Should I attend my son's wedding?

[YinYangMom]

II think I would go, as I don’t think attending would show acceptance of his lifestyle, as Jesus ate dinner with prostitutes…He ate dinner with them–didn’t accept their behavior.

Likewise, you can attend, and just leave the reception a bit on the early side. Wish him well…and always keep praying and staying in touch. By not attending the wedding…it will not keep him from doing this. I will pray for you!

"dinner’ is not the same as a ‘wedding ceremony or feast’.

A wedding is a sacred event. If a prostitute were to invite Jesus to her wedding whereby she will marry one man, but lie with two each night, I cannot recall scriptural or church teaching to suggest He would have attended that event.

I don’t think the church rules one way or the other as to whether or not the OP should attend the wedding and/or reception. I know I have heard ‘experts’ on Relevant radio give conflicting advice about it. This is why her dilemma is as difficult as it is.

She would be right if she goes. She would be right if she does not. It’s just that each option presents a different set of consequences. Posters here are presenting her with support and reasons for either option but the final decision rests between her and God. She is in all of our prayers and I am confident whatever decision she makes will be the one God intended for her.

 

[readsalot]

I had to make a similar choice when it came to my very close brother’s wedding. As much as it hurt, I had to choose not to attend, and explain why.

I can tell you that it hurt me immensely and him and his new wife as well. There was much pain to go around and I would not wish it on anyone.

But I had to go with what I thought God would approve of, even though it hurt beyond belief.

Sometimes, some people must choose which person is more important not offend. I think you should not go.

In the end, when you face Him, you (we) all have to answer for everything we did. I don’t think you will be hit as hard for erring on the side of not offending God as going the other way.

Some people offend God. Others, without wanting to be, are put in close proximity to those people. That doesn’t mean they are given a pass.

Please don’t take my answer as flippant. It is the worst memory of my 41 years. But it did work out in the long run, and I do feel better about the decision for when I die.

Your family and friends will not be judging you, God will. Err on his side.

Life is hard.

Peace.

 

[vern_humphrey]

Vern, we have no control over others, only our own free will. I agree that God’s hand will guide us when we allow Him to do so. Do you honestly believe God would guide a mother to attend the wedding of a son who is actively engaged in a ‘threesome’ relationship?

I’ll bet $5.00 if she goes, she will not be struck by lightning as she is getting out of the car.

Yes, God will allow it. He does not want us to abandon our children.

You are suggesting as much by saying she should attend rather than not. I submit God would not want her to attend but will be by her side to help her through this most difficult decision - choosing her love for God over her own son.

God clearly wanted Saint Monica to stay with her son – He sent her a vision when she would not allow him in the house

St. Monica did not participate in her son’s wayward life all those years,

And the OP will not be “participating.” Think what you’re implying when you use that word.

which is why it seems this mother should follow St. Monica’s path and pray from a distance.

She followed him to Milan, did she not?

We should offer her hope and encouragement that her prayers and faithfulness will keep the estrangement from being ‘permanent’.

And we should not offer advice that will make the estrangement permanent.

Please show me where St. Monica stayed under the same roof as her son when he was engaging in immoral behaviors or that she allowed her son to bring these behaviors under her own roof.

This is a smoke screen – the OP is not moving in with her son, you know.

And yes, Monica did allow her son to live in her home during the time he was engaged in his dissolutel practices – remember her vision?

Not attending a wedding is not breaking relations.

She says it is – and she knows her son.

 

[Julian_Peters]

Thank you to all who have participated. This thread is now closed.