All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
What would you do?
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Michelle,
Could you elaborate a little on what you mean by "adhere"?
LT
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Michelle,
Not trying to be picky, but wanting to be cautious as to how I respond as this question has many points to consider. If they are of a liberal view, as much as I detest that view, I cannot disassociate with them as a brother or sister if they profess Christ. If they start to pervert the Word of God by changing it to accomodate a prefernce or adjust to society I now have issue with them and cannot walk in harmony, nor engage in ministry with them. For this would imply that I agree or accept their errant view.
Whether or not I would attend would depend on the variant view and what exactly is taking place. I would not attend a ceremony designed to unite homosexuals. My attendance would mark support of what they are doing and I cannot do that. I would not attend a ceremony that supported polygamy. I would not attend a ceremony that is performed by a cult that uses the cross and Jesus name, but believe in a different Jesus. If it is a friend or family memeber they already know where I stand for we would have already discussed these issues. They will know my love for them, but that I recognize that the Bible does not condone their lifestyle. These are but some examples.
As a side note, I was once asked to officiate a wedding in which the couple wanted to incorporate native American prayers that were written to the gods of a particular native American tribe. I discussed this with the couple and declined to do the wedding. They thought about it and what I had shared with them and they changed their minds.
LT
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Michelle,
For me it is a deal breaker. We believe differently on a critical issue.
Lord Bless,
LT
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In essence, we believe in a different Jesus when one denies the Trinity.
LT
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Permalink Reply by The evidence based Stig on
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I don't think it would be wrong, if a friend of mine was a "non-trinitarian" and was getting married, I'd be there because their theology is not what matters to me. Not attending on grounds of theology is religion and it's the kind of things the catholics and protestants in Scotland and Ireland fight (literally) over.
But then, we all know my closest friend isn't a Christian
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Grazer,
Theology is the study of God. Many religions have been started from their view of god. Therefore, theology is not religion, but religion can be developd from a person's theology. At the same time our theology will determine our actions.
If one's theology denies Jesus as God then I cannot give creedence to their faith, nor accept their value as an organization. To attend the ceremony gives creedence to both their beliefs and organization. When the person performs a ceremony in the name of God and yet deny Jesus, how does one ignore that and yet honor the service taking place. For me to do that would require me to be hypocritical. I will not engage in ecumincal movements.
Your theology, understanding of God, would allow you to do so.
LT
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All that would matter to me is my mate and their big day. I feel I could put aside any differences on the theology/religion for that.
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Permalink Reply by ScribeD on
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LT, I understand your convictions and I think that your point on theology is very important, vital even. But, I don't think that the idea of attending a wedding itself is in any way blasphemy or dishonoring to God – regardless of the teaching of that religion. Plus, I think you may miss the opportunity to be salt and light to lost people by offending them and making them feel rejected by “your god”, when in fact God is welcoming lost people into fellowship with him through Christ.
There are two places that I see God gives us specific command to refuse fellowship or celebrating with people. One is in context of people who are deceivers that bring immorality into the church and the other is in context of those deceivers who are causing theological confusion with false teaching. However, the latter is in context of allowing them to teach in your home or your meeting place (as in allowing false teachers into your “home-church”).
I don't think this is something we should reject people over. Jesus himself celebrated with Tax Collectors and Samaritans, right? Samaritans had bad theology. And in that context, Jesus did some of his best ministry. I know a Pastor who once accepted a dinner invitation at the home of a Mafia-gangster whom he had befriended. It gave him the ability to share the Gospel with about 20 mobsters and their girl-friends, one of whom came to him a few years later and said “I gave my life to Jesus because of what you said that night”.
Personally, if a Muslim or Hindu invited me to their wedding, I'd attend and do a lot of praying for them while I'm there. So, if Unitarian or a Oneness Pentecostal invited me, I'd do the same. Because my presence is a way of honoring them, not honoring their theology. And, later, I'd use the occasion of what I learned to talk with my friend about why Scripture teaches us to understand God differently. I'd actually hope that my presence caused them to ask about my beliefs being different from theirs.
~Scribe
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Scribe,
I will have to disagree on this one with you. There are times that we should refrain from participating in something that gives the impression of accepting their faith as valid. In the context of religion there are various avenues. I would decline attending the wedding of the Muslim or the Hindu for the marriage ceremony is uniting them in the name of their god. In the past I have not closed doors to people of other faiths by not attending. Those whom I have built relationships with know where I stand and why. They understand that we know and serve a different God. I find that they respect my position rather than accuse me of rejecting them. Regarding those who fly under the banner of "Christian" and yet reject certain tenets of the faith that are critical I find the same principle, that we must not engage in a time where they are envoking the name of their god. I see this as going to the temple of a false god and participating in the service of that false god. I may not be worshiping that god, but my presence gives creedence to the procedings.
Keep in context that if a person is inviting me to their wedding who belongs to another faith we know each other well enough that, with rare exception, we have already discussed our differences regarding their beliefs and mine before the event takes palce.
Lord Bless,
LT
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You know LT, I have a ton of respect for you and your thoughts. One thing I know about you is that you do not arrive at your conclusions flippantly. There's always research and reasoning to your beliefs.
I'm considering your convictions on this, but I'm still going to hold to my position, as I see the world right now. Maybe God will correct me.
After reading your thoughts, I kind of look at this in light of the teaching on eating "food sacrificed to idols" in 1st Corinthians. It's not as easy a matter as I thought originally. I still think I would stand with my original convictions, but in the attitude of this statement: "27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice, [to an idol]” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience." Meaning: celebrate with unbelievers, but if they make a point to say "we offered this meat to Baal" then don't accept it. (and by the way, i always pray more seriously over the meal, when I eat food in restaurants run by Buddhists and Hindus).
So, for my part, I'd be looking for a place, some way, to pray for the new couple, in the name of Christ and look for a way to communicate truth. The fact is that God makes the rain to fall on the righteous and the unrighteous - meaning he waters their crops too. So, if someone is getting married I would pray for the success of that marriage to the Glory of Almighty God. Because marriage is his gig, he invented it so I'd pray that it glorifies Him along the way.
But, I will say this, bro: you made me think about this and I will be more cautious and thoughtful in the future when i am invited to any ceremonies in any church or religious context.
Blessings,
Scribe
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Scribe,
That respect is mutual. I carefully read anything you write as God has given you a solid foundation and godly insights. You are a blessing on AAG.
LT
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Grazer, forgive me for interrupting but I have to take exception to your statement:
"...grounds of theology is religion and it's the kind of things the catholics and protestants in Scotland and Ireland fight (literally) over."
The conflict in Ireland is really a matter of politics and political controls, more than Theology, isn't it? If they were considering Theology, there would be far less fighting - in my opinion. The conflict began, and has festered, over matters of who holds power and who does not, more from a political point of view. Sadly, there are ecclesiastical powers at stake that keep the conflict festering instead of working to heal it because institutions believe there is a zero-sum game at stake, instead of considering the Theology of Jesus which says God's Kingdom is neither limited nor controlled by man.And by the way, I agree with your point about going to the wedding of a friend.
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