By Elizabeth Prata
Alistair Begg addresses controversial comments he’d made in an interview last September regarding counsel to a grandmother to attend wedding of her grandson and his transgender fiancé. He’d said as long as the grandma had made it clear she disapproved and had shared the Gospel, she should attend. The grandson might be surprised by her love, rather than her absence likely confirming her criticalness and judgmentalism.
The Interview was held between Bob Lepine and Begg, upon the occasion of the publication of Begg’s new book, “The Christian Manifesto.” That interview is here. Slide to 26:30 to hear the question posed to Begg and Begg’s controversial reply.
Though the interview was published in September 2023, it seemed to sink into the murk until it surfaced on January 18 and was shared on social media. A huge controversy ensued, with attendant discussion in all corners of the internet.
One of the major radio stations who carried Begg’s radio program Truth For Life contacted the ministry and had a lengthy conversation with Begg’s representatives, who assured American Family Radio that Begg meant what he said and was not changing his stance. The Radio ministry subsequently dropped Truth for Life from its roster of broadcasted programs.
This week, Begg said his colleagues had told Begg that it would be wise for Begg to acknowledge the tremendous amount of noise on the internet about this issue and to say something about it.
That statement occurred on January 28, 2024 at Parkside Church and was uploaded to the internet. His 46 minute sermon is titled Compassion vs. Condemnation, and the blurb says,
“How are Christians to walk the fine line between affirming and reviling those whose actions declare them to be God’s enemies? That is the question Alistair Begg seeks to answer as he addresses the controversy surrounding the counsel he gave to a grandmother in the summer of 2023. Turning to Luke 15, Alistair reminds us that the inclination toward pharisaism is alive and well within all our hearts. It is something we always must guard against—especially as we press on toward purity and holiness in the midst of an aimless and confused generation. Scripture: Luke 15 Preached: January 28, 2024.
I have not listened to it but I post it here as a follow up to the articles I published earlier on this issue. See what you think.
Previous entries on this topic:
Attending a transgender/gay wedding? Alistair Begg’s reply and the outcry
American Family Radio drops Begg’s program over same-sex advice
the-end-time.org 
I’m not sure if you’ve seen this and am sending a link, Justin Peters on “Can a Christian Attend a Homosexual/Trans Wedding?” – YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As7zQMbcefA
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Very appreciative of you posting Pastor Begg’s response without any additional commentary as it has allow me to practice discernment. His response through Luke 15 about the celebration of the prodigal son, didn’t include versus 17-20, in the son’s heart he repented and sought his father. His father having compassion sought the son from afar was Pastor Begg’s focus. I still consider Pastor Begg to be a faithful man after God’s heart as he tries to shepherd the church in being in the world but not of it, and respectfully disagree, even with the context of that specific situation, attending a wedding that mocks God’s design, but agree with the Bible as a wedding gift.
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Elizabeth, watch the sermon. LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
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I did. It’s pretty terrible.
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Interesting. I thought Pastor Begg clarified the controversy quite well, and reasonably so.
Nevertheless, pastors, teachers–all the Saints–need prayer in these tumultuous days of deception.
LORD Bless, Keep, Shine upon you always, Elizabeth. May Jesus work always through you in all that you do.
In His Service, Wil
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I agree! I have never heard Pastor beg manipulate scripture like he did The prodigal son to justify his advice to the grandmother. I was deeply saddened by this teacher. I have always respected his teachings. I am also wounded by his words for he makes the claim that those who do not attend these weddings are judgmental and condemning. Many of us have lost relationships with family members including our own children because we lovingly told them the truth. I pray I watch I wait I pray and I long for my daughter’s return for I deeply deeply love her
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My husband and I both watched. My husband was ok with his response and I was not. So Hoping and praying he would repent on the suggestion he gave the grandmom. ( He had made a remark about he repents every day but he does not need to repent on this advice. I am paraphrasing but if you listen you will hear this in his words his way)I was saddened to hear this. The Almighty Lord God knows our hearts!!! ♥️I am a 74 year old grandmom always praying for my grandchildren and others children because of these sexual issues the devil is confusing them with. I pray they will have an encounter with the Holy Spirit and be set free. I will always pray for Alistair Begg and truly hope he will see the Lord Jesus Christ true answer would have been to this grandmom was “to love and pray for your grandchildren but do not give in to lies of the devil”. Our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted in the wilderness and he stood against this temptation. He knows what we are up against and He and only He will direct us and strengthen us with the TRUTH.♥️🔥🔥🔥
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Christians don’t run away from opportunities to minister to the unsaved. This wedding would have been a perfect place to plant. I’d advise every brother and sister in Christ to do what I’ve done, find these events and crash them. You don’t need to even open your mouth. The enemy knows of your presence and will fight to contain your gifting and God’s grace being demonstrated by your obedience.
Mike Adney
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This isn’t about running away from ministering to the unsaved. Begg was clear that the Grandma said she was part of the boy’s life and had already shared the Gospel. This is about a theological test- how far will we tolerate sin? How far will we walk with a lawbreaker? How much will we celebrate and affirm sin? Attending a wedding means we are a witness to a celebration. We aren’t just audience members like at a play, we are there TO affirm the union. We cannot do that as Christians. A birthday party? Yes. It’s not a sin for a sinner to celebrate their birthday. A graduation? Yes, it’s not a sin for a sinner to achieve a goal. A wedding? Where one of the parties in the union has rejected his gender? No. Where they will enter into a union of perversity against an institution God created? No
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I agree, and I appreciate the examples you’ve given of a birthday party or graduation. The grandmother already knew she shouldn’t go but felt conflicted because she loves the grandson. Sometimes love must be tough, and at the end of the day affirming a sinful relationship does nothing in the way of their salvation. It only encourages and enables sin.
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