I have read respected scholars who say Genesis 2:24 is the most important verse in the Bible regarding marriage. This verse is used by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:7-8. It is quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:16 and Ephesians 5:31. Marriage, which is God’s design, is between a man and a woman.
However, we live in a culture that as a whole does not believe this. Marriage and family have been under assault for years in America. A country that was founded by Christians is now a post-Christian nation.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court announced two rulings, both decided by 5-4 margins. The Proposition 8 decision did not deal with the definition of marriage but did rule that the supporters who appealed to the court did not have legal standing or the right to make the appeal. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco was empowered to dismiss the appeal. Proposition 8 was an amendment to the California state constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman. It was overruled by the Federal Court and appealed by people who supported the amendment.
The second ruling struck down section three of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as a heterosexual relationship for the purposes of federal financial benefits. It banned the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. What the court did not do was define marriage. In fact, the court emphasized the right of the states to make laws regarding marriage. Oran Smith, president and CEO of the Palmetto Family Council, said, “By overturning a federal law (DOMA) and affirming the laws in the few states allowing same-sex marriage, the court has affirmed the South Carolina constitutional definition as well.” Section two of DOMA, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, was not before the court, so no ruling was made on that section.
What does all this mean? It means the battle over same-sex marriage will likely move to the states. In fact, the ACLU is leading a campaign to “strike down state-based laws prohibiting same-sex marriage.” They plan to spend $10 million in the next four years on this project. U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said, “I am disappointed in this decision (of the court), and the marriage debate will continue in the states.”
Judges are already using the DOMA ruling of the Supreme Court as a basis for saying that states with laws or constitutional amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman are discriminating against gays. We will, undoubtedly, see more and more liberal judges using DOMA in an attempt to overturn state laws. In Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion, he said that DOMA violated equal protection and that the Congress of the United States acted with hatred toward gays when the legislation was passed. Justice Scalia, in his minority opinion, stated, “It is one thing to elect change; it is another for a court to impose change by adjudging those who oppose it, enemies of the human race.”
State Sen. Larry Martin of Pickens, who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, does not think South Carolina will see change soon. Still, this issue will be revisited in the future because of the probability that a same-sex couple legally married in another state will move here. They would be entitled to federal benefits at the very least.
In a Washington Post-ABC poll, 56 percent of Americans agreed with the DOMA ruling, and 51 percent agreed with the Prop 8 decision. According to Pew Research, 45 percent approved of the rulings, 40 percent disapproved, and 15 percent did not have an opinion.
Al Mohler noted that this ruling means “the inevitable marginalization of marriage and the subversion of the most essential institution for human existence.” Pastor David Prince, from Lexington, Ky., said, “Ministering the gospel from the cultural margins rather than the seat of power puts U.S. Christians where most have been in church history.”
Where do we go from here? This ruling will affect religious liberty, and it will open the door for polygamists and others to demand their “rights.” There are other serious results from this ruling that will arise as we move forward.
Seven judges from the highest court in our land cannot destroy what we believe: God’s Word is true, God is real, and marriage was designed by God exclusively for a man and a woman. It is possible for intelligent people to make bad decisions — our Supreme Court did. This is life in post-Christian America.
What can we do? Pray. Keep studying His Word and obeying His truth. Be the salt and light He has called us to be. Refuse to compromise on the truth, but do it with behavior that honors Jesus. Build strong, godly marriages and raise our children according to biblical truths. Battles have been lost, but the war is not over. Jesus our Lord promised not to leave us or forsake us. These are difficult times, and they will probably get worse. But we are blessed to be His witnesses for this time and place in history.