Supreme Court Smackdown

It’s the slap heard across the country.  Around the world.  To be clear I am not talking about the controversial issue of gay marriage.  I’m referring to the Supreme Court legislating from their unelected benches.  The majority of nine, unelected lawyers – sanctioning what the majority of Americans are not in favor of.  This scares me more than the law itself.

Seventy-six percent of Americans already live in a state where they can lawfully marry someone of the same sex based on the vote of its citizens.  Yet, these judges took it upon themselves to create a law which goes against their constitutional bounds and steps on the feet of the legislators – and let’s be honest, the American people.  How many states have voted and said they disagree with the legalization of gay marriage?  Why do these judges feel they have the right to make this decision?  Five people did this – a majority of nine.

So whether you support gay marriage or not, I hope you can at least acknowledge that what happened in the Court last week is earth-shattering.  I can’t imagine this not scaring the pants off every single American who loves liberty. 

Regardless of what your personal opinion is, we should all agree that this country is in huge trouble when something like this can happen.  Where are the checks and balances?  Where is the accountability to the 320 million Americans who may or may not agree with the majority of nine?  If it can happen on this issue, it can happen on every other issue. 

Will there be societal consequences to the legalization of gay marriage?  Without a doubt. 

The first consequence that makes me want to weep is that freedom of religion will be challenged more than it already is.  How many couples do you expect to visit a mosque to request a gay wedding?  I would guess not many.  Most will go to a Methodist or Baptist church where preachers and congregations will have to defend their right to disagree with same sex unions.  The Court stole the church’s rights and handed them to a minority of people whose voices are the loudest.  I have gay friends who acknowledge this concern.  For the threat is real.

And do you think gay marriage will even be a topic of debate for the 2016 presidential candidates?  Absolutely not!  It’s the law of the land, so the candidates are off the hook in being honest about their actual opinions.  They can just say that regardless of how they feel, the Supreme Court has spoken and they respect the law.  Most Americans would probably like to hear the answer to that question.  But it won’t get asked.

As Antonin Scalia said in his dissenting opinion, “public debate over same-sex marriage displayed American democracy at its best.”  But now the debate is OVER.   

So as you can see, my mind has been wrapped around the politics in all of this more than anything.  Nothing should surprise me anymore when it comes to our society changing or the government stepping in where it shouldn’t.  I respect people on both sides of the issue, but one side has been silenced.  And that is a travesty. 

In the end, my heart feels broken in all of this.  Beyond the rainbows and the gnashing of teeth, there are people at the heart of this issue.  And we are all broken.  Gay and straight alike.  We are all in need of a Savior.    

On Sunday, our preacher taught from Daniel chapter 6.  King Darius decreed that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next 30 days, except to Darius himself, would be thrown into the lions’ den.  When Daniel learned of this decree, he went home to his upstairs room and got down on his knees to pray, giving thanks to God, just as he had done before. 

Just as he had done before.  Nothing changed for Daniel.  And yes, he was thrown into the lions’ den.  Our Supreme Court issued a decree last week.  There will be consequences and some of us will suffer.  Oh to be so courageous that we could carry on living our lives for God and not get bogged down in what five judges say or how other people choose to live their lives.

And like Daniel, I believe the next step for all of us as Christians is to keep doing what we have always done.  Pray.  Seek God’s heart.  Love your neighbor, gay or straight.  Show them Jesus.  Pray for everyone to come into the knowledge of Christ.  Let God be in charge of their hearts – you be in charge of the example you set. 

I have seen some of the most hateful comments come from Christians over the last few days.  Yes, we are a passionate people.  Our very rights and freedoms are being compromised every single day and we are lashing out at anyone and everyone.  But we have to decide where our battle should be waged. 

God is not asking me to protest the Supreme Court.  He’s not asking me to try and change anyone’s opinion or sexual orientation.  And I'm most grateful at this moment that I am not called to be a political writer.  I too often see grey when others see black and white.  I love a healthy debate but in writing about it, I feel a little out of my depth.

That said.....we have to pick the hills on which we are willing to die.  Whether or not gay marriage should be legal?  That is not my hill. 

Freedom of religion, YES!

Rights of the unborn, YES!

Love my neighbor as myself, YES!

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, YES, YES and YES!

It’s liberating to realize God isn’t asking me for anything other than my devotion and obedience.  He will deal with the chaos swirling around me as I try to make sense of the confusion.  And in the end, I pray that all of us can find Him in this lost and hurting world. 

Let us wage our war in the battle for souls; in the battle of Heaven versus Hell.  The harvest is ripe and people are hungry and searching.  We WIN in the end, so there is nothing to lose.