Are You Ready: One Response to the Recent Supreme Court Decision

Some are wondering if I am going to comment on the recent 5-4 ruling on same sex marriage by the U. S. Supreme Court. Here goes. People wiser than I have expressed the concern that things do not bode well for the Christian Church in America. I agree. At the same time, Christians in the United States are no worse off than Christians living in Corinth or Ephesus during the New Testament times.

I suppose that our religious and academic institutions will inevitably be stripped of tax exempt status, as Time Magazine advocates. Nevertheless, larger questions loom, like, “What next?” and “Just what does the Bible say about same sex marriage?” The answer to the last question should be readily apparent for any believer who’s read his or her Bible.

Many argue that Jesus never mentioned same homosexuality or same sex marriage. Therefore, it must not be that big of a deal for Jesus. The reality is that Jesus affirmed the Law of Moses saying that before those principles failed that heaven and earth would pass away:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. ¹⁸ "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹ "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

A few chapters later, during a discussion about divorce and the nature of marriage, Jesus makes the following telling comments:

When Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; ² and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.  ³ Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?" ⁴ And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, ⁵ and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH '?⁶ "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." (Matthew 19:1-6 )

Just for the record, I did not put these statements in capital letters. It is customary for English Bibles to highlight quotations from the Old Testament in capital letters. Here Jesus is quoting from Genesis as His rule of faith for understanding marriage. We also realize that Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders of His day about what His Father says about marriage. Jesus is living out His earlier “until heaven and earth pass away”statements previously listed above.

Jesus’ words are instructive: (1) anyone taking time to read the Bible knows that God, not government or men, designed and instituted marriage; (2) from the very beginning of time, marriage was intended to be a permanent relationship between one man and one woman (Jesus says this both directly and indirectly in vv. 4-6); (3) mankind has neither the right or authority to tinker with marriage on either an individual basis, a community basis, or governmental basis (v. 6). What God has designed and put together (people and institution) let no one separate (again v. 6).

As for homosexuality being unacceptable in the sight of God, Romans 1:18-32 deals sufficiently with this type of behavioral choice. If this were the only passage it would be enough. But it is one of many passages.

All of this begs the question: “So what?” Same sex marriage is the ‘law of the land.’ There is no changing this during the present administration, or afterward, in all likelihood. Just as “no fault” divorce was first legalized in California in the 1970’s and it now the rule of day, just as abortion was legalized in Roe v. Wade, same sex marriage is legal and more creative permutations will likely follow (if you read the implications of Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion).

What are we to do? In the end, God calls us to be faithful. He doesn’t call us to be boisterous or combative. We must continue to fulfill the Great Commission. We follow God, not man. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified. We call sinners to repentance. We suffer for our faith. If you want to change the world and change the country you will not do it by electing “Christian” politicians. You will do it one soul at a time as God uses you to draw people to Himself. Are you ready?