Alistair Begg, the well-known former pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, OH and the voice of Truth for Life, a broadcast ministry heard on more than 1800 radio stations across America, found himself in the midst of a controversy. To use his own words, he “set the cat among the pigeons” by suggesting to a grandmother she should attend her granddaughter’s wedding to a transgender person. The response was swift and strong. Begg’s radio program was removed from some stations and online outlets. He was asked not to speak at an upcoming conference. Articles and blog posts condemned Begg. But he held firm. “If I’ve got to go down on the side of one or the other, I’ll go down on the side of compassion.”
Most recently in my own denomination, Pastor Wayne Fredericksen of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Arlington, VA, resigned his call and his place on the clergy roster. In a letter to his congregation Wayne wrote:
“This week, I was informed that the President of the Synod was reviewing accusations that were brought up against me concerning my ministry. The accusations included the pastoral care I offered to a transgender individual five years ago, including a picture of me wearing a stole created by the individual as an art project with images of which I was not aware of the meaning. I do not own the stole nor did I ever wear it in worship. The photo’s purpose was to show the individual’s professor how the stole looked on a person. Alongside this, my attendance at my daughter’s legal union to her female partner renders me ineligible to continue serving as a pastor in the LCMS, including as Senior Pastor at Our SaviorLutheran Church. While I did not participate in the ceremony, offer prayers, or give my daughter away, my presence with her in photographs has been cited as one of the reasons for this decision.”
Is attending a wedding between gay or transgender people against God’s will? What if they are your son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter? A close friend? Anyone else who is important in your life?
In Luke 15 we are told the following:
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (v. 1-2, ESV)
Do the Pharisees have a point here? Jesus is not only “receiving” them (the underlying Greek word is defined, “receive, welcome; accept, hold”) but he is eating with them. Table fellowship was a HUGE deal in Jesus’ day. Having a meal with someone implied a relationship. By eating with sinners like tax collectors and prostitutes Jesus could easily be seen as endorsing their sin. The religious leaders may indeed have been right to be concerned.
So why did Jesus attend the feast that Matthew held for fellow tax collectors and other outcasts in Luke 5? Why did he head to the Roman Centurion’s home in Luke 7? Why did he allow the sinful woman to touch him while dining at the Pharisee’s home later in that same chapter? Why did he attempt to stay in a Samaritan village in Luke 9? It happens again and again. No wonder the religious leaders were concerned! To address their concerns, Jesus tells them three parables.
In the first, a sheep is lost and the shepherd goes out after it. In the second, a coin is lost and the woman who lost it goes to great lengths to find it. In the third two sons are lost (one far away, and one very close) and the father goes out to each of them so that they might be restored. In each of these parables the point is clear: people matter to Jesus, and he is willing to risk giving some (the religious leaders) the impression that he is endorsing sin so that he can do all he can to love people and welcome them into a relationship with their God.
Alistair Begg, in his sermon following all the fallout of his advice to a grandmother, focused especially on Jesus’ third parable. He made special note of the fact that as the first son is returning the father chases after him “while he was still a long way off.” How did the father see him coming? He was desperately looking for his son. He runs and embraces him and kisses him, even before he hears a single word of repentance from his boy. What did the others in the village think? The father is not concerned about that. Only his love for his son guides his actions.
When the older brother hears the party that has ensued, he does not enter the house. He sends a servant to find out what is going on. When he finds out it is a party for his long-lost brother, he refuses to go in. Why? He prefers to avoid his brother. He is worried his attendance will be seen as an endorsement of his brother’s actions and his father’s all-too-quick forgiveness. He does not want people to think he is fine with all this. Note again what the father does. He could easily send a servant to fetch his missing son. But instead he rises from the table, leaves his guests and the party behind, and goes out to his son. His love for this son leads him to risk offending his guests and again guides his actions.
Jesus’ point is clear. It explains why he would attend Matthew’s feast, run to a Roman officer’s home, let a sinful woman touch his feet, use a Samaritan woman with issues to evangelize her village, stay at Zacchaeus’s home, and on and on. Chasing after people is more important to him than the risk of being seen as endorsing sin. I take great comfort in the fact that no matter where I go, no matter how far I fall, no matter what sin I have become involved in, Jesus will come chasing after me!
Alistair Begg told the grandmother she should attend her granddaughter’s transgender wedding because he knew how much that grandmother loved her granddaughter. He knew showing that love and maintaining a relationship was more important than the appearance of endorsement. He knew that God could use that continued relationship to bring God’s love into the life of that granddaughter and her partner.
Pastor Fredericksen attended his daughter’s same-sex wedding because he dearly loves his daughter. His attendance showed his daughter the same unconditional love he has received from his Savior. He was not making a theological statement or blanket endorsement, despite what some believe. He was doing what I believe Jesus would have done, and it should not have cost him his ministry. I understand there are other issues involved with his case, and I am not minimizing them. But on this issue I strongly support his decision to be there for his daughter.
So… what do you do when asked to attend a same-sex or transgender wedding? I believe you should find a time to lovingly and personally share your concerns. And then surprise them by showing up in your best clothes and with a smile on your face.
It’s what Jesus did.
If you would like to help Pastor Wayne Fredericksen and his family during this time of transition you can do that here: GoFundMe
IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog post is NOT seeking in any way to challenge or disagree with LCMS doctrine on marriage, sexuality, or gender. It IS meant to engage in a conversation about the application of that doctrine and the pastoral care of devout, faithful LCMS Lutherans.