Monday, July 27, 2015

A Raging Cultural Battle

Recently we have been immersed in the media, headlines and debates surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court decision to “allow” same-sex “marriage” throughout America. I can say that I am truly saddened that our nation has embraced such sinfulness. However, what is even more heart-breaking and shocking is to see how many professing Christians have been indifferent to it and even more often than not, have supported this Court decision. Because of this, I feel compelled to share my thoughts, as well as, form a Biblical opinion on the subject.

Although most of America would probably disagree, I think the U.S. Supreme court decision is absolutely absurd. You may think that that is a strong position to hold, but I will do my best to show why this is true. First of all, this case was really no case, because it was built on a false premise. Those that brought the case claimed that they were being denied the right to marry, when in fact, they had all the right in the world to marry according to the definition of marriage. Therefore, the case was not legitimate and should never have even been heard by the Court. The real purpose of the lawsuit was an attempt to re-define marriage—an institution that the government did not create and thus cannot change. Also, we MUST realize that even though the Supreme Court and the media have presented the idea that this decision legalized same-sex marriage, this is completely false. The Judicial Branch of our national government is given NO power to make laws or to legalize anything, that power is completely reserved to the Legislative Branch in Congress. The scope of the power of the Court extends only to the distinct case it decides upon and does not have lawful force beyond that. Supreme Court Justice Scalia, in his dissenting opinion writes, “This is a naked judicial claim to legislative — indeed, super-legislative — power; a claim fundamentally at odds with our system of government,” he goes on to say, “A system of government that makes the people subordinate to a committee of nine unelected lawyers does not deserve to be called a democracy.” This decision only carries lawful force when the other branches of Government comply and when we, as the governed, do not speak up and acquiesce to this unconstitutional act.

Now, with the legal reasoning out of the way, let us ask the question, “What does the Bible say about this?” The Bible is very clear on this subject, in Genesis 2, marriage is first introduced by God. After God had created Eve out of Adam's flesh, He said in verses 24-25, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” This tells us that marriage is clearly instituted by God to be one man (Adam) and one woman (Eve). This also shows that since God authored marriage then only He has the power to change or re-define it! We must not miss the immense significance of marriage and family, this is the very first institution created by God because He holds the family as the designed means for bringing new life to the earth and thus the foundation of all society. The Bible does not only address what marriage is to be positively, but it also addresses the sin of man's perverse forms of it in the negative sense, throughout. In the Old Testament, God completely destroys Sodom and Gomorrah for the perverse homosexual sins they were committing as a community (Genesis 18:17-19:29). Some have argued that these cities were destroyed for there inhospitable nature to the other cities, but Jude 7, which says, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” clearly shows that it was for their sexual sins that they were destroyed. The Holiness Code in Leviticus also plainly puts forth that homosexuality is a sin,--Lev. 18:22, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” and Lev. 20:13, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” In the New Testament, Paul continually addresses this issue; Romans 1:26-27, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” as well as I Cor. 6:9 and I Timothy 1:10 which all show God's abhorrence to homosexuality and anything done outside marriage. Further, it is necessary to realize that same-sex union explicitly violates God's first command to mankind that He declared in Genesis 1:27-28, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” God's command here is one of procreation to fill the earth with life. The homosexual lifestyle undermines God's first command, the family is the only design for new life to enter the world through the union of one man and one woman, instead, this lifestyle promotes a non-generational view of the world that leads to no new life and, therefore, death. Also I would like to point out that the whole Gospel message reflects the family as the Bible refers to salvation as the process of adoption into God's family. God's redemptive plan also illustrates a true marriage as Jesus, the groom, is reconciling and returning to claim His bride, the Church! A change to marriage destroys the principles upon which the Gospel rests.

So, out of love, I warn professing Christians who have supported this decision that they have completely gone against the principles of our government and our Constitution. And, more importantly, have opposed the Word of God, undermined their very belief system and are bringing judgment upon themselves just as Sodom and Gomorrah did.

And, out of love, I charge professing Christians who have not supported this Court decision to stop sitting around, but to get up and let their opinion be known, to speak up and to fight for God's design in our Country!

