It's not a shock the Supreme Court overturned a lower court's ruling regarding homosexual marriage. It is not a surprise -- the United States has been on a perilous course toward this for a long, long time. What is telling, however, is the margin of which it passed: 5-4. Four dissenting Supreme Court Justices did not vote to overturn the ruling. This margin is symbolic of the divide relating to homosexual marriage, and no doubt acceptance, that persists throughout the country. The LGBT movement has no desire to just stop at their apparent victory. They do not just want to have the ability to marry, but they want all American people to accept them. Not only that, they want all American people -- especially Christians -- to not just accept them, but approve them. Homosexual people want to change our long-held, Biblical beliefs to accept and approve of their lifestyle. Speaking in the Rose Garden soon after the Supreme Court announcement Friday, President Obama said, “Shifts in hearts and minds is possible. And those who have come so far on their journey to equality have a responsibility to reach back and help others join them. Because for all our differences, we are one people — stronger together than we could ever be alone.” Obama is issuing a call to arms, so to speak, to reach back and get Christians to see their viewpoint on the sin of homosexuality. Judging Others I must stop here and address this point: the chatter on all the social media outlets has LGBT proponents demanding that Christians "not judge as the Bible says not to." I need to remind Christians here that even satan knows Scripture. Yet, just like satan did in Genesis 3, people who are quoting our Lord's very words to not judge are pulling them out of context, warping them, and using them against us. What Jesus said was this, from Matthew 7:1-5: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." This is what Jesus was saying here: make sure you're clean before pointing fingers. Remove the 2x4 from your own eye before you remove the splinter from your brother's eye. For true Christians who have asked (and therefore obtained) forgiveness from Christ based on His atoning death on the cross, we are wholly forgiven and therefore are plank-free. Therefore, having repented and been forgiven by Christ, I can say this: Anyone who has not repented of their sins (any sin) and have not accepted Christ as their Savior, are doomed to hell. It's not MY judgement; it's is GOD's judgement. Jesus' words are written in Revelation 22:12-16: “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega,the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” And so it begins... It is tradition for the dissenting Justices as well as the majority Justices to write their opinions as groups, one for, and one against. The comments from the dissenting Justices showcase somber and telling, and prophetic messages for the Church. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, "“It is one thing for the majority to conclude that the Constitution protects a right to same-sex marriage; it is something else to portray everyone who does not share the majority’s ‘better informed understanding’ as bigoted.” Indeed, Christians are being made out to be ignorant villains in this country because of their beliefs in Christianity. Justice Alito wrote, "The decision will also have other important consequences. It will be used to vilify Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy...I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes, but if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools… By imposing its own views on the entire country, the majority facilitates the marginalization of the many Americans who have traditional ideas." Given this "new orthodoxy," how should Christians act? What should we do? Christians, it's time to suit up. The Bible is very clear that persecution will come to believing Christians. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.," [John 15:18-21]. At least we're in very good Company. Matthew 5:11 states, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." So when we are called "bigots," thank the name-caller, because you have been given the highest of blessings, to be insulted because of Jesus. In these dark days, we should not be scared. Fear has no place in the heart where Jesus dwells. We must suit up -- put on the whole armor of God -- to go to battle for our King and Lord. Ephesians 6:10-20 details the armory of the Christian (emphasis added): "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." Let's itemize these weapons and armor of war. We put on the full armor of God, which covers us. "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered," Psalm 32:1. Satan has no power over the man, woman or child whose sins have been forgiven. We tie the belt of truth around our waist. "Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long," wrote David in Psalm 25:5. We take heart knowing while the world believes the lies of satan that doom them to lives captive to his evil ways, we believe in the truth made known in and trough Jesus Christ, which frees us to live with Him and with His peace. We strap on the breastplate of righteousness. Matthew 6:33 states we need to "....seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." We are righteous because of Christ's atoning work on the cross, not for anything we have done. The breastplate of righteousness is right on our chest, deflecting the evil arrows from satan. Christ's righteousness protects us from those evil, condemning darts and keeps us ever in His hand. Our feet are fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”, Isaiah 52:7. Let us ever be quick to say a word of peace in Jesus' name, and ever swift to go help someone, always with the knowledge that we are the hands and feet of Christ. We protect ourselves with the shield of faith. In Romans 5:1-2, Paul wrote, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God." We have faith that God is Who He says He is, made known through Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit, and that all things are under His control. Neither the Supreme Court or the President of the United States have jurisdiction over God. God, my friend, is still on the throne. We take up the helmet of salvation and place it on our heads, knowing that we are covered with the blood of Christ from the cross, and our sins have been forgiven. "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold," Psalm 18:2. God is our salvation, and though we may be persecuted and die for the cause of Christ, we inherit something that cannot be made possible at the Supreme Court or the Oval Office -- and that is salvation. We take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God....Christian brothers and sisters, we are attacked with our own Scriptures. Far be it that non-Christians know the Word better than God's children. We must be in the Word -- not just reading it or flipping it open, closing our eyes and reading where our pointy fingers land -- but systemically, deliberately studying the Bible. How can we wield a weapon we don't know how to use? How can we share the Gospel if we don't know it? Do not rely on any pastor or preacher; study the Word yourself. Get in a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church and learn it. Memorize Scriptures. The Bible is our instruction manual from our King of Kings. Isaiah wrote, "Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn," [Isaiah 8:20]. Lastly, we must pray. "But I tell you," Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Pray for the people ensnared in the LGBT movement. Pray for the president. Pray for the Supreme Court Justices. Pray for the brave pastors who preach the Truth in pulpits. Pray for our brothers and sisters who die daily at the hand of ISIS. Pray for our children. Pray for Jesus' coming. Church, it's time to suit up....are you ready? In the battle, Terrie (c) 2015 Terrie Bentley McKee
3 Comments
6/29/2015 01:19:49 pm
Great post! Finally someone that gets the 'judgement' narrative right!!!
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Terrie McKee
6/30/2015 07:44:04 am
Thank you for reading and sharing Mary. May you experience God's blessings today! In His love, Terrie
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6/29/2015 01:28:28 pm
Oops! Forgot to say thanks for sharing on Mama Moments Monday
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