Sadly, yesterday, Alistair Begg was no longer listed as a speaker at the 2024 Shepherds Conference at Grace Community Church.
This is a major conference founded and led by John MacArthur specifically to edify and minister to Pastors. After Begg’s January 19 remarks which he counseled a grandmother that it was OK for her to attend the transgender wedding of her grandson, controversy erupted.
Initially, behind the scenes brethren urged Begg to reconsider this counsel. Then, American Family Radio contacted Begg’s ministry and had an extended conversation with his representatives, where pleas to repent were not heard. So AFR dropped Begg from their broadcasting roster.
One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke Will stay among the wise. One who neglects discipline rejects himself, (Proverbs 15:31-32).
Later, Begg said some even his own pastoral team disagreed with Begg’s advice.
Controversy continued. So this past Sunday, Begg preached a clarifying statement. In it, the defense of his counsel was worse than the counsel because it included anger, calling his critics Pharisees, and a misuse of the scripture he was preaching which was twisted to justify his defense of his position.
Then what people had been watching for: ShepCon. Apparently a conversation was had between ShepCon leader MacArthur and Begg. Begg withdrew from speaking, with MacArthur associate Phil Johnson telling a news organization “it was necessary for him to withdraw.”
The original advice should have been for the grandmother to refrain from participating as a celebrant and witness to a perversion of marriage. Sometimes one’s absence speaks louder than all the words up to that point.
And now Begg is undergoing the same treatment: our beliefs have consequences. At some point, we must part from a person when their beliefs (or acts) diverge from the Bible’s standards. In this, Begg’s truculent refusal to even listen to advice, never mind the actual original advice he gave the grandmother, indicates a necessary parting.
What would have been the effect, do we think, if the ShepCon organizers had said “Pastor Begg, we disagree with your advice, seeing it is unbiblical, and your misuse of the passage in Luke 15 was wrong exegesis, but come along to the Conference anyway, we don’t want to be seen as judgmental.” He would have felt justified, wouldn’t he?
Earlier in life I learned that what people SAY and what people DO, must match up.
Sometimes actions speak louder than words. Lines in the sand exist for a reason.
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.
American Family Radio dropped Alistair Begg’s program Truth for Life from their lineup
A few days ago I wrote about an interview that had surfaced between Bob Lepine and Alistair Begg which revealed that despite Begg’s normally solid and biblical stance that homosexuality is a sin, he had given a counselee advice for her to attend her grandson’s wedding to a transgender person, and bring a gift. That blog essay is here.
Begg’s remarks that sparked the outcry were contained in an interview from four months ago in September 2023 about the publication of his new book, The Christian Manifesto. Begg had said,
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.” “Oh,” she said, “what?” She was caught off guard. I said, “Well, here’s the thing: your love for them may catch them off guard, but your absence will simply reinforce the fact that they said, ‘These people are what I always thought: judgmental, critical, unprepared to countenance anything.’”
Begg has preached several times about homosexuality and same-sex issues, always aligned with what the Bible says. Therefore, Begg’s answer in this interview was surprising.
There was an outcry, there were pleas to be patient, heated social media discussions, and of course, lots going on in the background.
One of the background items was American Family Radio’s (AFR) concern over Begg’s stance. AFR hosts Begg’s program, Truth for Life (TFL). The company issued a statement that they had contacted TFL for clarification in order to have a frank discussion and determine the depth of Begg’s commitment to his comments.
Apparently it did not go well enough for American Family Radio to feel comfortable continuing to present Begg’s radio material to their listening public any further. They said that representatives speaking for Begg on the phone call maintained Begg’s stance was firmly held and he wasn’t budging. Though AFF and Truth for Life both agreed homosexuality was sin, regarding a trans wedding, Truth for Life “sees the issue as one of individual conscience.“
Whereas American Family Radio believes otherwise, saying,
“So the question is, if a Christian goes to a homosexual wedding, are they approving of it?” he said. “And our answer here is absolutely.”
