In today’s Evangelical landscape, a seismic shift is unfolding, notably influenced by movements like Revoice and Living Out that have influenced Evangelical churches and advocate for a more inclusive approach within the church toward aberrant sexualities. Revoice, which emerged within Presbyterian (PCA) and Southern Baptist circles, promotes a perspective on “same-sex attraction” that is intertwined with contemporary pop psychology and personal experience rather than Scripture.

Similarly, Living Out calls for “inclusivity” and “empathy” towards homosexuals in the church, which has resonated with compromised Evangelical institutions such as The Gospel Coalition (TGC) and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). This trend marks a drastic departure from the historic Church and traditional, orthodox biblical views on sexuality and marriage and mirrors the broader cultural movement towards inclusivity.

This ideological shift poses an important challenge to the Evangelical Church—to navigate the tension between upholding biblical doctrine and conforming to societal pressures. For those of us committed to a traditional, conservative approach to Scripture, these developments are alarming and represent the broader Church’s abandonment of biblical authority, especially on human sexuality and marriage. This juncture calls for uncompromising conviction and a firm commitment to the authority of Scripture amidst a rapidly evolving cultural and theological landscape.

In light of this recent trend to capitulate on homosexuality, particularly as it relates to Christians compromising by attending the “weddings” (we know they’re not real weddings), here are ten reasons why Christians should never do so:

1.) Contradiction of Biblical Marriage Doctrine: This is probably the most obvious reason and goes without saying, but it’s also the most important reason. Traditional Christian doctrine teaches that marriage is a sacred institution established by God between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Attending a homosexual will be seen as endorsing a view of marriage that contradicts this foundational biblical teaching, even if that isn’t the intent. Why would one attend if they didn’t agree with it? Is this what God would want? Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)

2.) Implicit Endorsement of Sin: The Bible categorizes homosexual acts as sinful (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27). By attending such a “wedding,” it will be perceived that one is tacitly endorsing these practices, which conflicts with the call to live a life in obedience to Scripture. Similar to number 1, Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3) The Bible calls us to “take no part” in sin, rather expose it (Ephesians 5:11).

3.) Compromise of Witness: Christians are called to be witnesses to the truth of God’s Word (Acts 1:8). Participating in events that celebrate practices contrary to biblical teachings clearly compromises this witness and dilutes the message of the gospel and the call to repentance and faith.

4.) Love in Truth: While Christians are called to love all people (Matthew 22:39), this love does not entail condoning actions that are contrary to God’s will. True love involves speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), which means not participating in events that celebrate what the Bible considers sin. Participating in such an event hinders our ability to speak truthfully when we should be.

5.) Respect for Authority of Scripture: By not attending, a Christian demonstrates a respect for the authority of Scripture as the final guide in matters of faith and conduct, including social issues and the definition of marriage.

6.) Guarding Personal Convictions: Attending a homosexual “wedding” should conflict with a Christian’s personal convictions, which are formed and informed by their understanding of biblical teachings. If they do not, one should examine rather they are truly in the faith. It’s important for Christians to guard these convictions to maintain a clear conscience before God (Romans 14:22-23).

7.) Avoiding Confusion in the Church: Participation in a homosexual “wedding” creates confusion and even stumbling blocks within the Christian community, especially among new believers or those struggling with understanding biblical teachings on sexuality and marriage.

8.) Prioritizing God’s Approval over Social Pressure: Choosing not to attend such an event may go against societal norms or pressures, but it prioritizes seeking God’s approval rather than conforming to the patterns of the world (Romans 12:2). The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 1:10 that when we begin to seek man’s approval over God’s, we cease to be His servants.

9.) Faithfulness to Christian Doctrine: This choice reflects a commitment to living out one’s faith authentically and faithfully, in accordance with the doctrines and teachings of orthodox Christianity, even when it’s countercultural. It demonstrates that we actually believe what we say we believe and preach. James 1:22 calls us to not deceive ourselves by being hypocritical hearers of the word only but to actually be doers of the word.

10.) Upholding the Sanctity of Marriage and the Gospel: Finally, and very importantly, by abstaining from attending the “wedding” of homosexuals, Christians uphold the sanctity of marriage as defined in the Bible, affirming its unique role and purpose in God’s design for humanity as well as His redemptive purposes. Ephesians 5:31, states, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh…” Marriage is a picture of the gospel, and if we distort that picture, we distort the gospel

I hope this gives you food for thought. Of course, each of these topics could be expanded on, and if there is enough interest, I may do so one by one in separate articles. But this should be a good starting point for those struggling with how to answer and respond to this contentious issue. Should we approach the issue with pragmatism and what we think will work best? Or should we be obedient to God despite what we think or feel?