As you probably know, the Supreme Court of the United States made two decisions last Wednesday concerning homosexual marriage.  I think it is important for us to understand what has changed in theses rulings, and what was not changed.

One decision concerned Proposition 8 which blocked gay marriage in California.  This law was passed by the voters of California and then was struck down by lower federal courts.  The governor of California and his Attorney General refused to defend the voter’s choice by appealing the court decision.  Private groups tried to appeal to the Supreme Court but their appeal was denied on a technicality…they had no “legal standing” to defend the law.  What is troublesome about this decision is that the will of the people can be ignored by a handful of politicians who refuse to defend a law they don’t like.  Presumably, if Californians choose a new governor who will defend the law then it can be reinstated.

The other decision concerned the federal law known as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  The Supreme Court has decided that the federal government has no power to tell states how to define marriage.  What does this mean?  It means that the debate defending traditional marriage (one man and one woman) is over at the federal level.  BUT, the court confirms that the debate will continue within individual states.  Each state can define marriage for itself and the federal government will accept it.  Thirty-four states have legally defined marriage as being the union of one man and one woman.  Nothing in the Supreme Court decision will change that.  On the other hand, states that legally adopt gay marriage will be able to get federal benefits for those marriages.

So what does this mean for God’s people?  It means the society around us is becoming more secular and less concerned with values of God’s Word.  It means America, like many nations before it, is facing the trouble that historically comes to any people who ignore God’s values.  What should we do?  “Put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:11).  PRAY for our nation and its leaders (I Tim. 2:1,2). SHARE the word of God with all who will listen (2 Tim. 2:24-26).  LIVE your faith for all to see (1 Cor. 16:13,14).  In all this we must remember that our spiritual warfare continues…. – Joe

“Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away” (1 Cor. 2:6).