attending a "monogamous" same-sex wedding is more holy than attending a traditional wedding where the couple has been cohabitating prior to the ceremony, I'd say that's wrong logic. In the case of the couple's who's been cohabitating prior to getting married, I would absolutely attend their wedding, because they are moving from a situation where they're clearly living outside of God's design for marriage and into a situation where they are living within God's design for marriage. Any way you slice it, a same-sex marriage is clearly not part of God's design for marriage, and a pastor's presence would simply be encouraging that couple and other such homosexual couples to continue in their sin.

Does anybody know where there may be a carefully articulated ethical argument for attendance/non-attendance in some analogous situation? I'm still waiting for the carefully articulated argument on an "Ethics for Dummies" level for me! :-) I appreciate the variety of opinions, but I still lack clarity.

The reality is also that Jesus went to places socially where the leaders in his own faith saw it as a clear violation of the standards of God's holiness and tantamount to an endorsement of sin. He surprised even his own disciples, none of whom were Pharisees (if I'm remembering correctly), when he conversed with the Samaritan woman at the well. He touched lepers. He broke some very powerful social taboos of his time without sinning. Is my attendance at a relative or friend's same-sex ceremony really different than this (even if I am a pastor)? I don't know.

I am not a pastor; the following may not hold for a pastor.

There are a few things we can derive from, ethically:

1) Jesus teaches us to love our neighbor, and that our neighbor includes everyone (the great samaritan parable).

2) Jesus did not exclude himself from all social functions involving "sinners" as recognized by religion and/or society at the time.

3) Homosexual acts are a sin.

4) Marriage is (hopefully) understood by our society to be a commitment between the people involved. (But for Christians who heed God's Word, we understand this to be for one man and one woman.)

Entering a homosexual marriage, therefore is a commitment to sin for the rest of one's life. This is the difference between it and the the herterosexual marriage examples in the comments before. Newlyweds may enter marriage from a history of cohabitation, or be incredibly self-centered in their marriage day; but they are probably not publicly and ceremonially committing to a particular sin for the rest of their lives.

What would be analogous situations to other sins? A friend asks me to attend their signing of a demonic pact? Their voluntary pledge of allegiance ceremony to the armed forces of a brutal regime? If our friend(s) claims Christ, do we not have an obligation out of love to confront them on a commitment like this?

The important thing is that we first love our friend the way Christ loved us, and then that you act out of that love truthfully. Perhaps attending would be a sign that I have not abandoned them even when they were at the depth of their sin.

Or perhaps I would tell my friend: "Thank you for the invitation, but as your friend, I tell you that marriage is not the best choice for you. But I do not want to watch you make a life commitment to sin, and even now I pray that you won't. Because God teaches that is not what is best for us."

Perhaps I would not attend, so as to make my position clear to the rest of society.

Perhaps I would, after being honest about my loving opinion to my friend(s), attend and all the while pray for a sign from heaven to end the ceremony early. I could pray that the altar would crack and then I would be driven by the spirit to boldly proclaim what the Lord's work in the moment: "He calls you to reconsider!" But maybe such a plan is akin to tempting God. And certainly, publicly humiliating ones friends doesn't seem very loving at face value.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. What if my friend *doesn't* claim Christ?

Did Jesus ever attend someone's "commitment-to-sin-for-life" ceremony? I ask because it might be in the bible and I just don't remember it right now. Either way, if He did, I'm sure He did more than smile and drink His punch quietly...

Hopefully these questions are helpful to the discussion.

regardless of where our conviction lies in the issue of homosexuality and gay marriage, let us tread cautiously lest we mistake standing up for our beliefs with standing in the way of people entering into right relationship with God.

"Is Al Mohler right?"

I think the only thing Mr. Mohler was right on was nailing Osteen to the floor. That would have been fun to watch.

"Is attending a same-sex marriage ceremony the same as performing one?"

Uh...no, but then again, it is dependent on the frame of mind of the attendee. Paul held the cloaks of the those men who stoned Steven, nodding in approval of the eye-hand coordination of delivering a kinetic kill, and thus he is considered a murderer because of his approval. On the other hand, the Apostles watched Y'shua get nailed and hammered to a cross, and yet are not considered active participants to his execution. Frame of mind, very important.

"Is it ministerial malpractice? What would you do?"

