What Same-Sex Marriage Means For The Church July 1, 2013
The Supreme Court has spoken on two historic cases,using arguments about human dignity and equal protection to defend same-sexmarriage. And just like that, our situation as Bible-believing Christiansbecame more clear.
Some saythese decisions by the SCOTUS caused the legal and cultural ground to shiftbeneath our feet. I don’t think so. I think these decisions simply cleared awaythe fog so we could see how the ground had already shifted a long time ago.
Gone arethe days when we can assume marriage—that everyone knows what a “broken home”is as it contrasts with the ideal of a whole one. Gone is the comfort that ourlawmakers and judges are friendly to so-called “family values.” Gone is theassumption that most American towns wish they could look like Mayberry. That’sall long gone.
To all ofit, I say: “Good riddance.”
Christianhope has never rested on government policies. Jesus’ kingdom has never advancedthrough legislation. Real conversions have never happened through culturalpopularity. In fact, cultural advantage often tends to hamper the gospel’sprogress, which only makes sense when you think about it. Light stands out atnight, not at noon. The deeper the darkness, the more even a tiny 3-wattnightlight will shine. Jesus Christ is still alive, He is still the reigningKing of the cosmos, and He still plans to be called “Lord of All” someday soon.
What doesall this mean for the American church? It means we will have even greateropportunities to spread the gospel. How? First, through conspicuous and lavishlove. Gay marriage is not going away. It’s coming to our state, our town, evenour own neighborhood. No question about that. The question is, will you loveyour gay neighbors the way God loves even you with all your sin, or willyou effectively renounce the gospel by reserving love for those whom youperceive to be good enough?
Second,through marriages that truly reflect Christ’s faithful, self-sacrificing lovefor His church. God gave marriage as an image, a shadow of His covenantal lovefor His people. The more marriage languishes in the secular culture, the moreopportunity Christian marriages have to stand out and silently preach that goodnews.
And third,through faithful, compassionate Christian witness. All gay marriage does isoffer people one more opportunity to try to slake their soul’s thirst with somethingother than God. Some who try it will find it doesn’t satisfy. Will we be readyto help when that happens?