Romans 13 and the United States Supreme Court

Yesterday the United States Supreme Court heard arguments concerning making same-sex marriages the law of the land.  Thirty-eight states already have legitimatized same-sex marriages, leaving twelve states that have not made such declarations.  It seems that the Justices have already tipped their hat as to the direction their ruling will be when it is issued the end of June.  In the past several months, the Court has upheld lower court rulings that determined that states with laws banning same-sex marriage were unconstitutional.  Could this be an indication of the way in which the Court will rule?  Probably so.


If the Court rules that same-sex marriage is a right protected by the United States Constitution and can be defined as the law of the land, such a ruling will rival the January 22, 1973 ruling known as Roe v. Wade which made abortion the law of the land.  That ruling in 1973 legitimated the murder of the unborn - many simply because they were an unwanted pregnancy.  Tens of millions of babies have been executed in the womb.  I believe that Roe V. Wade was the beginning of our nation's plummet down a slippery immoral slope.  If the truth about value in life has meaning no longer, then perhaps the truth about anything has meaning no longer.  Truth becomes merely another personal preference. 


Now, the truth about marriage, as declared first within the pages of Holy Scripture - going back to that first family created in the Garden of Eden: one man and one woman - and the centerpiece of cultures and civilizations that have spanned both the civilized as well as the pagan worlds, is about to be declared null and void.  Think about what such a ruling will mean?  Well, we have already seen the results: businesses will be forced to serve gay weddings that violate their own spiritual beliefs.  And, if same-sex marriage becomes the law of the land, then the struggle between biblical truth and constitutional law will become more intense. 


Friends, we are moving into a time when the principles outlined by the Apostle Paul in Romans 13 are becoming a reality.  Let's look briefly at that passage.  First, Paul affirms that governments have been established by God and that it is the responsibility of every citizen - believer as well as nonbeliever - to be submissive to that government.  (I am sure Paul must have struggled writing those words because of the oppressive regime of Emperor Nero).  Second, Paul reminds us that the purpose of government is to protect its citizens and this is done through a sense of fear the government has over its citizens.  A good example of the truth found in verse 3 is the following: you are driving down the Interstate and you see a highway patrol car up ahead parked along the shoulder.  What is you immediate first response?  To touch the brakes, isn't it?  But why would you do that?  Because that patrol car represents the government and you fear what might happen if you are pulled over for speeding. 


But, what if the government, by its declarations wants you to do something that is contrary to your religious convictions?  What if, by obeying those governmental declarations, your conscience is violated?  What should you do?  Paul says that you need to submit to God first.  Was that not the response of those apostles when they were brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish government of the day?  We read in Acts 5:29, "We must obey God rather than men!"  But Paul would add to those words, "When you resist a governmental degree because of your faith in Jesus Christ, then you must be prepared to pay the penalty such resistance demands."  It might mean arrest and imprisonment.  Then, go to jail willingly, counting it a small price to pay for Jesus.  It might mean the loss of a job or of a career improvement.  Then, leave that job willingly, counting it a small price to pay for Jesus.  It might mean that your business will have to close.  Then, close it willingly, counting it a small price to pay for Jesus. 


Friends, I am convinced that the Church of Jesus Christ today is not prepared for the persecution and suffering that is coming.  We need to grow our faith.  We need to have a clearly stated purpose - just as did Daniel and his friends.  We need to have a Godly backbone to stand up for truth.  This needs to be the purpose of our small group Bible studies.  This needs to be the reason why Elders meet.  This needs to be priority in sermons that are preached and classes that are taught.  We need to be equipping the saints for the spiritual warfare that lies before us.  And that spiritual warfare just might be in the form of officers of the state who are enforcing the declarations of the State that has lost sight of its moral foundations. 


Oh how I pray, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!"