What does the Bible say about a Christian attending a gay wedding?
Christians should look to the Bible for guidance, instruction, and wisdom on questions such as this, yet the Bible does not address such a thing as attending or not attending the wedding of two men or two women. However, the Bible does address homosexuality, marriage, relationships, and righteousness.
Romans 1:26–27 states that a homosexual lifestyle is immoral and unnatural. The Bible also tells us much about marriage. First, marriage culminates the “one flesh” relationship that God intends between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24). The Bible also says, "Let marriage be held in honor among all" (Hebrews 13:4). When a Christian man and woman commit to marriage, the wedding is a public declaration of their commitment to God’s design for the institution and for them. A gay couple cannot do the same without violating the Bible’s condemnation of homosexuality.
Weddings of those in other faiths, of a believer and unbeliever, and even two atheists do not oppose God’s primary design for marriage. Marriage between a believer and unbeliever is discouraged in Scripture (1 Corinthians 7:14 and 2 Corinthians 6:14.), and obviously God desires that all come to know Him. But the union of a man and woman in a "one flesh" relationship is considered a valid marriage before God.
While we agree that showing kindness and love to gay friends intending to marry is godly and admirable, we do not believe attending a celebration of their lifestyle would show true love. Jesus spent time, shared meals, and ministered to those marginalized and shamed by the culture. Among those were tax collectors, sinners, and others (Matthew 9:10, Luke 15:1). However, He did not condone their choices of sin. Rather, He shared with them the way of salvation, the way to true life (John 10:10; 14:6).
No sin creates greater distance from God than another. All sin creates distance from God’s glory (Romans 3:23) and nothing we do closes that gap. Only a belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and our Savior does so (Acts 16:31; John 3:16; 14:6).
If you are invited to a wedding of a gay couple, we suggest you pray, seek wisdom from God, study His Word, and seek counsel from believers you trust. Find other ways, besides attending the wedding, to love and show friendship to gay friends. As believers, we make similar choices to love and help other friends who make choices to dishonor God. We encourage and strengthen alcoholics without supporting their drinking. We help friends addicted to pornography by keeping them accountable to what they view online as we continue to care for them as friends regardless of their choices—those which honor God and those which do not.
Befriending and showing love to friends is Christ-like. We must explore avenues to share the gospel with those who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior. As we avoid expressing support for choices to sin, we may encounter pain or even hatred (Luke 12:51–53; John 15:18). But we must seek God and His direction and be obedient to what He calls us to. Being a light to God's truth, both by the way we treat others and the behaviors we celebrate, is not always easy, but it is the way we honor God and love others best.
While it is our conviction that a Christian should not attend a gay wedding, the Bible nowhere explicitly states this. If after prayer, study, and seeking wise counsel you are led to a different conviction, we would not question your commitment to Christ.
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