Again, dependent on the frame of mind of the attendee. Me, I would go to watch humanity in action...approval would be absent, but neither would I show my disapproval either. For me, I would be an observer of a ceremony that has no claim to G-d's blessing. Doesn't minimize my curiosity about people and their very well practiced form of self-deception...which, obviously, I find interesting.

"And if attending a marriage ceremony is the same as supporting the underlying theology of the union, does that prohibit Christians from attending Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or weddings from other religious traditions? Where is the line?"

Again, being in attendance doesn't mean approval anymore than watching people riot means you are part of the riot.

Now, herein is the thing, the world does what it does, and being a jerk, which, admittedly, is one of my stonger quirks, doesn't mean I need to add holier-than-thou on top of it as well.
People do what they do for their own reasons, and often times, loneliness bites hard, and when people are lonely, they do crazy things.

But like I said, I'm curious about how people are able to bury the obvious in favor of the destructive to pretend something that they know is not approved of by the very deity their trying to get the attention of...in fact, I kind of see it as challenging the very nature and character of G-d.

Some people out here would have trouble attending a Catholic wedding let alone a sem-sex marriage ceremony.

Aside from that, Osteen needs to be spanked, taken out behind the woodshed. But here's the thing, I don't care about Osteen or his rambling anymore than I care about Mohler's rant. Both have microphones and both have big pieholes.

I oppose homosexual marriage and homosexuality on Scriptural grounds but I certainly don't go along with Mohler's logic. I would not perform a homosexual marriage but if a friend or even a relative was getting married to a same-sex partner, I'd go if invited but I have to confess I'd be a little uncomfortable.

Al Mohler, I recently attended the wedding of a woman who was entering into a Southern Baptist marriage. During the vows, she was made three times to say that she would obey her groom and respect him "whether he deserved respect or not." No joke, each time she repeated the words, the groom's family cheered like they were watching their team win a championship. Did I think it was biblical? No. Did I think it was theologically sound? No. Did I think it opened her up to a whole lotta trouble if the guy turned out to be REALLY, REALLY, REALLY undeserving of obedience and respect? Yes. Did I walk out? No.

No, I could not attend a same-sex marriage, especially one conducted in a Christian church setting. The act is sinful, the consumation of the marriage is sinful and I do not think I could explain how I was not condoning the sin while "loving the sinner." A ceremony of a different religion does not ask our God's blessing on the union. How a minister could ask God to bless a same-sex union is beyond my understanding.

I would not attend and the decline does not have to be out of malice. We can refrain from walking the way of the world without the air of a Pharisee.

Jesus ate with Publicans and sinners but always gave them a message about leaving behind the wrong they were doing...he ALWAYS did that and did they not turn away?

Why do we make excuses for our beliefs and the rules of the Bible...yes we are all sinners but we must not chose to stay in the place of sin just to fit in...Jesus was happy to stand out and be the "misfit" for the sake of His Father and we must be ready to do the same. Stand up and be counted - speak the truth BUT ALWAYS IN LOVE.

May we continaully pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to empower us to stand by the strengh of our convictions.

God bless
Kathi

Several months ago a friend of my wife invited us to her wedding. A professed Christian, she had only been divorced for a couple of months, and was to wed someone who is outside of her faith. We did not attend the wedding, nor could we.

1) She had divorced her husband, and not for reasons of infidelity or abuse, they just didn't get along. 2) She was going to be unequally united with an unbeliever.
3) We saw only future disaster and heartache for her and her children, and we made our position clear.

So, should a Christian attend a homosexual marriage? No, but I don't think it stops there. When you attend a wedding, you are saying by your very presence that you are in full agreement with the proposed union. I don't think a Christian can, in good conscience, attend any wedding that is in direct, or implied, violation to God's written word.

Attend? No, I don't even attend weddings I don't agree will last, butI pray they will (speaking of straight marriages) I was forced to attend my oldest daughter's.

Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes - he didn't go with them when they stole money from people and offered their bodies up to sin.

I wonder what wedding Jesus attended when he turned water into wine?

More thoughts here:

http://multihatpastor.com/2011/10/13/eats-with-sinners/

No wonder many non-christians don't want anything to do with many christians. We behave as if we are the final judge of every sin that happens to offend us.

I say we simply love people and let the Holy Spirit be the the "convincer" of sin.

