For the past few weeks, Alistair Begg, pastor of Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and host of the Truth for Life radio program, has been caught in what he calls “a storm in a teacup” over advice he gave about attending an LGBTQ wedding.
That advice, he said in a sermon this past weekend, was based on Jesus’ command for Christians to like even those they disagree with or disapprove of.
“Jesus said you might be imagined to love your enemies,” said Begg, drawing on a series of Bible texts to assert that Christians should show compassion—and never condemnation—for many who have gone astray.
The sermon was a response to an argument over comments Begg made during a promotional interview for a book last fall, which recently went viral on social media. During the interview, Begg recounted talking to a lady whose grandchild was getting married to someone who was transgender. Begg, who opposes same-sex weddings, suggested she go to the marriage and convey a present. By doing so, she would show her love for her grandchild—regardless that she didn’t approve of the marriage.
“Your love for them may catch them off guard, but your absence will simply reinforce the proven fact that they said, ‘These persons are what I at all times thought: judgmental, critical, unprepared to countenance anything,’” the evangelical pastor said. He added that Christians would need to take risks as a way to show like to those around them.
Begg’s comments set off a firestorm amongst a few of his fans and supporters—particularly those in conservative Calvinist and other evangelical communities. White evangelicals remain considered one of the least likely of all US religious groups to support same-sex marriage, in response to the Public Religion Research Institute.
Thirty-eight percent of white evangelicals say they support same-sex marriage, in response to PRRI. By contrast, 87 percent of nones, 81 percent of Jews, 77 percent of Buddhists, 77 percent of white mainline Protestants, and about three-quarters of Catholics approve of same-sex marriage.
Begg had been scheduled to talk in March on the Shepherds Conference, a significant Reformed evangelical pastors’ gathering led by California pastor and creator John MacArthur. After Begg’s comments became public, he and MacArthur talked and decided the controversy can be “an unnecessary distraction,” in response to a spokesman for Grace to You, considered one of the conference sponsors.
“Pastor MacArthur’s counsel on that issue can be completely different from the counsel Alistair Begg said he gave an inquiring grandmother,” said Phil Johnson, executive director of Grace to You told Religion News Service in an email. “So each agreed that it was vital for Pastor Begg to withdraw.”
American Family Radio, an evangelical broadcasting network, droppedTruth for Life, a program based on Begg’s sermons, last week after his advice resurfaced and went viral.
It also led to a series of articles by other Christian leaders, saying Christians mustn’t attend LGBTQ weddings. “After all, attendance in order to point out ‘love’ or avoid giving offense is a type of blessing, just without the name,” wrote Carl Trueman, professor of biblical and non secular studies at Grove City College, for the Catholic publication First Things.
Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association, hosted a special broadcast explaining why the group parted ways with Begg. Wildmon said the ministry got calls complaining concerning the broadcast—and reached out to Begg, whose radio program had appeared on AFR for greater than a decade.
“The goal of the decision was reconciliation, but reconciliation with truth,” said Walker Wildmon, an AFA vp. He added that Begg refused to back down from his comments, which Walker Wildmon in comparison with a dad offering to drive his alcoholic child to a bar.
A staffer from Parkside Church told Religion News Service that Begg has no comment about being dropped from American Family Radio.
Begg, a native of Scotland who has lived within the United States for 4 many years, said he has long taught that sex outside of a wedding between a person and a lady is improper—and so he was surprised on the controversy over his comments and the accusations that he had abandoned Christian teaching.
“Now, we are able to disagree over whether I gave that grandmother good advice. Or not,” he said. “Not everybody on the pastoral team thinks I gave superb advice.”
During the sermon, he drew from the New Testament parable of the prodigal son—which emphasizes forgiveness over judgment—and the parable of the nice Samaritan, which emphasizes compassion over claims of holiness. Both stories, he said, showed the facility of God’s grace.
He also drew from a story Jesus told of a shepherd who had 100 sheep and lost considered one of them—and left the 99 behind to seek out the one which was lost.
“I inform you that in the identical way there can be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous individuals who don’t must repent,” Jesus says in Luke 15.
Begg warned his congregation about Christians who seem unwilling to point out grace or forgiveness to others, telling his congregation to be wary of pastors who’re desirous to loudly condemn sinners. Begg said he was considering together with his “grandfatherly hat” when he gave that advice, hoping to assist that grandmother show God’s love
“All I used to be serious about was how can I help this grandmother,” Begg said, adding that he didn’t want her to lose her grandchild.
To a special person in several circumstances, he said, he may need given different advice. But he has no plan to repent of his advice, irrespective of what happens on social media.
Begg also said he was glad his advice to this grandmother—slightly than his other sermons about sexuality—had gone viral.
“Because If I’ve got to go down on the side of 1 or the opposite, I’ll go down on this side,” he said. “I’ll go down on the side of compassion.”