It is my hope and prayer that this blog post might prove to be truthful and in some way, even though quite inadequate, be used for God's purposes to all who read it, whether Christian or non-Christian. 



Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

8 comments:

  1. I personally was not really surprised or even that upset by the Court's decision. I completely agree with your logic that court took part in Judicial Activism (hardly the first time). To me, even if the court had ruled against same sex marriage, it wouldn't have changed very much, because we as Christians have been losing--and indeed have lost--the cultural war over same sex marriage. Look at all the major news media outlets, or go onto Reddit or G+ and we find that the vast majority of people are in favor of same sex marriage. We have let ourselves be cast as the bigots who refuse to move along with society, just because we "don't like" homosexuals. I think this is why your call to action is so important--we need to start making back ground in the cultural war. Because no matter what the legislation is, if 90% of the population thinks same sex marriage is fine, it's going to be common.

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  2. Caleb, thanks for the comment!

    I agree with most of what you said, I am glad you emphasized that we really are losing this battle and something must be done. I, however find it interesting that you were not upset by the Court decision. To me, it is one of the most upsetting things when our government becomes more and more oppressive while acting outside its proper bounds! It is also upsetting to me that God's design is not being upheld by our Government!

    Also, I would propose that it seems as if 90% of the population supports same-sex marriage when really only 90% of social media active people are in favor of it, this I can't verify, but its just a thought.

    Finally, what strikes me stronger than the large amount of people in favor of same-sex marriage is the great number, I would say about a quarter, of those are Evangelicals. That is why we must start first within the Church to gain back ground, which was the aim of this blog!

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    1. Whoops, forgot to turn reply notifications on...

      I am not terribly upset by the decision simply because judicial activism has been the policy of the court for years... From the Interstate Commerce Clause being used to regulate guns, to prayer in schools, etc. I also don't really expect God's plans to be held up by our government because our government generally reflects the people (Technically no because of Constitutional Republic, etc, etc., but in general, the large majority rules), and the people are predominately non-Christian in this country right now.

      I hope this is correct, however, it concerns me that the 90% are the active ones willing to spread their opinion...

      This is indeed incredibly concerning, especially since the Bible is SO clear about it. Then again, how many people profess to be Christians profess to be evolutionists as well? So many people who claim to be Christians believe things utterly contrary to Christianity. Really, our mission may be more to those who claim to be Christians than those who don't.

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  3. Wow, that was so (in a heart breaking way) fascinating! And I think it's pretty ironic that you posted on that subject, because my heart has been so burdened with that lately. It is, like you said, so upsetting! frustrating...angry...depressing...etc, etc, etc.
    I was so inspired by allllll the Scripture you brought out! Like I knew it was a sin/an abomination to God, but I had no idea there were so many times God said that. Pretty cool to think that so many years ago, He knew this was going to become a problem in the world, and was already on top of it by saying many different times, IT.IS.WRONG. IT.IS.PURE.SIN. I. HATE.IT.
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it! :) I really enjoyed it, because, like I already said, it has been on my heart like non stop lately.

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    1. It has been heavy on my heart as well! God is very strong about it being completely wrong and that is what makes our responsibility so much larger to show the world what God says about it!

      You are welcome...I am glad you enjoyed it!

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  5. Very good words, Justin. I agree completely. This has been heavy on my heart for awhile..
    It has left a deep-saddening in me, seeing where we are at, and continuing to head towards.
    Our nation, founded in strong morals, conservativeness, and much Christianity, has fallen so so far from that. In 1844, the Court said, "Christianity is part of our common law." And now, it seems to be any thing but part of our common law.
    Even though same-sex marriage has been legal in the majority of states, it has now been taken to the next level. Seeing the Supreme Court fail in their decision, with the justifying words of "love is love and we all have the right to love and be loved", is sickening! As you said in a comment above, the fact that many are Evangelicals makes the situation even more saddening and really, rather disgusting. The Lord speaks strongly against this sin, we should not take that lightly. Many in the church are in favor, or won't stand up against it. That's why those as the minority, MUST stand up and preach against this! We have to be the voice for this generation, and the coming generations! We cannot be quiet!

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    1. Indeed Sadie! Well said...the sadness and anger we feel must be fuel for action against this!

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