It's been heartbreaking to read these answers. Division, not the freedom to analyze everything and keep what's good. Some good points... not having read all -so many- I'd only humbly point out that none of us wrote the Bible. Our God's -if indeed, He's YOUR God too- stand about homosexuality's clear: it's sin. Jesus ate with sinners, but never got involved in their sinning. We're always no more than redeemed sinners, that's why we are to separate from sin. So you can ask to be forgiven, and be ready to lovingly give reasons for your faith. If homosexuals and lesbians want to be respected, they can start by respecting your position as well without calling YOU names (homophobic, judge, etc.)

I feel as my lord has taught me to just love unconditionally. And to not put judgement on anyone. We are all sinners and we have no right saying that one sin is worse than the other. It is for god to make that decision. As for homosexuality is not for me to judge nor to look down on? I believe god has made us all different with different challenges. And he loves all of us and would want us to treat each other the same. So to support someone I love I would definantly go to a same sex marriage because that's what friends do.

I think if the people who invited you are close to you (family member, friend from kindergarten on up, etc.), you really have to weigh it carefully, with full counsel from Holy Spirit. A gay child could cut you from their life for years if you refuse to attend their gay wedding ceremony. And if they're close to you, they KNOW where you stand on the whole thing anyway, so nobody's thinking your attendance is an endorsement of the lifestyle. I do have to say, though, that in the case of someone high-profile, like Joel Osteen, that is a little different. His attendance draws a lot more attention, and carries a lot more weight, by virtue of his celebrity status (like it or not, that's what it boils down to; Osteeen is a very well-known preacher, which makes him a celebrity).

Although I believe that homosexuality is not part of God's plan - I do believe that it is being singled out as a sin that is greater than some that people participate in all of the time - like lying, coveting, dishonoring God by taking the Lord's name in vain, and not honoring their parents. Those sins were in the 10 commandments, but we overlook them all of the time. God hates divorce, and Jesus said that if a man marries a divorced woman that he causes her to commit adultery. Yet we attend weddings of divorced people all of the time. If someone you knows lied - would you not go to their house for dinner? I say, keep on loving people, and keep on living your life by God's word in order to be an example, and keep forgiving. So why would a homosexual couple invite Joel Osteen to their wedding unless they were trying to make a point? Why do those who are sinning try to make others prove their beliefs? We ALL need to go back to the word and see what God's will is for all of us. Be an example and don't worry about judging others.

I've been a Christian for 8 years, and just came out of the closet this past summer.

I realize this a tough choice for some of the Christians i've been closest to over the years. I mean, for a long time I agreed with them about homosexuality, even as I was dealing with it. And I get that they don't have the same reason as I incentive I do to change my mind about the subject.

But I do hope they will come to my wedding someday. Their absence would say a lot.

Some good questions have been raised. Would I go if the ceremony was performed in the name of Christ, i.e., purported to be imparting a Christian blessing? I think this would be much more difficult for me than attending a same-sex wedding performed by a Unitarian a Buddhist or a judge, for example, where blessing by the God of Jesus Christ is not invoked or implied.

Is attendance at any same-sex wedding tantamount to endorsement? Here, it still seems to me that it really depends. If this is how it will be perceived by those entering into the marriage and the other witnesses, and I don't seek to correct that impression, then I think my attendance would likely be a betrayal of Christ. If it is perceived as a self-sacrificial act of love, support and friendship, perhaps especially because my strong
disagreement with the action is understood, then perhaps it could even be an expression of loyalty to Christ.

Olsteen's fame and notoriety do add a complicating factor to the specific context in which this question was first asked.

Lonnie and John's comments in the same thread make for an interesting contrast. Lonnie, if I may ask, how long were you in the gay lifestyle and how long have you been free? Can you relate to the place John is at right now and what advice would you give him, if any?

Rev. Mohler is 100% correct. It is not showing Biblical love by giving the appearance of condoning what God calls "an abomination". Leaders and teachers should especially be very careful in this regard since they are held to a higher standard.

I agree with Al. The bible never speaks of joining to men or women together in marriage but only a man and a woman. When Jesus speaks of this he too refers to men and women in union. Anything outside that is adultery.

I'd be very torn if I was asked by a good friend to attend their same sex wedding or civil celebration. I would want to show my love for that person but how could I condone the act? Especially if the celebrant ask: "Does anyone here know any good reason...?"

