Why the Supreme Court Decision Matters
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And they did it again.
I’m not saying it was on purpose. I don’t want to be a conspiracy theorist, but while the nation was embroiled in debate over whether or not the South should ban the Confederate Flag (present company included), the Supreme Court made gay marriage legal in all 50 States.
I suppose I expected that my timeline, for the most part, would be busy with posts aghast about what had just transpired. But, what I found was rather a let down.
Yes, there were posts by pastors declaring that no Supreme Court in the land would ever determine the content of their sermons. There were others who declare their disgust for the ruling, but there was an overall passivity that left me flummoxed as people denied its extreme significance or wanted to equate that significance with earlier legislation that has most certainly changed the spiritual moral climate of this nation.
And this has been the problem all along!
Passivity.
Passivity in Christian discipline that keeps our spiritual senses sharpened so that we not only recognize sin for what it is, but carefully guard our homes and hearts from its deception, has lowered our standards to such a degree that we see little to no problem with entertaining ourselves by it!
Films and sitcoms portraying all manner of immorality: from fornication to adultery and homosexuality fill our hearts and minds with filth, but in a way that is appealing. We barely notice it anymore.
What used to be scandalous is now tolerable, and not only tolerable but expected.
Christians have been the proverbial frog in the boiling pot.
Society couldn’t force us to change our moral principles on immorality, divorce, and homosexuality, so Hollywood chose to entertain us with it; knowing full well that by slowly pushing the envelope in ever-increasing measure may at first shock the senses, but at the same time be irresistible.
Yes, there have been those who spoke out against these immoral portrayals and called on their fellow believers to raise their standard of entertainment, but their calls were met with scorn or dismissal. Or worse, they were called “holier than thou” and commanded to sit down and shut up.
And with each push of the envelope, the church grew more and more quiet, until she no longer sees these sins as a problem. Or perhaps she knows they’re a problem, but doesn’t consider them a very significant one.
Scripture, however, doesn’t agree. Both the Old and New Testaments have much to say about moral sins: fornication, immorality, homosexuality, and other perverse sins.
Above all, Paul says that those who practice these sins (among others) will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Not only that: he didn’t just say those who just practice these since wont inherit the kingdom Heaven, but those who are these things (ie. someone who identifies himself as a homosexual but doesn’t actively practice homosexuality) will not inherit the kingdom of heaven!
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
That’s pretty straightforward. He doesn’t leave any wiggle room at all, does he?
And yet, while the church knew that this decision was before the Supreme Court, where was the church? Where were the calls to prayer and fasting? Where was the outcry?
Where was the church?
Sadly, there are many in the church who do not consider homosexuality a sin. In fact, they have openly embraced the LGBT community in their churches.
And so we see that society’s agenda was a success. They knew the truth of this ancient quote:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.– Alexander Pope
Yes, the Supreme Court decision matters!
It matters a great deal. Besides the fact that it is likely that pastors will soon lose their ability to decline weddings that do not agree with their moral and religious values, it points to a deeper and more sinister problem in the body of Christ.
We’ve lost a proper understanding of the holiness of God.
Yes, God is love.
Yes, God is grace.
But we must not lose the balance of His character! He is also righteous and holy. And when we forget that, we lose His hand of blessing because we begin to tolerate those things that deeply offend Him!
We start to assume that sin isn’t as serious as His Word says it is.
We become deceived, believing God will somehow excuse certain people because they’re not terrorists. They aren’t Saddam Hussein. They’re not Osama bin Laden. And since they’re not in that category, God will certainly look the other way.
This deceptive message that the church has believed, that we should only love the sinner without addressing the sinner’s sin has presented a distorted image of God.
And when we have a distorted image of God, we get a distorted image of sin.
The magnitude of His sacrifice is diminished.
And our entire faith becomes shaky, because somehow we have to reconcile Scripture with our beliefs. In an effort to do so, we focus heavily on some while dismissing others; or we attempt alter their meaning by declaring them to be “culturally irrelevant to today” or “meant only for the era in which they were written”.
But what do we do with the verse, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.”
Is it settled in heaven forever? Or are only parts of it meant for us today?
