Should a Christian attend a gay wedding ?

[Divide]

I was trying to be helpful and pointing out something a lot of people don't realise about the rules. What you do with that, is up to you.

That's code talk for, I'm going to report you. I know.

But you can be capable of standing up on your own two feet and address these important issues that are before us. I think? Can you do that, or do you have to play oh the rules the rules, owie, oh I'm a girl too, owie owie!

Could you possibly, please, talk like an adult to the issue and without the distractions of the games?

You say that your camp has posted scriptures supporting your position. Ok, Good! May I have one from you? Please?

 

[Paidiske]

You say that your camp has posted scriptures supporting your position. Ok, Good! May I have one from you? Please?

I'll give you one I remember posting about; the discussion in Romans 14 about meat sacrificed to idols, and how those who differ on the right action - eating or not - ought not to judge one another. I suggested this is a good analogy to attending a gay marriage, and we ought to take Paul's words - "Who are you to pass judgement on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand" - seriously.

But it's late and I'm about to go to bed, so I'm not combing through 15 pages to give you every example.

 

[Divide]

I am arguing that the position that a Christian should never attend a same-sex marriage in any setting or situation

That's not how the question was posed in the OP. Besides, us Christians tend to think in terms of Marriage at a church because of the Godly presence and teachings and traditions that come with that.

Now you want to call foul and say, I didn't mean that, I meant a wedding by a non priest somewhere else?! Get real!

Show me in post #1 where it says anything of the kind! You got your answers. Sorry it wasnt the one you was wanting, but hey, it is what it is.

I'm fully aware that many jurisdictions will sell you a document with your name on it for $12 that says you and hiim are certificated Married! But that doesn't make it real. That only leaves them $12 dollars poorer.

 

[ralliann]

We are talking here of attending a wedding, not solemnising one. It is currently not legal for me, as an Anglican priest, to conduct a same-sex wedding in this country.* I am comfortable with that.

I am not arguing that Christian churches should conduct same-sex marriages. I am arguing that the position that a Christian should never attend a same-sex marriage in any setting or situation does not leave adequate room for people's differing relationships and circumstances, and that decision making on this is more complex than a simple black and white position.

*Australia has same-sex marriage but places restrictions on what ministers of religion may do; it's complicated but if you're really interested I can post a lot of detail about our marriage act.

So, you are comfortable with that that for you and your Church, but not for Christians in general. I suspect the very same convictions for this for you, are equal or near to it for Christians.

 

[Paidiske]

That's not how the question was posed in the OP.

I didn't see any caveats in the OP.

Besides, us Christians tend to think in terms of Marriage at a church because of the Godly presence and teachings and traditions that come with that.

I don't know what it's like where you live, but where I live, less than one quarter of weddings happen in a place of worship. I don't assume that a wedding is in a church, or according to religious rites.

Now you want to call foul and say, I didn't mean that, I meant a wedding by a non priest somewhere else?! Get real!

Again, let's note that it is illegal where I live, for a minister of most denominations to conduct a same-sex marriage.* So yes, when I think of gay marriage, I don't assume it's in a church, because it very likely isn't.

*Again, complexities of the Australian marriage act.

 

[Paidiske]

So, you are comfortable with that that for you and your Church, but not for Christians in general.

I think you've misunderstood me. I'm not arguing that Christians should have same-sex marriages in church, or attend a same-sex marriage if they don't want to or think it's wrong to do so. I'm only arguing that if some Christians do attend such a marriage, they're not automatically wrong to do so.

 

[Hazelelponi]

That's not how the question was posed in the OP. Besides, us Christians tend to think in terms of Marriage at a church because of the Godly presence and teachings and traditions that come with that.

Now you want to call foul and say, I didn't mean that, I meant a wedding by a non priest somewhere else?! Get real!

Show me in post #1 where it says anything of the kind! You got your answers. Sorry it wasnt the one you was wanting, but hey, it is what it is.

I'm fully aware that many jurisdictions will sell you a document with your name on it for $12 that says you and hiim are certificated Married! But that doesn't make it real. That only leaves them $12 dollars poorer.

The OP just discussed attending a wedding - it didn't say what kind.

I guess you don't watch shows on TV that show weddings much. I wasn't married in church either myself.

When I think "wedding", I pretty much never think of church weddings, so few people have them.

The last gay couple I actually knew in person who got married did so at their house... Not in a church, and the officiant was not religious in any way.

Did I attend that wedding? No... The woman worked for my husband and we weren't close enough to be on the invite list, though we were close enough to know what kind of problems she had getting it all together.

But that's the kind of wedding most gays have, plus that's actually closer to the norm for the kind of wedding most people have.

 

[Divide]

Who are you to pass judgement on servants of another?

Wow, that there IS a good scripture! But the problem is, it is not given in the context of gay Marriage. So it might be a cute analogy, but it is not a good analogy.

I will answer this question for you as you asked me, but I charge you to answer to me the same question in return! Deal? Ok. You guys heard her (Lol).

I am not one to pass judgement on any other man. That is not my responsibility. My responsibility is to speak the truth that the Lord God revealed to me, and many others. To sow seeds in other words. I would be wrong to pass judgement on Gays over Marriage.
Why can't you accept this?
Who are YOU to stand in Judgement of Christians who only seek to please God and elevate their spirits unto our Lord and Creator?

Are us Christians not allowed our beliefs? That my sister, is judgemental. So why be judgemental to the very crowd that you seek to accept you? We can't speak what we believe or it is an attack on you? But if you disagree so then you will put the Christians down as something bad...but you are not being judgemental. Uh, someone needs to explain that one again for me, lol!