Joel does tend to be a dodger doesn't he? I get the distinct impression he is a universalist

This is not the first time Joel Osteen has been hooked and badgered. He is a good speaker with an excellent message of encouragment. That is the stage where he functions best. Not the talk-interview shows where he is brought in specifically to be set up for a 'gotcha' moment. Being pure in heart, he is the perfect target for liberals who take advantage of that to hurt him. Suggestion: More speaking from the pulpit, less (better, NO) guesting on talk shows.
Rev. Austin Miles

When the Gospel is watered down, this is what happen's.The "Good News" must also be obeyed but don't tell that to someone running a "popularity contest (Gospel)".God is love and God is Just and we will see both concepts in action very soon.

I think most fail to realize the real issue.
Did Jesus eat with sinners? Yes. Did he eat with them will they were committed an Abomination? No. Neither would I.

"The bible never speaks of joining to men or women together in marriage but only a man and a woman. When Jesus speaks of this he too refers to men and women in union. Anything outside that is adultery."

Agreed, except it's fornication which is what homosexuality falls under. Adultery indicates sexual activity outside of the bonds of marriage which would validate the subject that we're trying to show is against G-d's will for humans.

What about the adminitions of proverbs? How about god calling Lot and his family out from sodom and Gomorrah? What about the exhortation to " come out from among them and be seperate". God knows that if we don't the culture will overcome us to where we accept the behaviors and justify our participation by convincing ourselves that we need to be around sin to show god's love.

Only God know's Joel's heart. I wonder if there wasn't something else going on here that he was unable to express.

For me, I wouldn't attend, becuase I would find it terribly sad. But that's just me.

It is absolutely astonishing - how DISHONEST, DISRESPECTFUL and outright COWARDS - "Christians" have become. There should be no sixteen lines of "explanation" as to "why you should or shouldn't" attend this perversion of God's Will. A Christian, should NOT attend ANYTHING but a REAL CHRISTIAN WEDDING. Just like, NO REAL CHRISTIAN could possibly vote for ANY democrat.
If you "REALLY ARE" a follower of Christ, and if a homosexual asked you to their "ceremony" of ANY KIND, you should have a one word Answer, NO! For that matter, no REAL Christian should have even one homosexual "friend." It's worthless cash hounds like Osteen and the homosexual Haggard, who caused this to even be discussed as an issue, when clearly, it's as written in stone as the Ten Commandments. I'm guessing, those people who "argue" various reasons to attend this, are also those people who've never really read their Bible with earnest desire to learn to please and honor the God they claim to respect?
It's like, yes Father, I know you don't want me to attend this, but my good times and being respected by humans is so much more important than anything you want. Yup, that's today's 80 percent Christian Cowards of America.

And to those people who keep saying things like, "only God knows Osteens heart" or anyone's heart when they make these claims, get it in your head, we are not called to be judge-less morons. Osteen TOLD US HIS HEART! Now, as Christians, we KNOW, BECAUSE WE JUDGE THEM BY THEIR DEEDS, that they are liars, and really NOT in Love with God?
This whole thing of Judge Not was ripped apart and turned into an opposite doctrine that Jesus made of it by radical, communist, sexual deviants, because they could no longer stand the light of God shining on their repulsiveness. Jesus taught how to, "Judge Not" and the next "lesson" out of His mouth was, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine."
Now, if you go around teaching children that the toxic anal cavity is sexually desirable, then - you should not judge a sexual pervert for what they ARE. IF you've abstained or beaten back that miserable sinful condition, then it is your duty to look every one of them in the eye and tell them the FACT, they are headed for hell. THIS is the Doctrine of "Judge Not." Because it's simple. IF you are a pervert too, and you judge someone is going to hell, then Jesus said, "you hypocrite, the same is your reward?"

