If Alistair Would Repent of His Unbiblical Counsel…
“Had he come out and said he messed up, rethought his advice and apologized/repented, his stock would have gone way, way up. It is sad that he did not.”
Those are the words from a text that a wiser, older, faithfully prominent leader sent me as I spoke to him about how to process what we’ve been witnessing. He added,
“[his sermon on Sunday night] was a golden opportunity to model that for a watching world [as a 70+ year old pastor, we all stumble in various ways and need Christ until the end].”
If you have not already been aware, Alistair Begg counseled a grandmother to not only attend her grandchild’s transgender wedding, but to bring them a gift. His counsel was based on his view that it was “loving our enemies” to behave this way. He does not support gay marriage, nor was he teaching a heresy about the Gospel, but his advice was shockingly out of bounds for a man who has been one of the most steady voices of truth to a generation. His radio program, Truth for Life, is supposed to live up to its name, and as a result of his counsel, radio stations dropped him, and Shepherd’s Conference had to remove him from the lineup this year. This is a situation that every Christian should think deeply about and it will only become more common in this modern world we live in.
My purpose in writing this article is to mainly accomplish 2 goals:
That the precious souls at Shepherd’s House, who are under my spiritual care, would have clarity on what we would counsel, but also how myself and our elders would approach this issue.
That the dear friends, individual partners, church partners, and faithful followers of For the Gospel would know the same clarity.
Should you need to get up to speed on what has transpired, here are 2 links to what I would consider reliable and reputable sources (including 2 of my friends):
First, I’ll explain what I believe to be the error of his counsel and what I believe to be more accurate and faithful to Scripture. Second, I want to debunk a caricature of Christians today that often gets weaponized in situations like this. Third, I want to list several things I believe would happen if Alistair Begg repented of his bad counsel.
1: CORRECTING THE COMPROMISED COUNSEL
To put it plainly, there are 5 categories of weddings we might consider, 2 of which we might attend for the purpose of supporting the couple.
A Christian, biological male marrying a Christian, biological female. This is good and right in God’s eyes as a male and female leave and cleave, becoming one flesh (Matthew 19:5-6), joining together in the covenant of marriage.
A non-Christian, biological male marrying a non-Christian, biological female. God still causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). Likewise, He allows His creation to enjoy the good gift of union in marriage, according to His distinct design. There is nothing in Scripture that would prohibit a man and a woman from enjoying God’s good gift of marriage, even though both are dead in sin.
A Christian, biological male/female, marrying a non-Christian, biological male/female. This is against 2 Corinthians 6:14, and is a direct violation of God’s order that people be “equally yoked.” No Christian is permitted to marry a non-Christian.
An LGBTQ+ individual marrying an LGBTQ+ individual. While the laws of our country permit this, the law of God does not.
A Christian who has committed an unbiblical divorce, marrying any individual. God does not permit a Christian who has sinfully abandoned their spouse or committed adultery to simply “pick up and leave” for another marriage. The Christian who engages in an unbiblical divorce and then remarries is guilty of adultery since God did not permit the original divorce (Matt. 5:32; Mark 10:11-12)
Of these 5 scenarios, only the first 2 would be permissible according to Scripture and only the first 2 should be a place where a Christian seeks to either celebrate God’s glorious design and the covenant that reflects Christ (Christian+Christian) or support the union under common grace while being a witness for the gospel by attending. By “common grace” I mean God’s merciful allowance that wicked people enjoy His good gifts during life on earth even if they do not worship Him or put faith in Christ. Perhaps the one caveat that could be offered is that a Christian should or could attend a wedding in the other categories if they were certain the opportunity would arise to oppose the union publicly. Remember the old school wedding ceremony moment: “If there is anyone here who has a reason that these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace!” At that moment, you speak, then make sure your spouse has already submitted your valet parking ticket and brought the car around for your exit. You’re likely done for the evening.
In our counsel to people, we want to always encourage them to be an ambassador for the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). We want people to love their enemies (Matthew 5:43-44). But in no way, shape, or form do Christians need to attend an unbiblical wedding to accomplish that. Nor is it Pharisaic to refuse to attend. Jesus did, in fact, dine with sinners, but for the sole purpose of reaching their hearts, not participation in their debauchery. Just because He turned water into wine does not mean He would join in getting drunk on wine. Likewise, Christ came to save sinners, but that does not mean He would attend their open defiance of God’s design as though it were the only opportunity to be a witness. There are plenty of other avenues by which we can evangelize, love, and reach out to LGBTQ+ family members and those who are in flagrant sin by engaging in an unholy union.
2: DON’T BELIEVE THE GRACELESS NARRATIVE
The majority of Christians get falsely characterized as graceless people for standing on the truth and presented as those who only judge, when in fact, genuine Christians are some of the most gracious and forgiving people you’ll ever meet — especially when you repent of your sin. We have been forgiven much, therefore, we forgive (Matthew 6:14). Yes, there will always be some Christians who are hurt, angry, and bitter that respond with scoff and Pharisaical disdain when another Christian repents and asks for forgiveness. Unfortunately, that’s what dominates the Twittersphere and becomes the noisiest narrative, but don’t buy it. When someone genuinely repents, we are largely a people who not only forgive but rave over the redemptive storyline that revolves around the gospel. Like the father whose prodigal son came home after his lustful pursuit of wickedness, we might declare, “Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:22-24).
3: IF ALISTAIR WOULD REPENT…
I know he has doubled and tripled down on his view, and I do believe we must now be incredibly careful of his teaching and more so of his counsel. If he is proving to be this stubborn and wrong with his counsel at this stage, it is our prerogative to test everything else he teaches from here. I am not saying we “cancel him” or burn his books, but there is no room for a lack of discernment. Amid that careful attitude, I don’t want us swinging into extremes. I genuinely want us to be a people who walk the balance of grace and truth like Christ. If Alistair would repent, we…
Would welcome him and his faithful ministry as modeling what he’s preached for decades.
Would “cover his sin” with love, because he has repented of horribly damaging counsel.
Would even more so appreciate his quote: “The best of men are men at best.”
Would be a chorus of grace: “We forgive, Christ forgives, onward in grace.”
Would be a careful people: “No one is immune to giving bad counsel.”
Would be encouraged to see that kind of humility from prominent leadership.
Would know that he is a man who listens to wise counsel from those close to him.
Would see the power of repentance, grace, and the unity of the church.
I pray that he will reconsider his counsel and repent of a misstep. But even more than that, I pray that we would be a diligent, vigilant, humble, teachable, unwavering people because if this could happen to him at 71 and with decades under his belt, far be it from us to think we can let our guard down. Let’s stay accountable, and ultimately, submissive to Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:12 reminds us all, “Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.”
