Sexuality in Western culture is a mess. Within the last hundred years or so, we’ve devolved from a society that had, broadly speaking, a general understanding of, and compliance with, the Bible’s parameters for sex to today’s sexual mores that barely stop short of child molestation and bestiality, and permits – even encourages – nearly every other form of perversion.
It can be difficult to know how to approach these issues which have been suddenly thrust upon us, and with which the average person – Christian or not – has very little experience. How are Christians to think about, believe, and address these issues in our families, churches, and communities? Do we just go with the “live and let live” flow of modern society? No. As with every other issue in life, our thinking, our words, and our actions must be shaped by and in submission to the authority of Scripture. Not public opinion. Not political agendas. Not our own personal feelings, opinions, and experiences. Scripture.
The Bible makes sexuality and gender identity very simple for us. God created two sexes of people– male and female¹. God created marriage to be between one man and one woman. God created human sexuality and confined its use to a man and a woman who are married to each other. Every form of gender identity or human sexuality that falls outside these parameters is sin.
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Christians should not attend same sex weddings (or receptions, showers, bachelor parties, housewarmings, etc.) for any reason. (When it becomes legal, this will also apply to plural marriages and other unbiblical forms of “marriage”.) Regardless of your motives for attending, it appears to others and to the same sex couple as though you approve of their sin.
Often, the reason Christians will give for feeling they should attend a same sex wedding is that they are afraid declining to attend will cause the couple to cut off the relationship with them, closing the door to any future opportunity to share the gospel. But if you’re close enough to the couple to be invited to the wedding, shouldn’t you have already shared the gospel with them? Do you not trust that God can save someone, either immediately or in the future, from one instance of sharing the gospel? This person’s salvation does not rest on your shoulders. It can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit, and only in His timing. And whether you have or haven’t yet shared the gospel with the couple, what could your attendance at the wedding accomplish other than creating confusion? How can you support their “marriage” by attending the wedding and then turn around later and tell them they need to repent of this sin?
Additionally, attending the wedding sends the message to your children, family, church, friends, co-workers and others that you approve of the sin of homosexuality. We all have people watching us to see whether we stand with Christ or with the world. It’s imperative that we set a godly example.
Yes, if you decline to attend the wedding, you might lose your relationship with that homosexual friend or loved one. But Christ calls us to separate ourselves from the world and be loyal to Him even if it costs us everything — including those we love the most.
— michelle Lesley, Discipleship for Christian Women, Throwback Thursday ~ Basic Training: Homosexuality, Gender Identity, and Other Sexual Immorality, January 24, 2019
What an asshole.
I’d tell her to her face, but I don’t hang out where bitches like that congregate.
“Often, the reason Christians will give for feeling they should attend a same sex wedding is that they are afraid declining to attend will cause the couple to cut off the relationship with them, closing the door to any future opportunity to share the gospel.”
Yeah, that’s the reason. You and your judgmental hatred not coming to their wedding will be such a big flipping deal they will shut you out of their lives. Not that you are hateful and judgmental and keep telling them they are BAD and your God hates them. That’s not something that would have people push you away. Same-sex couples would be happy to have you stay away.
And what if it were one of her own children wanting to enter a same sex marriage? If she thinks it couldn’t happen in her circle then she’s delusional.
Incidentally, like many casual writers, she doesn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘devolve’, using it as the opposite of evolve. Devolve means to hand over power. I think she meant ‘regress’. I never normally criticise these small errors that we all commit occasionally, but I’ll do it against this bigot.
These ignorant folks don’t study biology. “God” does not always just “create” binary males and females. Some people are born intersex, some have XO, XXX, XXY, XYY, etc., chromosomes. When I bring it up to anti-gay bigots, the bigots just say, ” well, those cases are few and far between.” No, a$$hole, you just want to remain a bigot.
Years ago our company was planning a retreat at a nice hotel for weekend. Employees could bring their spouse or significant other to stay with them. Then our elderly, Catholic founder announced he and his former-nun wife would not be able to attend because unmarried couples (such as my fiance and I) would be staying together in their hotel rooms, and they could not stay at the same hotel with us! This placed our new management in the awkward position of having to restructure the entire event. Did it cause anyone to change their sinful practices? Hardly, but to this day I feel offended when I think back on it. Incidentally, did this couple ever stop to think that EVERY TIME they check into a hotel, they are surrounded by unmarried couples in the other rooms? My point being that you may think you are making a statement, when you are actually just creating hard feelings by refusing to participate in a joyful event. And as for, ” if you’re close enough to the couple to be invited to the wedding, shouldn’t you have already shared the gospel with them?” – maybe you were just invited to a co-worker’s wedding, or as a companion to someone else who was invited!?
Oh, and BTW, there are many observed homosexual practices in other species within the animal kingdom…
Lesley, you are a hateful and sadly stupid biped. This is the dangerous result of long-term damage. My diagnosis from afar is aggravated, evangelical Christianity…. Take fluids (sufficient to keep your mouth busy and closed) and for goodness sake, stay away from everybody who might still have some hope of love and basic hmanity in their lives.
Plural marriages are unbiblical….interesting. Fairly certain that was standard practice in the OT; Moses, David, Solomon – all the icons had wives and harems.
Unbiblical is now defined as “outside of my theology.”
EXCELLENT POINT…And to think how ‘christians’ love to play the ‘You’re cherry-picking the bible’ card to non-believers, and ‘nominal Christians’ seeking an ‘excuse’ to ‘keep on in sin & disobedience’! OH HOW SELF RIGHTEOUS HYPOCRISY ABOUNDS IN THE FAY-YETH!
“God created marriage to be between one man and one woman. God created human sexuality and confined its use to a man and a woman who are married to each other. Every form of gender identity or human sexuality that falls outside these parameters is sin.”
Oh, really? David had at least 8 wives and hundreds of concubines. Yet, he was praised and called a “man after God’s own heart.”
“Do you not trust that God can save someone, either immediately or in the future, from one instance of sharing the gospel? This person’s salvation does not rest on your shoulders.”
Then why does God need any of us to share the gospel? He can do it himself.
I’m not so sure they even believe that God ‘wants’ to save everybody, but I spoze that’s a pretty easy stance to take so long as you know you, and your clan are ‘in’!
wow. she is encouraging others to force their hateful views on their friends and family. does she think that ramping up the rudeness and snide remarks under the guise of witnessing will actually cause anyone to change what they are doing? she is just modeling the same crazy procedure the church has followed forever, just keep beating them up and they will cave to us. it is no longer working in our society and for that i am grateful. i have seen so many older xtians and pastors panicking and saying more bizarre things because they have difficulty with the fact that they are no longer in power or wanted. society has discarded their craziness and just ignores them now.