Though AFR pressed the issue, reconciliation was not possible. There is no misunderstanding and it is perfectly clear, “that Begg was standing by his comments from the September podcast.”
AFR therefore dropped the program from their lineup.
I give AFR congratulations for making what I am sure was a difficult and heartbreaking decision. The purity of the material presented to their Christian listening public, though, is paramount.
I think we all feel the same way that AFR does, which remarked at the end of their article:
“This isn’t something that we saw coming,” Wildmon told AFR listeners. “This isn’t like some of the others, evangelical leaders, that have drifted. This is not one that was on the list.”
Though the circle of credible pastors and theologians and teachers seem to be shrinking, if you are in a good and solid church, THANK the Lord. We are in dark days when the culture seems to be rising in strength daily to claim one or another of this one or that one. Pray for your pastors or elders. They need all the strength and prayers they can get to withstand the onslaught of a very strong secular and evil culture.
Scottish born Alistair Begg has been pastoring and preaching at Parkside Church in Cleveland since 1983. That’s over 40 years at the same church, something to celebrate. His online ministry is called Truth for Life.
He is well-known and looked at credibly by his peers. He has not been involved in any huge scandals. His preaching to my knowledge is straightforward and unapologetic on ALL the Bible’s texts.
This week a video surfaced where this past September 2023 Begg was interviewed by Bob Lepine at Truth for Life, promoting Begg’s new book, The Christian Manifesto. Begg was asked a question of how people might be changed reading Begg’s book. Part of Begg’s answer included a surprising reply.
Begg said he’d a conversation with a grandmother about her grandson inviting the grandma to the grandson’s wedding ceremony. He was marrying a transgender person. Begg acknowledged that people may not like his answer, but he said he’d encouraged the grandma to attend and to buy the homosexual couple a gift. It was OK because the grandma, she assured Begg, had already made known to her grandson that she doesn’t approve of his lifestyle, and that her disapproval was in the name of Jesus and the cause of holy sexual ethics. Begg said her attendance would signal love and compassion, and might take him by surprise, whereas her absence would spark accusations of judgmentalness and criticism.
If we really think about Begg’s reply, it seems that his definition of love is more the world’s than Jesus’. When Jesus confronted the Woman at the Well about her sexual sin, He didn’t say I love you, here’s a housewarming gift for you and the man you’re living with, and by the way I don’t approve of your living situation. That would not make sense would it? It’s conflicting behavior.
Secondly, we never base a response to sin on whether the people would receive it critically. We are told to prepare for mocking and scoffing, hate, and even martyrdom. The lawless hate their deeds being brought to the light, but we must trust the Lord to convict them when we adhere to His standards and live and speak them into a darkening world.
Begg’s reply caused a furor online, with people’s reactions running the gamut from ‘off with his head’ to ‘what’s the big deal’. Most comments were somewhere in between.
When a long-standing, credible pastor or teacher makes an “out there” reply to a question, or suddenly preaches something contrary to the word of God or to what he has preached before, take a breath. Here is Meg Basham’s take, one I agree with:
Megan Basham@megbasham Even the best, most godly preachers and teachers can have a bad take. Even a really bad take. I don’t stop listening to them unless it 1) becomes a pattern that shows a general lack of discernment or 2) clearly endorses heresy. I’m bummed about the Alistair Begg clip circulating. But it’s a bad take against a lifetime of faithful teaching. Hopefully he’ll address it.39.9K Views
But this is not the first time I scratched my head over something Begg said he believed. There are two other instances that I know of that gave me pause in Alistair Begg’s discernment in the recent past.
Issue with A. Begg #2 (the first issue being attending a trans/gay wedding, already discussed above).
In 2019 he preached that women can speak to the gathered congregation in church on a Sunday, if the elders decide they want her to. If she has something worthwhile to share. Since she is “not speaking as a pastor or in rule and authority”, she can teach at the podium, Begg said, and it does not violate the prohibition in 1 Timothy 2:12. Forbidding women from speaking to the church on a Sunday is “making a law out of a principle,” Begg advised. Listen to him say this here: “Christian Women” slide to 30:00.