Please grow up and think of better responses. I implore you. You can never sway my faith or my decision to never attend a gay wedding, and that is MY belief so it is not an attack on you. Understand? I can explain it for you but I can't understand it for you.

 

[ralliann]

I think you've misunderstood me. I'm not arguing that Christians should have same-sex marriages in church, or attend a same-sex marriage if they don't want to or think it's wrong to do so. I'm only arguing that if some Christians do attend such a marriage, they're not automatically wrong to do so.

But it shows differences of conviction between the two. That cannot be helped. The problem, it seems to me, are those who judge those of us who are convicted not to attend. After all that is what this entire discussion is about is it not?
I understand why these people want this. They want the next of kinship rights which exist in Marriage concerning their partners. That can be accomplished through civil unions.

 

[DragonFox91]

I wouldn’t, no. It’d be an endorsement of their lifestyle & I do not endorse it nor does God. Doesn’t mean I can’t be nice to the person or want to take away their right to get married.

Would you invite them to a baptism or a confirmation? Should they go to it? I don’t think they’d be offended if you didn’t so they shouldn’t feel offended if you don’t go to their wedding.

 

[Paidiske]

I would be wrong to pass judgement on Gays over Marriage.
Why can't you accept this?

I was not saying anything about the gay couple being married; I was talking about judging a Christian who would or did attend the wedding. That was what I was suggesting was analogous to the argument about eating or not eating meat sacrificed to idols.

Who are YOU to stand in Judgement of Christians who only seek to please God and elevate their spirits unto our Lord and Creator?

Not what I'm doing.

I have argued against two things in this thread: mistreatment (including slander) of gay people, and judging Christians who feel free to attend a gay wedding.

The problem, it seems to me, are those who judge those of us who are convicted not to attend.

I don't think anyone is taking issue with someone who feels convicted not to attend. If you feel so convicted, by all means don't go. But the same latitude ought to be offered to people who are not so convicted.

 

[Paidiske]

Would you invite non-believers to a baptism or a confirmation? Should they go to it? I don’t think so either.

Why on earth not? Isn't it good if non-believers can see someone turn to Christ in baptism?

 

[DragonFox91]

Why on earth not? Isn't it good if non-believers can see someone turn to Christ in baptism?

Would they be offended if you didn’t?

 

[Paidiske]

Would they be offended if you didn’t?

Would non-believers be offended if I didn't invite them to my baptism? If they were close family and friends, probably. Because those bonds mean sharing life's significant moments. My own parents are not churchgoers (I think my mum has some faith, dad probably more agnostic) but I invited them to my baptism (and my ordinations, and the first time I presided at communion), and they came, because they care about me and what's important to me.

 

[ralliann]

I wouldn’t, no. It’d be an endorsement of their lifestyle & I do not endorse it nor does God. Doesn’t mean I can’t be nice to the person or want to take away their right to get married.

Would you invite non-believers to a baptism or a confirmation? Should they go to it? I don’t think so either.

Who/what are you responding to? I wouldn't attend either one Civil union, or wedding. But to attatch "wedding" and "marriage" is to imply something that it is not. the joing of two in one flesh. If People mutually want kinship rights in their relationship and accomplish it through a civil process that is their business. Illness, death etc. would guarantee those rights to the partner, no matter how anyone felt about the relationship.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I wouldn’t, no. It’d be an endorsement of their lifestyle & I do not endorse it nor does God. Doesn’t mean I can’t be nice to the person or want to take away their right to get married.

Would you invite them to a baptism or a confirmation? Should they go to it? I don’t think they’d be offended if you didn’t so they shouldn’t feel offended if you don’t go to their wedding.

I would have asked my son (a non-Christian) to my baptism if he had been in the same state as me, but he was out of the state so I showed him the video of the event instead.

I think depending on who it is, it could be very important to have non-believers there, or at least get to see it. It's a major event.

A baptism is our public declaration for Christ - non-believers should be there. It's not very public if not.

 

[DragonFox91]

Would non-believers be offended if I didn't invite them to my baptism? If they were close family and friends, probably. Because those bonds mean sharing life's significant moments. My own parents are not churchgoers (I think my mum has some faith, dad probably more agnostic) but I invited them to my baptism, and they came, because they care about me and what's important to me.

Why would you be close friends w/ someone gay? My experience non-believers or those w/ different faiths try to lead you to their view every time & want you to endorse it. I'm guessing you already do.

 

[Divide]

I'll give you one I remember posting about; the discussion in Romans 14

Yes! Would you want to go through chapter 14 verse by verse with me and I can show you how it picks apart your little analogy that being same sex married is in scriptures because it is not. Give me your best verse to support same sex marriages from chapter 14. I'm getting the impression that you are repeating things you have heard but you havent even read the entire chapter. (I just did and I'm ready!) Better read the whole chapter first, lol.

Boy did you pick the wrong chapter to support your position, lol. I'm not attacking you, that is the word of God that I am talking about.

 

[Paidiske]

Why would you be close friends w/ someone gay?

I have a couple of people I consider close friends who are gay. I don't discount their friendship because of their sexuality; it's simply a non-issue.

My experience non-believers or those w/ different faiths try to lead you to their view every time & want you to endorse it.

Not my experience. Mutual respect is pretty foundational to genuine friendship, though.

 

[DragonFox91]

I have a couple of people I consider close friends who are gay. I don't discount their friendship because of their sexuality; it's simply a non-issue.

Not my experience. Mutual respect is pretty foundational to genuine friendship, though.

It appears it is an issue otherwise you wouldn't be defending it.