By Rita Lady Part of my morning routine often includes a cup of coffee, breakfast, prayer, and a sermon from pastor Alistair Begg with Truth for Life Ministries. Begg, known for his reformed biblical orthodoxy and verse by verse teaching caused many in Christendom, including myself, to clutch their pearls and rend their clothes over the past few weeks.
During an interview about pastor Begg's book (based on Luke 6) "The Christian Manifesto: Jesus' Life-Changing Words from the Sermon on the Plain," he recounts a grandmother who wrote him a letter for advice on whether or not she should attend her grandson's same-sex wedding. Begg's advice was "I suggest you do go to the ceremony and I suggest you buy them a gift." According to Begg, his response was conditional based on this particular instance and only under the circumstances that the grandson had been made aware of grandma's stance that as a Christian she could not affirm his lifestyle. Some argue that actions speak louder than words, therefore, attendance would be affirmation. Begg's follow up points in the interview was that the grandmother's absence would reinforce the thought that Christians are "judgmental" and "critical." He goes on to state that if believers want to "build bridges" in the hearts of those who don't know Jesus, we are going to have to "take that risk a lot." After receiving backlash, American Family Radio, the organization that streams his Truth for Life radio show, reached out to pastor Begg to recant his position. His team responded that Begg wold not recant, after which, his show was dropped. Begg preached a response sermon in which said he would not rethink or repent of the advice he gave the grandmother. Subsequent cancellations for speaking engagements with pastors such as John MacArthur followed. The Beatitudes of Luke 6 is a fundamental Christian doctrine that reminds us to be merciful, truthful, pray for our enemies and turn the other cheek. It is also the section of scripture touted by those who hate God and love their sin. "Judge not" is used to silence Christians who tell blasphemers to repent and place their faith in Christ, the redeemer who died for all our sins. This is what we are called to do despite discomfort and perceptions of intolerant bigotry. We are not the first Christians to have our faith tested in wicked times. Men banged on Lot's door and demanded sexual relations with the angels he hosted inside. Under threat from a lawless mob, Lot, who was counted as righteous in 2 Peter 2:7, remained steadfast and would not allow the abominable thing to happen on his watch. God was forced to disinfect the whole region of it's wickedness with sulfur rain, but not before leading Lot and his family to safety. Danger and all sorts of heresies grow alongside a road hewn from human strategy rather than reliance on Jesus the cornerstone; the simple gospel and God's means to salvation. In our plight to preach the gospel, expose heresies, pray for enemies, and love our neighbor as ourselves, we must not acquiesce to the world's version of tolerance promoted by the King of the Air. We must instead unapologetically hold fast to God's standard of love and righteousness as laid out in the Bible. "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who [u]are perishing, but to us who [v]are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.'" 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
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