No. Paul’s prohibition was clear. Women may not teach or usurp authority over a man, but to be in silence. An elder’s permission does not trump the biblical rule.
Also in 2019, Alistair Begg appeared at a conference with Beth Moore, Tony Evans, and a female reverend called Mary Hulst. His ministry was contacted by a concerned bystander, and amazingly they answered. Begg, through the media contact, said he was also concerned about Moore and Evans, but he’d committed to the conference prior to knowing who else would be there. He also said he wanted to preach the Gospel wherever he went. Lastly, he wasn’t sharing the platform with these folks, just being present at the same conference.
This to me, is a disingenuous answer. Sharing the conference IS sharing the platform. Sharing your good name with false teachers throws mud on your name AND the name of Jesus. It’s also biblically forbidden. Secondly, it’s foolish to agree to speak at a place before you know who else will be there. Just…don’t do that. No one does that. And preaching the gospel wherever you go…well, I’d answered that above. There are some places we don’t share with false teachers. Why else did Paul become so upset at the demon possessed girl? She was saying a TRUE thing, but it came from demonic lips.
What Does 2 John Have to Teach Us about Partnering with False Teachers? 9Marks- What this means practically for those in ministry is that they should not, in any way, under any circumstance, lock arms with heretical teachers, pastors, authors, professors, or anyone in any capacity who comes to you bringing a different Jesus.
This includes: Conferences, Prayer Breakfasts, Bible Studies, Pastors Coalitions, Parachurch ministries, Pulpit Swaps, Book Recommendations, Article sharing or website promoting, And more.
The Trans/Gay Wedding issue
How would Begg’s peers who are at his level reply to a similar question? Here are past replies to the question “Would you attend a gay wedding if invited?” from other pastors. These comments are not a response to the current issue with Alistair.
John Piper: “No. One, it is not a wedding, because it is not a marriage…” more here.
John MacArthur: “No matter how much you desire to be compassionate to the homosexual, your first sympathies belong to the Lord and to the exaltation of His righteousness.” more here
Kevin DeYoung at Ligonier: “A wedding ceremony, in the Christian tradition, is first of all a worship service. So if the union being celebrated in the service cannot be biblically sanctioned as an act of worship, we believe the service lends credence to a lie. We cannot in good conscience participate in a service of false worship.” More here
Voddie Baucham:
Owen Strahan responds to Begg’s stance on attending gay weddings, here
RESOURCE–
Here is David Murray at Heart Head Hand blog (a counseling site) with a hypothetical answer on what he would say if his son came out as gay. I thought it was a good in-between response that showed his son fatherly love but also set Christian boundaries: What letter would you write to a gay son?
CONCLUSION
While we don’t leap on a teacher who has been solid for years with the first little tittle they say that appears to vary from the Bible, we do wait to see if there is a pattern. Alistair Begg has partnered with people who he knows aren’t solid, has overturned the prohibition for women teaching and preaching in church, and has seemed to have gone soft on practical applications in life regarding homosexuality/transgender. It is my opinion he has established a pattern that bears close watching. Perhaps the outcry will cause Pastor Begg to re-examine his stance in this hot-button issue, and perhaps he’d also pray for more discernment on the other two issues. We pray and wait to see.
The inaugural National Preaching Conference is scheduled at First Baptist Church in Waco Nov. 19-21. The synopsis of this new conference says in part,
We hope you will join us for these uplifting days when the shepherds can be shepherded and the feeders can be fed. This occasion will echo the best of yesterday’s traditions and resound with the needs of tomorrow’s church.
Interesting. Perhaps some of the pastors who can’t make it all the way to California to attend a more established preacher’s conference such as the Shepherd’s Conference can make it to Texas instead. Continue reading “Alistair Begg and the Preaching Conference”→
the-end-time.org 