Wednesday, June 26, 2013

What Is All the Fuss About?

Supreme Court Trumps God!

Really?


All ready the articles, blogs, and postings are already starting. Why are you so surprised? Why are you so outraged? Why are you reacting as if chicken little's sky is falling?

Yes, as expected DOMA was declared unconstitutional. Homosexual marriages have been deemed by the Supreme Court to be treated the same as heterosexual marriages. This should come as a great disappointment, but not as some huge surprise. Nor should it be considered as "trumping" God or redefining marriage.

God's Word, God's laws, God's righteousness, and God's holiness is still the same. The penalties and consequences for violating God's word, law, righteousness, and holiness remain the same. God's standards for marriage remain the same today as they did when He gave them in Genesis.

Listen, the Bible has made it very clear that man has a fallen and sinful nature. Every human being is born spiritually dead. There is no human being alive who seeks after the God of the Bible. There is no human being alive that seeks God's standards. Every human being is born as a God-hater, who hates the "Light" and loves the darkness.

No one suddenly jumped up and by a 5-4 decision trumped God or redefined marriage. No one suddenly decided that a homosexual union is a better idea than a union of one man and one woman until death does them part. The legalization or Supreme Court recognition may have been a long time coming, but this "rejection" of God's laws and standards is not new nor is it surprising.

Have you forgotten what Paul said in Romans, Chapter One? 

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be know of God is manifest in them for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of hte world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their fown heart, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who [don't miss it - here it comes] exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator who is blessed forever, amen." (Romans 1:18-22, 24-25, NKJV)

Mankind did not choose to "trump" God today by a 5-4 decision. Nor did mankind choose to redefine marriage today. Mankind did not choose to reject God, His Word, or His opinion today. Mankind did this some 6,000 years ago in the Garden of Eden and mankind has been doing it since then. 

The Romans passage tells us that man viewed God and the evidence of God and after viewing that evidence decided to reject God. Since creation man has suppressed, spurned, and subverted the truth of God. 

Today's decision doesn't change a thing. When my wife presents the lease agreement and all of its accompanying documents and we come to the Lead-base paint disclosure and she tells them about the legal mumbo jumbo in the form, I tell them,"Heck, you don't need to know all that legalese about lead-based paint - just don't eat the paint." Well, when it comes to the decisions and behaviors that violate God's standards - don't do them.

I am not trying to be flippant or disrespectful. I am trying to say that this is no surprise to me. Human beings are doing exactly what their nature compels them to do. The lost are in bondage to their sin nature. They are in Adam. They are in and under the rule and reign of sin. As a Christian you are not - you are in Christ. You are no longer under the rule and reign of sin. You are now in and under the rule and reign of righteousness.

Don't attempt to win a battle and loose a "war." We need to continue to preach and proclaim God's standards and yes, also the penalty and consequences for violating those standards. Preach the gospel. Share the love of God.

Remember, the Supreme Court ruling did not change a thing.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:10, NKJV) See, nothing has changed! God's standards, laws, or as one blog put it, God's opinion is the same - it has not changed nor been trumped.

If a man or a woman suppresses or spurns or subverts the truth, laws, standards, or opinions of God so be it. The penalty for doing so remains the same. And that should break our heart. Even if we say with God a hearty Amen, it should be tears in our eyes and compassion in our heart for those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. They will be dammed forever.

Besides, if you like that passage from Paul, don't forget verse eleven:

"And such were some of you." Please don't be self-righteous or unbiblically angry - you once also were dammed and banned from the kingdom of heaven. "But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11, NKJV)

Wow! I was once in bondage to the master of sin, in slavery to sin. I was once in and under the rule and reign of sin. But now I am justified. I am dead to the rule and reign of sin. I am dead, no longer a man in Adam. I am in Christ, a man of Christ. I am now in the rule and reign of Christ. (No, I do not believe I am now sinless or that I don't sin)

Our message to the Supreme Court and to any sinner, heterosexual or homosexual, is that God is God and is holy, righteous, just, and yes merciful. Repent or you will perish. Remember, 

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalms 126:6, NKJV)


6 comments:

Scott said...

don't know if this is in any way a response to my blog post, but since it shares the same "trumps God" phrase, I thought I'd chime in.

Notice that I placed a question mark on that phrase, since I agree...no one can trump God. We can pass all the laws we want, God's law still stands. We are making the same point.

And no, it doesn't surprise me for sinful men to behave in sinful ways. Doesn't mean I can't be upset, outraged by it and speak out against it.

Gregg Metcalf said...

Scott - I read you blog and it inspired me. You did a good job. I did see the question mark, but I still "stole" your idea. I am indignant also, but I don't believe nothing has changed. Of course the times have grown worse and will grow worse and worse but I don't believe marriage has changed one bit.

I can sit in the garage all night long and I won't wake up a Buick. The Supreme Court can kill DOMA, redefine marriage, but in the "morning" God's law stands.

Anonymous said...

Excellent post Gregg, though I have read it just before going to bed, that should give me something to think about,
Goodnight.
Yvonne.

Patrinas Pencil said...

'Our message to the Supreme Court and to any sinner, heterosexual or homosexual, is that God is God and is holy, righteous, just, and yes merciful. Repent or you will perish.

Good post, Greg. You did a great job!

I'm always reminded of Malachi 3:16-18...We can't fake it with God! Truth reigns forever and ever.

The Faithful Remnant

16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Susan said...

I have to be reminded of this repeatedly. I get depressed and overwhelmed, and then remember that God already knew this would happen and told us about it ahead of time. ;-) We need to be concerned and yet we shouldn't be overly concerned. And we need to continue to sound the warning, like a voice in the wilderness.

Gregg Metcalf said...

Yvonne - Thank you! I truly hope you think through it.

Patrinas Pencil - Thank you! Great OT Scriptures.

Susan - Yes, that is our responsibility. First, we can't legislate righteousness, second, we can stop or stem the tide, 3rd, God is still God.