Brenda you're close, but the most overlooked and extremely important anomaly in all this homosexualization of the world is - no one that I know of is advancing that our military become a cesspool for liars, or a place where it’s important to respect people who take our Lord’s name in vain. Our Creator taught us, what we teach or cause others to do is more a problem then our private sin? Countless times we’re told, woe to those by whom the offence cometh! Ezekiel warns over and over "their" blood will be on our hands. And I see the bible clearly telling us that, teaching others (which is an exhibition of pride and disrespect for God) is the real problem. I think pride is absent when the sin stays betwixt THEM and GOD. This is humbleness, the exact opposite of every person who takes part in one of these ceremonies, or any homosexual pride event.Take Deb Washer's comment? According to the Bible, she just went from knowing she was wrong - struggling with it to advancing and promoting her sin, humbleness to pride. Father God to father Satan. Heaven to hell. They do this because they bought the lie that shame is bad, when really, it's our spirit responding and kneeling to God in humility for help and forgiveness. Instead of making someone deal with their shame via God, the modern message is that we’re supposed to tolerate their lack of shame even, when they cause our kids to do as they do? I guarantee you Deb has already taken part in some youth's ticket to hell. One who’s been considering rebelling via homosexualism and was emboldened by her post.

Can you have friends who are homosexual? Isn't that endorsing their lifestyle choices? If you can have as friends, that means they know about your beliefs, right?

Picking one issue of attending a marriage is silly . . . the only reason you would be invited to one is because you have friends who are homosexual. . . (if you are invited by a stranger, that lends more credence to the endorsing viewpoint . . . ).

I have friends who are homosexual, who know that I believe it is a sin and against Scripture. They know and respect my beliefs as I also have to respect that they don't agree with me. . . we have talked about it extensively, especially as I am a pastor and teacher of God's Word. I can't force them to believe as I do nor can they force me to endorse their choices. . .

As a pastor, I pray and ask if my presence would diminish what Scripture says. . . I haven't had to answer whether I would attend or not since I am in a state that doesn't not allow same-sex marriage. When faced with it, I will ask for direction from God and use discernment on the proper course of action that will hold firmly to truth but not cause undue pain or hurt to friends (grace & love, people, without compromising truth . . . it is possible!)

Isnt a wedding an official event attended by those who support it? This is what weddings were and possibly still should be. If I go to a wedding, I am publicly supporting a union, not 1 person. If that marriage sits a snag, everyone at that wedding is supposed to be on deck to support them.

This should not be about our emotional ties to friends. It should first be about how does the Bible view marriage and Christian community and how do we conduct ourselves at sacred official events involving other faiths and lifestyles.

Question: When Jesus hung out with sinners, wasnt he is places that would be considered neutral? What made people question his rep was the people he was with, not the location. Not every event is a neutral place. I have a hard time believing that Jesus would attend a strip club because sinners are there and being the life of the party.

"...If you "REALLY ARE" a follower of Christ."

Wow, BILLBO, you certainly do have a lot of requirements for your religion.

So, herein is my faith. I really am a follower of the living G-d, a disciple of Christ, and thereby, a Christian, you know, one of those one's you easily condemned for being like their master.
So, since you obviously have never met my master, my Christ, let me introduce you to him...

He's a Jew, I hope that doesn't put you off. I know a lot of moral supremacist who are put off by Orthodox Jews.

Anyway, he was notorious for hanging out with prostitutes, but never slept with a one of them, but he found them receptive to his yakking, and kevetching.
Btw, me using Jewish slang doesn't offend you, does it?
He also hung out with robbers, but never stole, but he found they were often puzzled by his straight forward honesty, and they would often eat together while he explained himself to them.

He also had thugs follow him, and though they were prone to get into trouble, he was able to calm them down so that they could learn to be better men, and learn to be holy men of G-d.

But most of all, he helped his enemies up to and including healing their servants, praising them for their good deeds, and overall extending to them the same grace and mercy he extended to everyone.

You see, BILLBO, I don't recognize your faith because for me...it's very judgemental, very angry, very sad, and I could never live up to the expectations that seem to plague you on a daily basis. It looks like a lot of lonely work.

For me, in the condition I am as an average human being...there is no hope in your religion for me. I wouldn't last long...in fact, I think I would start screaming at people for being stupid, and foolish, and not following your religion like you do. In fact, I think it would drive me crazy.

So, I'm glad Y'shua found me first.

I just want you to know that G-d, vis-a-vis Y'shua, his son, whom you know as Jesus, still extends the grace and mercy he has extended to everyone else...if he extended it to me, then I know he'll have no trouble extending it to you.

Good question(s) and they def got me thinking...I am still working on an answer. Thanks!