Is God the same yesterday, today and forever, or has He changed His mind about certain things He once called sin?
Or will we be held accountable for entertaining ourselves with the very things that nailed His only Son to the cross?
Or will we be required to explain ourselves because we chose to tolerate those things He called an abomination?
Or will we have to stand before His throne of judgement on that day and answer as to why we chose to completely ignore parts of His Holy Word that told us to flee sin, hate those things that He hates, and live consecrated lives?
Because, Church, we have defiled ourselves!
Our robes are not spotless.
We are not a church without wrinkle.
We are a bride who has so prostituted herself with the world that there is no longer anything to distinguish ourselves from it.
If there is any good that could come from this Supreme Court decision, it would be that a clear and distinct call would go out to the body of Christ to repent.
Rend your heart an not your garments.
Make your repentance sincere, not just a show of fancy words and nice actions.
Weep for our nation. Weep for our church that has grown so passive so as to be completely comatose.
Rend your hearts for a church that is no longer a bride without spot or wrinkle.
And perhaps, just perhaps, we will return to the God of our fathers and stay His hand of judgement on our great land!
Quite impressed and well written. Will be forwarding to my pastor. Blessings.
Thank you, Kathy!
Hi Roz,
It’s been long but I saw this post and just had to leave you a comment. A few weeks back when the whole Bruce Jenner saga was going down, I made a comment on social media that had me called “narrow-minded” and “uneducated” by someone who said they were a Christian. That’s when I think I realized how deep this thing was. No matter how you try to express it you are not a “hateful” person if you don’t agree with homosexuality.
I was thinking some of these thoughts you have written about yesterday. I believe it makes scriptures like Mark 13 and Matthew 24 even more clearer. An even scarier thought : that because of the increase of sin the hearts of many believers would grow cold. It’s scary. But it also says to me that everything Jesus said is true. He is coming back to take his spotless bride and as much as it will hurt His heart because it is never His will that any perish, there will be punishment for those who have ignored his commandments.
Dear Lord, have mercy on us all.
Hi Gertrude! You were on my heart the other day! I am so sorry that you were called those things. Take joy, you are a partaker with Christ in His suffering. But you are right, to be “loving” is to be silent these days. To speak a word is to be judgmental and hateful, and it’s sad that the church has bought into this tolerance. It’s not biblical!
Rosilind, am weeping right now. There is a stinch of this nation. It is rotten to the core. And that stinch is in God’s nostril. It is so sad. I am afraid for our nation. God is a just God…and judgement is already here. How can this nation be the largest Christian nation of the world and this happens? It is not possible. Something ain’t right. We as Christian have idlely sit back (while asleep) and allowed satan to take over…I don’t even have a church home right now…because I desire one that is real. Where is the real church? Where was the watchmen? We get so caught up in ourselves until we totally forget about God. I have been reading comments on other sites that place Jesus as anything but just. That he was tolerant of sin. My Bible tells me that Jesus turned over the tables and rid the folks of temple courts. He also told the woman at the well to go and sin no more. He didn’t tell her to go do her own thing. I enjoyed reading your article. Thanks for sharing it.
I am sorry, that should read stench not stinch.
Not a problem. I understood clearly. 🙂
Oh Trish – my heart breaks for you. Sadly – you are not alone. There are so many, just like you, longing for a church home where the true Word of God is preached with authority and power. And yet, it will become harder and harder to find such a church, as the body of Christ continues to walk in deception and passivity. People want to love the sinner -as we should…Jesus loved sinners so much that He died for them. But they don’t want to hate sin. God said repeatedly in the Word that He hates sin. He abhors sin. And as long as we want to be passive and flimsy, the darkness will grow ever darker.
