I have lost sleep this past week. I hate to lose sleep. I love sleep. It may be from frustration or just being sad.
The loss of sleep comes from the evangelical lynching of Pastor Alistair Begg by my church tribe this past week. You ask, wait, why would they do that? Well, the reason is that in a recent podcast, Begg was interviewed, and he answered a question that every family today is asking of their pastors and elders.
In the interview, Begg explained that not too long ago, he was asked, and he responded to a grandmother on whether she should attend the wedding of a transgender granddaughter. (Side note: an LGBTQ wedding is not a real wedding, as God holds the patent on marriage. He designed marriage; therefore, a wedding is to be that of one biological man marrying one biological woman for one lifetime.)
So, in this brief exchange with this grieving grandmother, he gave his “personal opinion and counsel” to just this grandmother in this situation. Begg said that if before the Lord she felt she could go, and her granddaughter understands clearly where she stands on the issue, then go. He included that she should even bring a gift, which he suggested was a Bible.
Begg saw this question as the constant tension of grace and truth, short-game and long-game relationships, present and future gospel opportunity, and whether attending would be sinful. “His opinion and counsel” in this particular situation was that attending was not a sin, and there might be a gospel opportunity down the road. Boom! And with that, the posse mounted their horses and rode to get him.
The tribe I am part of went after him within minutes with posts, blogs, podcasts, white papers, and tweets. Phrases like “this is the end of Alistair Begg,” “he is a heretic,” “he should resign,” “his elders should immediately remove him,” “he can no longer be a trusted preacher,” “cancel his radio ministry” and worse of all were the ones that said, “I bet his son or grandson is gay.” Basically, to the gallows, Begg goes. Forget over four decades of the faithful exposition of the Scriptures; he is canceled.
This is not what Jesus prayed for us in John 17. Not even close.
Interestingly, last year, Begg preached one of the best sermons I have ever heard on Romans 1, where he was explicitly clear on Biblical sexuality and marriage. The sermon went viral on the internet as it was so good. This was not a new position for Begg, as he has fought relentlessly to be biblically clear on this issue for decades. There was, nor is there, a question about where he stands biblically.
Pastor Alistair Begg has been a faithful shepherd and theologian for some 50 years. For the last 40 years, he has pastored Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. For the record, though I have met him, I don’t know him personally. I feel like I do because, over 30 years ago, I placed myself under his teaching and preaching ministry, which I support financially. I have been discipled by him for three decades now.
Instead of letting his elders talk, pray, and think this through, my tribe came out immediately to be his judge, jury, and, most grievously, his executioner—shame on you, brothers and sisters, shame on you. It would help if you had done this privately.
I know your argument of public comments deserve a public rebuke, and you use Paul calling out Peter in the Scriptures as your example. Let me remind those using this for their defense of lynching another brother and Pastor: you are no Apostle Paul, and Begg is no Apostle Peter, and you are writing a tweet and not the inerrant, inspired Holy Word of God.
Let him be. Allow the Holy Spirit and his elders to attend to their ministry. He knows all the verses and arguments against his opinion. Nothing you post now will be of any help nor honor Christ. Stop the pile-on.
Alistair, most likely, you will never see this. I assume there might be things we disagree on. However, brother, if you read this, know I love you and thank God for you. I am a better Pastor, husband, father, and grandfather because of you and your faithful exposition of the Scriptures. May the Lord bless you, your precious family, your church family, and your ministry.
