Lately, I have realized something about myself. I love reading books. Ok, I did not just find that out (though I hated to read, even refused to read before age 20). However, books do not always keep you up to date with current issues. So, though I am not to obsessed with finding balance, I do need to make sure that some of my reading keeps me relevant.
For this reason, the other day I suscribed to the magazine Christianity Today. Now, I think it equally important to read, get information, and stay updated from sources that are NOT “Christian.” That being said, I like the wide array of topics that Christianity Today addresses (another great source geared toward Millennials is Relevant Magazine and their website). The picture above is from an article in the latest edition. Ok, enough about this.
So, would you? As a follower of Jesus Christ, would you attend the wedding (assuming you are in a state in our Union that allows it) of a gay friend of family member? Implicit in this question is the moral stance that homosexuality is in fact a sin, a lifestyle condemned in the Scriptures as anti- God’s will (I do not want to debate in this blog whether or not homosexuality is a sin for those who do not hold to an orthodox view).
Would you attend? Why?
Would you not attend? Why?
Do you not know?
And if your response is that you do not have any gay friends or acquintances, why?
I think the only question that really matters here is, “Which response would honor Jesus Christ the most?”
B.J. Condrey, Ph.D. 
Love the sinner but hate the sin.
No I would not attend a homosexual wedding as it is against Jehovahs teachings concerning such filth.
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One would almost not be able to skip the wedding for a sole purpose of being a Christian.
“If they accept the Lord and have goodwill, who am I to judge them? They shouldn’t be marginalized.” – Pope Francis
The only option available to skip out of a homosexual wedding is due to personal struggle. If you’re under conviction for a lifestyle you’ve been in and attending a wedding is temptation, nonattendance is understandable. However, this should be communicated to the friend and/or family member involved. It’s a respect matter, and it’s a chance to show love through your personal struggle.
Skipping a chance to shine your light defies the love of Christ. It’s troubling to see Christians endorse a hatred for an easy to target situation, meanwhile rejecting criticism for more complicated or even sins we like to commit ourselves.
I have homosexual friends, I have personally asked for an invitation to their wedding. I will attend, and I won’t cower(defined: crouch down in fear) the light of Jesus to only shine in personally comfortable environments. Friendship is friendship. Family is family. Love is love.
A few thoughts I base my comments on:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – Jesus Christ (John 13:34-35)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” – Jesus Christ (John 15:12)
“This is my command: Love each other” – Jesus Christ (John 15:17)
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
“Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9)
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (1 Peter 1:22)
“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” (1 John 3:11)
“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”(1 John 3:23)
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:11-12)
“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.” (2 John 1:5)
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