How can so many Christians be so blind about scripture? There is only a very few references concerning homosexuality in the Bible. Christ never mentioned it and it was not included in the 10 commandments. There is however over 300 verses guiding hetrosexual relationships. No matter what people claim, we do not live by the biblical rules, just the ones that someone higher in the faith so to speak, had made an issue out of. We do not mind eating shrimp or lobster (which is an abomination as well) and we would never think of paying off a debt with our daughter, (scriptorly allowed) or harbor slaves to do our bidding, so I feel it is just a matter of self rightousness that we often point a finger at someone else to find fault, thus making us feel better than they. When we do, our sin is greater than theirs.

Hate the sin...love the sinner. Just because you don't believe in what they believe in, doesn't mean we can't love them with the love of Jesus and that can start by joining in their celebration. They don't need to be isolated by Christians, they need to know us more so than our Christian neighbor. Jesus loves all of us, we should too. It doesn't mean you have to go out and start using your ordination to perform their ceremonies. Plus, who am I to judge people. I am sure that these people have been through a lot trying to figure out their sexual identity. I have to be happy for them to have found love somewhere, somehow. God does not make mistakes. It can all be so confusing to a Christian, so give it to God, but respect and love all.

Kent,
You have focused on the forest and missed the trees.

Y'shua is the fulfillment of the Law.

Note, the unspoken statement in that...he fulfilled the Law, he didn't toss the Law out, and he certainly didn't say, "oh hey guys, the Law...it's null and void now."

Nope.
The Law is still in effect.

He has fulfilled it, meaning, you, me, and everyone else who has said, "I believe in Y'shua death and resurrection", and turn from our sins, not, "oh hey, G-d, these sins I'll keep, those sins I'll toss, okeydokey?"

Which also begs the question, if we are no longer condemned by sins, and Y'shua said, "go and sin no more" what sins, therefore, was he talking about not doing anymore?

Big difference between the Law still in effect, and not being condemned by that Law.

Of course, as Paul pointed out, we are free to do as we please, but why burden the spirit of G-d with our sin?

Either you continuing sinning, and thus by your actions mock G-d's Grace and Mercy, or you never believed in the first place and deceived yourself into believing a false Christ, a marshmallow Christ, a spineless baby Christ that smiles benevolently on your sinful nature and says, "Awww...poor baby, you go ahead and do what you want to do, okay, cause you know, I love you, love you, love you, and require nothing from you but a smile a day. Be nice!"

This is the question we must all come to grips with, and why Y'shua was quite adamant about people giving it some serious thought about following him...it's not easy being a disciple of Christ in a world that hates him, and seeks to denude his life, his words, his meaning so that his effrontery can go unnoticed in the narrative that Satan has painted across our easily deluded minds.

Inow have a brother who no longer is speaking to me after I chose not to attend his civil ceremony. I have accepted him all our lives but not his way of life. This was a line I could not cross as I have to answer to God someday why I did not stand up for HIM. Scripture is clear on this subject....enough said!

Dr.Mohler is right. Attending homosexual marriage or the pagan marriage ceremonies is the same thing as endorsing sin and paganism. No Christians should celebrate sin and worshiping of false gods.

As hard as it might be, even if one of the participants of the "wedding" were a child or grandchild of mine, I could not in clear conscience attend such a wedding. I would object during the ceremony stating biblical standards.

I’m concerned with the contemporary notion that love and maintaining relationships trumps all other concerns about the subject. This was my son’s argument when he was recently invited to attend a civil ceremony for friends, however I think we sacrifice an opportunity to tell the truth at the expense of making others uncomfortable, to their potential ruin.

Yes, certainly Jesus did dine with and hang out with sinners, but he also drew lines such as the when the rich young ruler asked about what he needed to do to get in to heaven. Jesus knew his heart, and went straight to the issue of the young man’s biggest obstacle, not the keeping of the law, but the replacement of Jesus as his heart’s highest affections with something else. In the end, surely he knew the young man would walk away and he still spoke truth.

I think attending a gay “marriage” ceremony or civil union implies tacit approval of an artificial substitute to marriage that is an affront to the sacredness of it. Do we as sinners often defile traditional “hetero” marriage? – of course, and in many ways, unfortunately. Can a marriage between two sinners be redeemed by both of them turning to Christ and eventually reflecting His glory in their marriage? Yes, but can the same be said of a gay couple? Not unless they are willing to disavow their union, and therein lies the problem; just as the young ruler, their union and love, unless dissolved, by default is the highest priority in the heart’s affection. Jesus said many more things to those who could not abide them, and who chose to walk away. Did this prevent him from saying them?