Rosalind,
I wanted to share something with you. I became stagnant in my relationship with God. I got caught up with other things that were happening in my life. I didn’t even know that this issue had went before the Supreme Court. But when I heard about it…something awakened in me. I was filled with guilt. Guilt that I was not where I should have been and doing what I should have been doing. And that’s at my Father’s feet crying out for this nation. This morning as I Iayed in my bed with my Bible opened still crying… my Bible flipped to Revelations chapter 2 (the seven churches). I was led to read about the church of Ephesus. I know that God was speaking to my heart from those passages of scriptures. I am well versed on those scriptures. I have even taught on those scriptures. Yet, this morning I was led to read about the church of Ephesus.. So, I definitely know that God was speaking to me about me. I know I need someone to hold me accountable and I need to fellowship. I have been praying that God will lead me to a church home. Thanks so much for responding to my post…and allowing me to share my feelings here. And please pray my strength in the Lord and I will pray yours. Blessings.
Wow….what a testimony! I surely will pray. I’ll add you to my prayer list, because I know how easy it is to let stuff distract you. Oh, how well I know! And what a passage!! I do believe we are living in the most amazing and difficult time in history. I believe that much of what we’ve heard and read about last-day prophecy is happening now. It’s just hard to recognize it because we’re in the middle of it. And like Jesus said – at an hour when we least expect. Sobering but exciting. Thank you for stopping back by to share this. It really blessed me to read it!
Hi Trish, I read that you don’t have a church home right now and I’m sure there are many others out there desiring a Christ-centered, Bible based church home too… I will pray for you to find a Truth speaking church… but until you find one you can walk into I invite you to listen to the teachings at Grace Baptist http://www.grace-baptist.net/ Our pastor speaks about the Supreme Court decision in the teaching titled David & Saul part 2. And we had a really amazing service at the end of May called When Life is a Shipwreck, with Blues music for worship service https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCet89xz6c-taMaps07arCLw
Thank you, Rosalind, for speaking the truth. Christ warned us that iniquity would abound in the last days and the love of many would wax cold. People just won’t care anymore.
They will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall turn unto fables (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
I am thankful I stumbled across your blog. Keep up the good work.
Love to you from Arizona.
Yes! These words have rung in my heart the past few days as well. The end is upon us….
Sorry for the repeated comment. I’m learning to use this new phone. You may delete the first one. So sorry.
Not a problem at all! You’re comments are always welcome!
Very well written.
Thank you. I had trouble dealing with the ruling myself. It’s been hard the last 10 years or longer having these issues shoved in our faces . If we don’t agree we are wrong. If we express HOW WE FEEL AND WHAT WE BELIEVE we are wrong. How Is that right?
Sadly, there is a element of the body of Christ who has embraced deception and is now trying to silence those who preach the unalterable Word of God. We have a choice, back down and continue to speak out.
I think Christians have forgotten a few things:
1. We are in the world, not of it. So why get upset when the world does worldly things?
2. How have Christians demomstrated the love of Christ to the lost? By making Christ’s love available — or by mercilessly judging others who aren’t Christians for not being Christians?
This ruling represents the failure of the church in the age.
The sad part about this is that this nation is suppose have more Christians than any nation in the world.
It’s tragic to see how far we’ve fallen.
I don’t think it has so much to do with the church being upset by the world doing worldly things or expecting unbelievers to act like Christians as much as it is that the church hasn’t been the influence she should be in the world. Yes, the world will act like the world. But the church should act like the church and be a light in the world. Fulfill Christ’s commands to take the gospel to the world. Make disciples of all nations. And here is where we have failed!
Wonderfully written. Thank you for being willing to tell the truth. Far too long, we the church, myself included, have allowed things to go on and do nothing about it but complain. Now we must deal with the consequences of our own choices to remain silent. God forgive us and have mercy on us all.
Thank you, Renee! I think we all could say that we wish we would have done more, but there is still time to lift our voices and proclaim truth.
Thank you for this insite. I am saddened by the pacivism flying around, and not only that but ‘Christians’ shaming other Christians for standing up for the word of God. No homosexuality is no more or less sinful than adultery or fornication,etc. But the fact that people are standing by applauding is atrocious.
Yes, it saddens me, too. Jesus’ words ring true now more than ever….the elect have been deceived.
I totally agree with you on this! It’s truly sad and heartbreaking! Maybe not so surprising with the direction our country’s morals are heading, but nonetheless it is truly sad. On the bright side, we Christians have a chance to shine our light a little bit brighter in this slowly darkening world. Soon “traditional” families will be a rarity and we will be looked at as something very different…which we should be proud of! We are ambassadors of Christ and He was very different too!
