The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) just handed down their decision that will likely change how our nation and generations to come view marriage, sex, and morality. They ruled DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) unconstitutional. This is it in a nutshell:
“The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority (5-4) opinion. “By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others, the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth Amendment.”
When I heard the news, I sat in sober silence for nearly a minute just pondering the repercussions. I wish down deep that they had ruled in favor of DOMA, yet when pondering the sovereignty of God and His glory that will come out of this (Romans 8:28), I’d have to say that I see at least two good things that should come of this:
1. This decision solidifies that America is NOT a Christian Nation
Many of this generation still live as if Reagan and the Moral Majority were still in power. They are not. We are not. We need to wake up to the sad reality that America’s Christian days are past (at least for now) and that humanism, relativism, and universalism prevail. I do not relish this fact, but it is time that we stop denying it. Churches and Christians act as if the general population still respects their beliefs. But no longer. Sunday is not sacred, the Bible is just another book, preachers aren’t reverend, and marriage is up for grabs.
I believe this should cause us to be more aware of what is happening around us. So many of our brothers and sisters in other nations – where evil is clearly defined – are stronger because of their persecution. As our nation seeks to undo its heritage and remove moral legislation from our society, we should stand stronger, shine brighter, and love even more. Christians MUST speak the truth – at all costs. But we MUST do it in love. If we cannot do it in love, should we speak it at all?
2. This decision stirs up the state’s-rights controversy
I’m a big fan of state’s rights. Even though SCOTUS’s judgment was a step in the wrong direction morally, I like where they ended it politically. The made no qualms about it – they wondered why they were even dealing with an issue that should be handed over to the states to hash out (further). Like many issues, I can see this resurfacing after a long battle at the state level – but I see that this is far from over at the state level — even with the dismissal of Proposition 8 appeal (CA). We should consider that a win! Yes, it will divide the country – but aren’t we already divided on this issue? If we leave it up to smaller governments which lean more heavily on grassroots action and actual popular opinion, I believe conservatives have a much better chance of establishing / retaining their rights.
For Further Investigation & Information…
Trevin Wax just wrote a thought-provoking article about the Pro’s & Con’s of today’s decision:
Why Gay Marriage is Good (and Bad) for the Church
> Listen to the SCOTUS debate the issue
> Read the Official Release by SCOTUS
– The NY Times did a fabulous job illustrating / graphing how SCOTUS made their decision
– Read Huffington Post’s Opinion
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