We’re so unconvinced of the strength of our argument, and of the destructive power of sin and its bondage, that we avoid confrontation and fear rejection. It’s become all about being liked and making Christianity and Jesus likeable and we sacrifice the saving power of truth, the scriptures, and ultimately the lives of those who are being destroyed. Fear of “raising our voice” at a car heading for a cliff costs lives.

As a believer, I am completely committed to loving the sinner, regardless of the sin, but would have to draw the line at attending a ceremony that makes a mockery of the sacred nature of a marriage ceremony, and thereby the earthly representation of Christ and the church, his bride. Marriage at that point would be defiled and corrupted by a phony replacement, and isn’t that just how the Enemy works – co-opting all God intended for good with the artificial? Even if it were my own children, whom I would love and continue to support, I would lovingly advise them of my opposition and decline to attend this particular event, holding marriage in higher regard, and if, like the rich young ruler, they would choose to walk away in anger or disappointment from a parent who loves them enough to speak truth, then as heartbreaking as that would be, so be it.

"I think attending a gay “marriage” ceremony or civil union implies tacit approval of an artificial substitute to marriage that is an affront to the sacredness of it."

I respectfully disagree with this due to the fact that we're all in the same boiling pot of water called life, and thus, does our mere existence here validate the worldy view that has enthralled our neighbors, friends, and family?
No, it hasn't, and yet here we are, arguing, struggling to remain faithful in a world that hates that faithfulness.

So, I disagree that going to one of these civil unions, or laughably, "gay" marriage is validating the act because regardless of whether we attend or not, it still exists here in the here and now.

Now, this is what I see: the world does what it does for it's own reasons...and me, us, all of us Christian leveling a standard of expected Christian behavior on a nation that isn't a nation of Christians, has no idea whom Christ is, and in fact has more pretend Christians than it does true followers indicates to me that we, here, now, are confronted with a reality that means we cannot expect Christian behavior from non-Christians...it is wrong.

Let me paraphrase for effect: Expecting Christian behavior from non-Christians is wrong, and worse, stupid. Like teaching a pig to dance...all you'll do is get frustrated, and the pig gets a buddy to wallow in the mud with.

Y'shua did not force people to believe in him...he gave them the choice...and they had the choice..and still have the choice...but if we level expectations of behavior on people who have no idea who Y'shua is...that isn't a choice, that's coercion to act in a manner that we know is impossible to abide by if they do not have the spirit of G-d to sustain them.

And they will never know who G-d is if we keep to ourselves and pretend the world is a Christian world...which, it is not.

The attitude of this article, "mopping the floor with Joel Osteen's perfectly quaffed hair," and Mr. Mohler's statement, reflects what's wrong Christianity. Christians end up looking like self-righteous hypocrites who enjoy making fun of others and have no problem attending the wedding of any other sinner, but homosexuals, God forbid! Sorry guys, this article doesn't have any fragrance of Jesus in it.

Al is absolutely correct. Marriage, by definition, is between one man and one woman. Therefore, I would not attend the wedding of an Muslim who wanted to add a second wife to his family.

Jesus hung around sinners. He hung around people the pharisee's were no longer ministering too. He went to a party and watched people get drunk. In fact, many thought he was a drunkard because he was at parties. How are we to influence people for Christ if we are not willing to enter into their world? It puzzles me why some would not attend. I would not attend just to attend but if I had a relationship with that person I would be there in a heart beat. It doesn't mean you condone what they do but it does communicate you love them unconditionally. I believe this was one of Jesus' main teachings - to love God and to love others. He didn't put any parameters around who we should love - he simply said to love them. Hating what someone does or hating how they live their life and hating their life choices does not mean you have to hate them. Yes it is sin but one needs to remember that we all have sinned - you are no better than gay people getting married. Aren't you glad someone didn't give up on you when you didn't know Christ? Is Mr. Mohler right? Not completely. It does sound like he is pretty bitter. Bitterness to me is sin. Bitterness doesn't alow us to love people - just hate them. Mr. Osteen is partly right but I don't totally agree with him either. I doubt he has many gay people coming to his church.

