BEGG-ING TO DIFFER

I am feeling sorry for Alistair Begg.

If you're not familiar with him, he's best known for pastoring a large Reformed church in Cleveland and hosting the Truth for Life radio show.

At least that was the sum of Begg's reputation before this past week when some comments he made several months ago suddenly went viral for all the wrong reasons.

Now Begg is being canceled by fellow Christians because he advised a woman to preserve her relationship with her grandson by going to his wedding where the spouse-to-be was a trans individual. 

Begg had asked the woman, "Does your grandson understand your belief in Jesus?" The answer was yes.

He had then asked, "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?" Again, yes.

Once those two facts were established, Begg suggested she should go to the wedding, though he acknowledged there was a "fine line" involved. 

To be clear, Begg has never strayed from his contention that marriage is meant to be between one man and one woman nor his contention that the practice of homosexuality is sinful. 

This whole "controversy" is only about Begg suggesting it might be preferable for this particular grandmother to go to the wedding instead of driving a wedge between her and her grandson by reinforcing the impression of Christians as judgmental. 

American Family Radio immediately pulled Begg's program from their 180 stations after calling his office and finding he refused to "repent". 

One commentator I heard on YouTube questioned Begg's salvation and declared him "a danger to the pulpit". Doug Wilson, James White, and Allie Beth Stuckey all expressed shock, disapproval, and great disappointment with Begg.

Not surprisingly in situations like this, I have heard more than one commentator express strident criticism of Begg while having no familiarity with the details of the controversy. 

The next test of this ugly Christian cancel culture will be whether or not John MacArthur disinvites Begg from an upcoming conference. So far MacArthur is saying the invitation stands. 

As much as I want to enjoy watching a group of prominent Calvinists eat one of their own, this is incredibly sad to watch.

Why can't we discuss different approaches to a very sticky question - and do it with humility and openness to hear different points of view instead of immediately crying "Heretic!" and working to excommunicate an otherwise faithful brother?