By a 5-4 vote, the United States Supreme Court overturned a definition of marriage that has endured since, well since God gave the definition back in the Garden of Eden to Adam and Eve. It is best stated in Genesis 2:24, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."
Here is God's definition of marriage expressed very simply: one man plus one woman.
As I have stated in previous blogs, God's definition of marriage has crossed cultural and racial and religious and even non-religious lines down through the millenniums since the creation of man. Throughout our nation the majority of people, through public referendums, indicated that they believed in the traditional, biblical definition of marriage.
Now, with a vote from a panel of nine judges who have no accountability to the American people at all - remember, the Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life - that definition has been changed. Marriage will now be defined as the union of any parties who have bonded because of love. In the immediate sense, the changed definition relates to same-sex marriage: a man with another man, a woman with another woman. (By the way, in spite of what five Supreme Court Justices might say, God's opinion of same-sex marriage has not changed. It is still an abomination to Him). But, let us look down the road a little further. Because of this ruling today, who can deny a pedophile who wants to marry a under-aged boy because he is in love? Or, who can deny a brother from marrying his sister? Or, who can say it would be wrong for a man to marry two or three wives at the same time? Now, you will say, "Pastor Max, that won't happen! We have statutes against incest. We have laws against polygamy." Yes, you are right...we do have such statutes and laws right now. But up until a few hours ago, we also had a statute in many states that said that marriage was between a man and a woman. Now that statute has been nullified, so who is to say that incest and polygamy laws would not be nullified in the future?
We had already begun sliding down the slippery slope of immorality. Now that sliding has just accelerated. And I am fearful for how God will respond! For, indeed He will respond! He responded to the immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah. He responded to the immorality of Israel and Judah. He responded to the immorality of the Roman Empire. Oh, yes, God will respond. It will eventually result in His judgment - perhaps as destructive as was His judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Perhaps with the devastation of the exile both Israel and Judah experienced. Perhaps with the crushing defeat at the hands of others as the Roman Empire experienced.
I am reminded of those words from the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-32. That little phrase, "and God gave them over" appears three times. Before judgment comes, God may allow our nation to wallow in the slime we have created because we have turned our backs upon God. It will a tragic time.
What can we do? First of all, we must continue to pray. Let us never forget that prayer is a powerful weapon against evil. Second, we must continue to show love to those with whom we disagree. Those people need a Savior just as we did. So, let us point them to Jesus. Third, we must ask ourselves this question: "What does the Bible have to say?" Church Boards, Pastoral groups will have to set aside time to study intensely that question. What is your church's position? How will your church continue to define marriage? What will be your church's position with regard to the relationship between the state's definition of marriage and your church's definition? Who will be able to use your church's facilities for a marriage ceremony? Will your church still be available for use for a marriage ceremony? Not easy questions to answer, but they have taken on a whole new meaning in the light of the decision reached today.
The Court's decision today was little more narrow than I had anticipated. I had looked for a 7-2 vote, so, in essence, the Court was divided. However, a divided Court did not remove a Sovereign God from His throne. So we just need to keep looking to Him and trusting in Him and living for Him even if it will cost us some personal freedoms. Friends, it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.
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