Pastor's Note | Monday, July 1st

We woke this past Wednesday morning to news stories that began like this report from NBC News:

In a pair of landmark decisions, the U. S. Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the 1996 law blocking federal recognition of gay marriage, and it allowed gay marriage to resume in California by declining to decide a separate case (regarding California’s Proposition 8).

These are landmark decisions heralded by some as significant steps to provide equal rights to all citizens while being received by others as further evidence of our culture’s turning away from God’s intentions for marriage.

Let me express some of my thoughts and reactions to these decisions.

First, these are decisions based upon judicial reason and legal evaluation under our Constitution and the prevailing interpretations of equality and equal rights. Our nation’s legal system is one of the best, if not the best, in the world. Still, it should not surprise us to see our courts render such decisions whether we support them or not. Ours is not a theocracy and our civil laws are not always consistent with God’s laws.

Second, legal decisions have to do with civil laws and, in this case, the right of our states to establish its civil laws concerning marriage. The key word here is “Civil”. States, in our system of government, are given the authority to define civil marriage. While we may deem it unfortunate that the Court of Appeals struck down the voter approved Proposition 8 (which, despite the media labeling it “a ban on gay marriage” simply defined marriage being between one man and one woman), and while it is equally unfortunate (maybe even irresponsible) that the then Attorney General Jerry Brown did not serve the people of California by defending the voters’ action, this is how our system works. But, again, this is about civil laws.

Third, the Bible describes another kind of marriage - a covenant union between a man and a woman blessed by God. The Genesis account of creation describes the creation of the man then the woman and the understanding is that “a man shall leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.” Jesus reiterated this design for the covenant of marriage, even quoting the Genesis account (see Matthew 19.5 and Mark 10.8) as the basis for his teaching about divorce. There is a significant difference between the Civil laws concerning marriage and the Covenant relationship described in Genesis and referred to by Jesus.

Fourth, I think many are feeling the frustration of our culture’s shift away from a more common “Judeo-Christian” worldview that once was predominant in American society. It feels like loss. It feels like things are changing around us in negative (or at least unfamiliar and frightening) ways. Some of these feelings come because for so long in this country it seemed like those Judeo-Christian values and traditions were supported by the civil laws, and now they are not.

Fifth, I believe all people are entitled to the same civil rights. While I do not believe same-sex marriage is God’s intention I do not think granting equal rights in terms of civil unions is at all wrong. In fact, I believe it is entirely right. However, I regret that in doing so the term “marriage” has been co-opted and has had a new definition imposed upon it (i.e. a civil union of any two persons).

Here are my suggestions. Above all, let’s determine to love our neighbor - homosexual or heterosexual. Let’s love our neighbor especially when they are discriminated against, or exploited, or oppressed in any way, and do what we can to see justice prevail. Let’s be people of grace, openly and willingly accepting all others – that’s exactly what Jesus did and we’re called as his followers to do the same. We do not have to affirm all behaviors but we are called to love all neighbors.

Then, if we are married, let’s do our best to honor God in our marriages, to use this relationship to build one another up in the faith, and to exemplify how the Covenant of marriage is a gift and a blessing. If we are not married let’s do our best to honor Jesus as Lord with regard to our sexuality, reserving the good gift of sexual intimacy for within the Covenant of marriage. Let’s also offer marriage enrichment and encouragement to couples in our community - Christian or not.

It may be useful to start referring to marriage as “Sacred” or “Holy” marriage to distinguish this God-ordained Covenant relationship from the union defined by our Civil authorities.

Finally, Scripture indicates that God is sovereign over all things. We also understand that God has the final word on what is righteous and just. Our spiritual ancestors living in the Roman Empire in the first century A.D. knew a culture that was extremely hostile toward them and millions have ever since. Yet, the Church of Jesus Christ has continued to exist and to be a blessing to people and nations (like ours). God’s sovereign rule will never end.

Pastor Jim