The title of our episode is one of the most frequently asked questions that pastors hear from their congregations and a topic that is often discussed in online forums. While there is room to debate the answer, the way we approach this question – and the way we treat those who might come to a different conclusion – says more about us than it does about Jesus or the question itself. Why has this become such a litmus test of orthodox Christian faith? Why doesn’t the fact that we are so scandalized by the issue serve as a warning that we have become the very legalists that we often decry in the pages of scripture?

In this episode, we examine the heart of Jesus in coming close to those who needed him the most, and we contrast his actions with the Pharisees who made sure to publicly and privately keep their distance from the very same people. We ask whether Jesus would do the same today, and point out the ways that many Christian leaders seem to more closely resemble the behavior of the Pharisees rather than that of Jesus. We also examine the many arguments that are stated about what makes a wedding different from other public events, and we break down those arguments to better understand the motivations behind them. In the end, we want to center our answer on Jesus: if he would attend, then we should; and if he would not, then we should not.