The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) yesterday issued stunning rulings which have given an imprimatur of rightness to homosexual marriages. Inherent in their ruling is approval of sinful behavior and a requirement that righteous God-fearing people must support that behavior through the use of their tax dollars. This really nothing new. Government has really never been fully supportive of faith but instead has tolerated religion because of its widespread presence in society. In years past, government has approved of a variety of sins from alcohol, to gambling, to abortion. The rulings yesterday should not be a surprise.
So what’s a Christian to do? First, God’s word has not changed. Despite the court’s rulings, God remains true (Romans 3:4) and his word remains the standard for our lives. One could make the argument that the Supreme Court is the single most powerful force in American law and politics. However they are wholly insignificant before Jehovah. Homosexual conduct is a sin. That is so obvious that we need not speak further. Sin is an offense to the Creator. The court cannot change that.
Second, government is important to us at it allows us to lead peaceable lives (Romans 13:1-7) but it is irrelevant for our salvation. Salvation comes from Jesus Christ, not from the justices.
The original Christians worshiped, served and evangelized under the oppression of pagan Roman Emperors. It was during this time that the church grew exponentially. Even if our government is in opposition to our values we still serve a risen Lord. Christianity Today said it this way:
Jesus of Nazareth is still alive. He is calling the cosmos toward his kingdom, and he will ultimately be Lord indeed. Regardless of what happens with marriage, the gospel doesn’t need “family values” to flourish. In fact, it often thrives when it is in sharp contrast to the cultures around it. That’s why the gospel rocketed out of the first-century from places such as Ephesus and Philippi and Corinth and Rome, which were hardly Mayberry.
Let us not be discouraged. Nothing has changed. Let us be the true and unwavering counterpoint to a corrupt world where good is called evil and evil is called good.