Saying that Jesus ate with sinners is different than saying he celebrated with them in a pagan festival where eating occurred. You do NOT see Jesus partaking in an anti-Jewish ceremony in the Bible anywhere, to my knowledge.
I eat with sinners often. I have had friends that are gay, but they have known my stance. I would not attend a homosexual ceremony, as I believe it is condoning the union. I am not a minister but I am a believer ahd I believe that my actions are not only observed by God, but by my fellow believers and especially non-believers. They want to watch and see if what I profess with my mouth actually matches up with my actions. I pray that is does as much as possible.

as none of us is perfect,we shouldn't be pointing the finger at anyone

So yes, this is a very difficult, heart-wrenching, soul-searching question. I am dealing with it right now. My cousin just announced his engagement to his boyfriend. I love my cousin. I am happy he is happy, but am saddened he is committing sin. Yes, I am a Christian and believe engaging in homosexual behavior is a sin.

So, my line of thought was, "Well, I attended my other cousin's wedding when she was pregnant. Why is this any different?" I should attend and offer my congratulations as I did to her. Then I thought about what a marriage is, a commitment to follow God's wish for us to marry. So, of course it's a celebration. There was sin in the past, but it was not going to continue. However, in a homosexual marriage, the sin is going to continue.

Some thoughts, I still don't know what I'll do.

There are a lot of comments here. I guess this is an issue that hits close to home with both sacred and secular alike. Homosexuality is a sin like any other. To live in our sin is wrong and immoral, it is against a Holy God. There are several verses dealing with homosexuality, but I do not want to quote them out of context and they would take a long time to explain further.

As Christians we are to love the sinner, not the sin. To be in the world, but not of the world. Jesus loves homosexuals this is true. He does not, however, support them in their choices or that sin. We are called to encourage people and to help them see that their sin is wrong. We are not here to judge.

As for the hypothetical situation: I would not attend the wedding of my friend. I would not attend the wedding if it was my father, sister, son, or cousin. I think there are other ways to say I love you or I'll be there for you, without supporting a sinful decision. If you are a true friend and you show that you care for that person's soul and life. I do not see them being upset with you for not going. I see them forgiving you if it offended them. Just my opinion and beliefs.

Are we really suggesting that the presence of a Christian automatically endorses a situation?!

Just have a look who Jesus spent his time with!

Jesus may have eaten with sinners, but he wasn't endorsing their sin. It's not as if he told them "Hey, I think it's cool what you guys do. I endorse your sin. Go and freely live your lives of sin". He wouldn't have attended a same-sex marriage and then simply clapped his hands in celebration of their union, joyfully telling them "Go in peace, knowing I accept your union as holy". He would have said "Repent".

There is a misinterpretation of God love when we use the fact that Jesus hung out with sinners to justify attending a ceremony that openly celebrates a sin as detestable as this. We are all sinners and everyone Jesus came into contact with was a sinner. He never supported our sin, ever. How can a Christian support or celebrate a sinful union? Choosing not to attend does not reflect a lack of love for the people involved, even if they see it that way. It is a reflection of my love for Jesus and what is right according to scripture. It would upset me greatly should my friends allow my decision to not attend affect our relationship; however I am accountable to God. Entire cities were destroyed in part because of this specific sin. Gods Holiness is not to be taken lightly. Using the love of Jesus argument to justify certain actions is unacceptable. He loves us greatly but he also hates sin so much that he flooded the earth. We as Christ followers need to stand up for what is right in and God honouring otherwise our message will lose its flavour. We’re so afraid to offend other people that we end up offending God in the process. I was shocked and saddened to see the amount of brothers and sisters who say they would attend such a disgraceful celebration. My love and prayers are with you all.

Blessings!

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Not many of these comments have been helpful or thoughtful. My daughter is getting married and we are struggling with this. Maria's point was well taken: I think if the people who invited you are close to you (family member, friend from kindergarten on up, etc.), you really have to weigh it carefully, with full counsel from Holy Spirit. A gay child could cut you from their life for years if you refuse to attend their gay wedding ceremony. And if they're close to you, they KNOW where you stand on the whole thing anyway, so nobody's thinking your attendance is an endorsement of the lifestyle. I do have to say, though, that in the case of someone high-profile, like Joel Osteen, that is a little different. His attendance draws a lot more attention, and carries a lot more weight, by virtue of his celebrity status (like it or not, that's what it boils down to; Osteeen is a very well-known preacher, which makes him a celebrity).

I think I'm going to go with this.