Great post! Truth was proclaimed! Very, very well written! Have a great day!
Yes – we must be diligent to make sure our light shines all the brighter now…remember what we were sent here to do!
Thank you for this post, Rosilind. It’s one of the best posts I’ve seen on the subject at hand. You handled something so hard with grace, truth and dignity. Thank you again!!!
Thank you, Jen. Your encouragement really means a lot to me today.
Well articulated, beautifully and boldly speaking the truth in love. Nearly brings me to tears, the state of the country and your words.
I feel the same way. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been brought to tears the past few days.
Excellently articulated post.
My heart is so broken I’m having trouble just going through my days.
I can’t stop crying and the heaviness of spirit will not lift. 🙁
And with all I’m seeing on social media and elsewhere, I feel like the gates to hell have just been thrown open wide and the forces of evil unleashed to wreck havoc in our land. Oh, Lord help us!!!
Thank you, Elizabeth. Like you, I have cried many tears over this. My heart is still broken and grieved to watch how deceieved the church is, while pastor after pastor either waffles on the issue or hopes to remain silent, so as not to offend. But silence itself speaks loudly. And the past month or two American has changed so as to be barely recognizeable anymore: between the violence, stripping away of our heritage and the repeated attempts to errode the foundation of the holy institution of marriage God gave us. I am deeply grieved.
Thank you, Rosilind!! We as the blood-bought people of God so badly need to hear this message (myself included). I’m so thankful for you and others who have not stayed silent. May the Lord give the true church His grace and wisdom in these perilous times.
Amen!! Thank you for your encouragement!!
Oh, dear Rosalind! I am in tears! This is one of the BEST articles I have read since this happened. My heart BREAKS, and I have wept much over the conditions of our nation and all that is going on. God’s hand was all over your words, and I could feel His anointing in everything you said. THANK YOU for proclaiming the unadulterated truth of God’s Word. Thank you for taking a stand for righteousness. Thank you for using this platform that God has given you to defend His holiness. Jesus said if we are ashamed of Him, He would be ashamed of us before His Father in Heaven. He will surely not be ashamed of you, dear friend. I just can’t tell you enough how much this blessed my soul and how much it encouraged me and uplifted my spirits. We need the truth. That is the only thing that will set us free. I am SO very thankful for you and trust God will abundantly bless and encourage your dear heart. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. You are making a difference, and your labor will be rewarded by our dear Lord.
Dear Cheryl, thank you so much for your kind and ecouraging words. They meant more to me than you know. I truly believe that nw is the time for us to put feet to the words we have proclaimed for many years. All my life I’ve heard people declare that they would die for Christ – well, maybe it hasn’t quite come to THAT yet, but if we can’t make THIS stand, if we’re willing to compromise truth NOW, how will we ever be willing to lay our lives down?
I am grieved, far more than I can say, to watch leading pastors and even friends rewrite the Word of God to adjust to their own opinions and philosphies that they’ve allowed the world influence with the constant talk of tolerance and relevantism. But there is always a remnant. Always!
Hi, Rosilind 🙂 I’m stopping by from Grace and Truth. I applaud your call to holiness! We are seeing some devastating effects in our own church right now from those who would pervert the Word of God by tossing out the parts they don’t like (and it’s not even about homosexuality, but about purity within the church). When my husband (the pastor) likened one to the other, their response was “that won’t happen here.” They fail to recognize for themselves how slippery the slope is that denies the authority of the Word! Our only recourse is to leave. But it’s heart-breaking, not just for our family, not just for the those perverting the word, but for the entire congregation who have been subtly exposed to the lie. We’ve exchanged the worship of grace for the worship of Jesus and the gospel. Yes, our view of God has become woefully unbalanced. I do weep for our nation. I weep for our church. I weep for those who are lost right in our very midst!!
Jen
Oh Jen – yes, anytime we start to mold the Word around our own thoughts and feelings, we’ve begun to slip down that slope. I have heard some truly astounding things over the years, people’s “interpretation” based upon their own personal philosophies. It’s dangerous – and the Word of God itself warns against such practices.