In 2014, Russell Moore, then president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) advised Southern Baptists to attend a “gay wedding” reception as a gesture of affection towards a homosexual friend or relative. Moore was criticized for this stance, and rightly so, yet this stance was quickly adopted by the progressive stream of Southern Baptists and Evangelicals and has become the norm within movements such as Revoice.

Yet, Moore’s advice is inextricably entangled with a fundamental flaw—it tacitly endorses what Scripture explicitly identifies as an ungodly union. The Bible’s portrayal of marriage as a sacred covenant between a man and a woman is clear and non-negotiable. Deviating from this divine decree is not merely a transgression, it’s an act of defiance against God’s sovereignty. Participation in such ceremonies is far from benign, it’s a visible, public affirmation of a relationship that stands in direct opposition to the sanctity of marriage as ordained by God.

But, to be fair, Moore only suggested that one attend the reception, but not the actual wedding. Which is why it is amazing that any supposedly solid, Reformed Christian would not only take that stance, but take it even further, recommending to his followers that they not only attend the reception, but the actual ceremony as well—and to buy them a gift. But this is what Alistair Begg has done.

Alistair Begg is a widely respected pastor, author, and Bible teacher known for his evangelical Christian teachings and his leadership as senior pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio. During a recent podcast, Begg took a question from a listener who asked him about their grandson getting “married” to a transgender person.

I asked the grandmother, does your grandson understand your belief in Jesus? Yes. Does your grandson understand that your belief in Jesus makes it such that you can’t countenance in any affirming way the choices that he has made in life? Yes. I said, well, then, okay. As long as he knows that, then I suggest that you do go to the ceremony, and I suggest that you buy them a gift.

Listen to the justification Begg gives for allowing such evil. The Bible doesn’t say that we can participate in evil so long as the people we are participating in it with understand that we believe in Jesus. The Bible says the exact opposite—it says to Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph 5:11). What is a more unfruitful work of darkness than celebrating something that God despises with every fiber of His being? Was God there celebrating? No. What is God’s disposition toward such wickedness? That should be our disposition.

This is absolutely horrifying to hear coming from a man who is supposed to be as well-respected as Alistair Begg. Sadly, he’s been sliding for a number of years, and this is just the logical end of his compromise and typical of those influenced by The Gospel Coalition.

Here’s the clip: