A Brief Response to Owen Strachan on Alistair Begg

Sensitive content warning. I don’t like writing about these things, but here we are.

You can alsofind a video I uploaded on this issue here: https://youtu.be/7FseGTIRwRw?si=uTicNcQevvXDAeVZ

You can find Owen’s post here: https://owenstrachan.substack.com/p/unrighteous-wedding-invitations-a?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2

You can also find my original post here: https://standingbeforegodblog.wordpress.com/2024/01/19/alistair-begg-weddings-grace-and-truth-in-a-twisted-world/.

This post is not intended to be an argument for or against anyone’s position. This is a post questioning the validity of the argument Owen Strachan has made against Alistair Begg for his comments on September 1, 2023. This is a defense of Alistair Begg, not a defense of his pastoral advice.

All quotes below are from Owen’s post which is linked above.

The Bible does not enfranchise “transgender” identity; we are either man or woman per the creational design of God (Genesis 2:7, 21-22, 24-25).”

Alistair Begg has consistently said the same.

Marriage is defined in Eden and reaffirmed by Jesus; it is between one man and one woman, and God is honored only by such unions (Matthew 19:3-6).

Alistair Begg has consistently made this clear as well.

Marriage is defined in Eden and reaffirmed by Jesus; it is between one man and one woman, and God is honored only by such unions (Matthew 19:3-6).

Alistair Begg affirms that the only marriages that are marriages are between one man and one woman for life, and that God is honored by these.

Attending a wedding ceremony is commonly and rightly-viewed as affirming the union in question, as is giving a couple a wedding gift (as Begg encouraged the grandmother in question to do).

Christians should therefore not attend “transgender” ceremonies, which in truth do not feature an actual wedding at all, for God recognizes no such union as holy or permissible in his sight

The main argument seems to be this: Christians should not attend the wedding between two men or between two women because that isn’t God ordained marriage. That was and remains the basis on which many people are condemning Alistair — including you it seems, Dr. Strachan (“which in truth do not feature an actual wedding at all”). It is an assumption that is not warranted from what Begg said in the interview in question. He only said it was the wedding of a man to a transgender person — Alistair did not specify that person’s actual sex, and on the assumption that it is a gay wedding, you and many others appear to be perfectly happy writing countless articles dragging Begg’s name through the mud. Please stop; please reach out to Begg for clarification.

Setting that aside for the moment, let’s think about the best-case scenario for what Begg might have been addressing: a wedding of someone’s grandson to a woman who thinks she is a man. If Christians should not attend the weddings of a man to a biological woman who thinks she is a man, where is the line? Should Christians never go to a non-Christian wedding lest they be seen as affirming their non-Christian-ness? Or what if a man and woman had slept together before marriage and then decided to get married. By the same logic as used above in your argument, wouldn’t it be wrong for Christians to go to those weddings, lest they be seen as affirming fornication? If the line between going to a wedding and not going to a wedding is degree immorality, what degree of immorality is too much?

This approach of love is always gospel witness in action (in a kind manner, for example) but wherever possible is to translate into proclamation, namely through the call to repentance and confession of sin before a holy God

Yes, the Gospel witness of the truth must be central, and Begg affirmed that throughout his ministry, and in the interview in question!

This gospel proclamation urges the sinner (just like us to say “no” to sin and eternity in hell (which unrepentant transgression of God’s design will surely lead to) and “yes” to the Son of God crucified for the guilty so that we may be totally forgiven, made new, given the new identity of Christian, and granted inaugurated eternal life out of the overflow of the resurrection of Christ

Do you have any reason to believe that Begg would ever say anything to the contrary?

We see, then, that we cannot affirm a person’s “transgender” identity or practice in any way (this includes pronoun usage, please note). As with everything against God’s design and God’s revealed will, we can only call them to leave such behind. Connecting the dots of Scripture, I conclude that we cannot attend “transgender” ceremonies, where we not only give approval to a godless identity, but supposedly receive it as part of a “marriage.”

Again, you are assuming it’s not a real marriage, rather than a marriage between one man who knows he is a man, and one woman who thinks she is a man. Alistair Begg didn’t question if the sin in these individual’s lives was sin. He affirmed that “their life choices” were sinful, but for the salvation of their souls and the relationship between this grandmother and her grandson, that she should go to this wedding. Is this advice sinful? You seem to believe it is since you are calling Begg to public repentance. Do you believe it is sin because you are assuming it is a homosexual “marriage?” Or do you believe it is sin because of the sinful life choices of the grandson and his partner of – as of yet – unknown biological sex? You tell me. If it is a marriage, did Alistair Begg call this grandmother to sin by advising her to go to her grandsons wedding? If it isn’t sin, then why are you making this into such a big issue? As Begg says, we have to take risks sometimes, especially in a twisted culture, to try and see some saved to Christ from this wicked generation. It’s a fine line sometimes, and y’all don’t seem to be giving Alistair any room.

Collating biblical truths, I believe that we cannot positively engage such an event at all. It is not loving, we remember, to endorse sin; it is loving to warn fellow sinners away from it (see Revelation 3:19). In fact, instead of attending such a ceremony, we would do well to fast and pray for the individuals involved, asking God to grant them repentance and faith per the prerogatives of his mighty mercy.

That’s fine, Owen. In your pastoral wisdom, go ahead and advise your congregants along those lines. Only answer this:

One – Where is the line between going and not going to a wedding? Is it possible for a Christian to go to all weddings without automatically sinning except those that aren’t weddings? Or does the degree of immorality determine whether a Christian sins by attending a wedding? In other words: Should Christians only never go to a homosexual wedding? Should Christians also avoid the weddings of those confused about their sex? If so, where does it stop? Should Christians avoid the weddings of “the sexually immoral of this world… the greedy and swindlers… idolaters..?” As Paul says, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” 1 Corinthians 5:9-10.

Brothers, we can do better. Please stop being involved in the canceling and condemning of your friends who have been faithful in the ministries God entrusted to them for decades without seeking clarification from them on the basis on one minute of audio. Yes, Owen, as you’ve said, public sin requires a public response. But it is not clear from the interview that the wedding Alistair was talking about wasn’t a real wedding. Furthermore, I don’t believe you’ve made a strong enough case that attending this wedding was sin to come out against Alistair on this as strongly as you are doing. Clarification should be sought, and careful pastor exegesis must be made and applied.

As a parting shot, why did you write about this at all? It was one-minute of audio without proper context. The awful piece and false tweet from Protestia which kicked this all off was truly awful. And yet you saw it and decided it was your responsibility to join the pile on? Why? With respect, you really should have sat this one out. Yes, sometimes, “In love, we must take our stand, and not give the devil the foothold he so desperately craves.” In other times, in love we must take a seat, and not give the devil the foothold he so desperately craves.

I apologize for my tone in this article, but as Alistair Begg is being put through a struggle session, I found it necessary to write as I have; “I wish I could… change my tone, for I am perplexed about you” (Galatians 4:20).