The Supreme Court has made a landmark decision. They have decided to prohibit states from banning same-sex marriage and require states to recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in other states. Their decision has legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
Many Christians are responding to the decision. Some are responding with anger, frustration and disappointment at the moral slippery slope our country continues to slide down.
But in the midst of this decision, believers in Christ should be very careful with our responses. Now is the time to choose our words carefully, seeking to represent and glorify our Lord. Here are four heart postures we must maintain as we respond to this decision from our country’s highest court.
1. We must respond with perfect peace.
On the night He was betrayed, our Lord gave the disciples several gifts. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you … Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
It will be tempting to let our hearts be troubled by the news of this decision, but we should remember Christ’s words to His disciples. Their circumstances were about to take a major turn for the worse. They would soon be on the run. They would soon hear the news Jesus had been killed violently on a Roman cross. Jesus prepared them for this by giving them His peace, by instructing them not to let trouble or fear root in their hearts.
Let’s respond with the peace of Christ dwelling in our hearts richly. Let’s respond knowing our Lord is secure on His throne, working out His plan perfectly, and glorious and ultimate judge over all.
2. We must lament with the heart of Christ.
If we’re honest, it can be really annoying when people disagree with us. Most of us prefer to be in the moral majority. It can feel threatening to consider that soon, the biblical ideals we hold will be the minority view.
At such a time, we must remember that Christ always ministered in contexts where most or all of His listeners were very wrong about many of their beliefs. He was constantly correcting error, yet He ministered from a heart of love. Christ had compassion on the crowds. He loved them in their ignorance. He loved them in their opposition to truth.
After such a decision, it’s appropriate to lament or mourn. This decision has terrible implications for families and especially children growing up in same-sex households. We respond by showing forth the love of Christ, remembering we ultimately want those we disagree with to encounter the risen Christ. They are not our enemies, but rather they are our mission field. Let’s not let their ignorance distract us from our mission to introduce them to the Savior. Let’s not be surprised when those walking in darkness make blind decisions, but instead, bring them to the light.
3. We must respond from a secure hope.
Absolutely nothing has changed about our eternal hope. Let that sink in. For those who are in Christ, all that God has promised us will be accomplished. There have been countless times through the history of the church where Christians have faced terrible circumstances, even death. Even today, we have brothers and sisters who face persecution and martyrdom as very real possibilities. Their hope and ours must be deeper than the circumstances of the day. Our confidence is that our Lord will one day return and establish His eternal kingdom of peace and love.
The justices of the Supreme Court will one day stand before this King and Judge and give an account before Him. Their decision is a mere drop in the bucket compared to His eternal judgment seat.
4. We must respond with a commitment to truth.
We are living at a time in history when it can be hard to discern what is really true. Everyone seems to have strong, thoughtful and differing opinions. Even believers can be divided on these issues. Some emphasize truth, while others emphasize love. How can we know what’s really true?
The safest convictions are those that are formed from a careful study of God’s Word. If we would be on the side of truth, we must find our opinions anchored in what God has revealed in the Bible. More than just cherry-picking verses, we must study God’s Word for ourselves and learn from teachers who are also careful interpreters of the Bible.
At the end of the day, I want to believe what God has said is true even if everyone turns to another perspective. Even if the Supreme Court would decide something contrary to Scripture, I’ll stand on the solid rock of God’s Word.
As always, let’s labor in prayer for the souls of all those who would rather do what’s right in their own eyes than humble themselves before the gracious God who delights to save sinners. From hearts full of peace, hope and truth, let us join together in fervent prayer, asking God to do a mighty work of salvation in our day.
Focus on the Family is committed to equip marriages and families with peace found in God. In response to the Supreme Court decision, you can turn every $1 into $2 to help Focus on the Family save and strengthen marriages according to God’s design.
Your support will go twice as far to provide daily broadcasts and programs, online resources, counseling, books, programs like The National Institute of Marriage, and more to empower couples to live out God’s perfect plan for marriage and family.
