******
Proponents
of same sex marriage and their friends in the media have claimed a huge victory
and celebrations continue in the Castro District of San Francisco. But reading the fine print of the two Supreme
Court decisions, and seeing that both liberal and conservative Justices
participated in rendering them, shows that the many intercessory prayers for
the nine Justices were helpful, the spiritual battle is not over yet, and this
may open a new healthy dialogue in the largely-dormant body of Christ.
In short: Keep the prayers coming! Read the fine print. God is still on the Throne.
A
legal overview follows, but first a prayer---
“Abba Father, in Yeshua/Jesus’ Holy Name, we
uphold and we will continue to pray for Your definition of marriage to be the
law of the land and the foundation of families in this and every other nation. Lord Jesus, You clearly stated the definition
of marriage in Matthew 19:4-6: “ And He
answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the
beginning made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall
leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become
one flesh? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let
not man separate.” In those Words You cited Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image; in the
image God He created him; male and female He created them.” You also cited Your Truth found in Genesis
5:2: “He created them male and female,
and blessed them and called Mankind in the day they were created.” You also cited Your Truth found in Genesis
2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his
father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” And Lord Jesus You also repeated this
definition of one man, one woman marriage in Mark 10: 6-9 where You said, in
verse 6, “But from the beginning of
the creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall
leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become
one flesh, so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God joined together, let not
man separate.” And, dear Lord, You
said in Isaiah 40, verse 8: “The grass
withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” So,
dear Lord, we stand on Your Word.
Please give us Your Wisdom as we go forward standing up for Godly
marriage. In Yeshua/Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
***********
Here’s
the good news: Contrary to the media headlines, in both cases there was no
clear ruling nation-wide on the redefinition of marriage. That was what same sex marriage proponents
sought. At the heart of their desire to “normalize” same sex marriage is the
deeper longing to have our nation through all laws and through the media
declare as “normal” all life in the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender
culture.
So
there was no pronouncement nation-wide on same sex marriage. There was no ruling as to some Constitutional
right to marry someone of the same sex. In fact, in the Defense of Marriage
[“DOMA”] case the court specifically said it was not requiring States to adopt
same sex marriage.
That
DOMA case held by a narrow five/four decision that federal benefits have to be
paid to a same sex spouse if the marriage took place in a State where same sex
marriage was provided. There was a
stinging dissent by Justice Scalia claiming that the Court was going beyond its
proper role in ruling on an issue which Congress clearly had decided without
any animus towards homosexuals which the Court now assumes took place. The
Family Research Council’s President Tony Perkins issued this statement about
the DOMA decision: “ "We are encouraged that the court learned from the disaster of Roe v. Wade and refrained from
redefining marriage for the entire country. However, by striking down the
federal definition of marriage in DOMA, the Court is asserting that Congress
does not have the power to define the meaning of words in statutes Congress
itself has enacted. This is absurd. The Defense of Marriage Act imposes
no uniform definition of marriage upon the individual states. However, the
states should not be able to impose varying definitions of marriage upon the
federal government. The ruling that the federal government must recognize
same-sex 'marriages' in states that recognize them raises as many questions as
it answers. For example, what is the status of such couples under federal law
if they move to another state that does not recognize their 'marriage?' This
decision throws open the doors for whole new rounds of litigation.”
New rounds
of litigation---- and more opportunities
for prayer, fasting and repentance, awakening the body of Christ, awakening the
Bride as part of our getting ready for the Bridegroom---- may also be in
store under the Proposition 8 California voter initiative case which same sex
proponents have already said they have “won.”
In the Proposition 8 case five members of the
Court—a mix of both liberals and conservatives, including Mr. Justice
Scalia---- found that the plaintiffs----proponents of Prop 8 but not State
officials--- had no “standing” to bring the case up to the Supreme Court. They avoided ruling on the merits. The Court
sent it back to the District Court in San Francisco where initially the
District Court judge [ who later admitted he was himself “gay”] ruled that the Proposition 8 voter initiative
discriminated against homosexuals and was a violation of their equal protection
rights.
The
Supreme Court held that, since California's government officials refused to
defend Prop 8, the “private party” which then took up the defense, the Prop 8
marriage initiative team, had no direct “standing” under federal law, and thus there
was no "case" for the Court to decide. The minority opinion (by
four judges) dissented, agreeing with an earlier opinion by California Supreme
Court that the official proponents of Prop 8 should be allowed to give Prop 8 a
defense. Thus the Supreme Court in the Prop 8 decision did NOT accept the
opponent's pleas to change the definition of marriage, nor did it declare a
constitutional right to same-sex "marriage." The Supreme Court
"vacated" (erased) the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal's previous
ruling against Prop 8. In so doing the
language of that decision favoring same sex rights now provides NO legal precedent
for same-sex "marriage.
Here is part of the text of the Prop 8 decision today: “The Court does not question California’s
sovereign right to maintain an initiative process, or the right of initiative
proponents to defend their initiatives in California courts. But standing in
federal court is a question of federal law, not state law. No matter its
reasons, the fact that a State thinks a private party should have standing to
seek relief for a generalized grievance cannot override this Court’s settled
law to the contrary. Article III’s requirement that a party invoking the
jurisdiction of a federal court seek relief for a personal, particularized
injury serves vital interests going to the role of the Judiciary in the federal
system of separated powers. States cannot alter that role simply by issuing to
private parties who otherwise lack standing a ticket to the federal courthouse.
“
Christian
attorney Bob Tyler had this key point on the Proposition 8 ruling: “The Court's decision today has failed the
people of California because it has the potential effect of nullifying the
Citizens of their lawful vote. While we recognize that certain members within
our society think that justice has been served, they should consider how they
will feel one day when their rightful vote is stripped of meaning on some
future issue just because the ruling political party disagrees with the
people's vote and chooses not to defend the law. Dangerous precedent has been
set that threatens the original intent of a government that exists 'for the
people and by the people.'”
Most
interesting, California's Constitution says that only an appellate court, not a
single trial court judge, can stop a proposition's enforcement statewide.
As of today, there is no such ruling. Nevertheless, the Governor and
Attorney General have rushed forward with plans to make same-sex
"marriage" licenses available throughout California in the next three
or four weeks. Almost certainly the team
fighting for the Prop 8 Biblical definition of marriage will seek an injunction
to stop this implementation if there is any real possibility to make an appeal
to another court.
***********
So,
after these two decisions, where do we stand in the body of Christ? First, we
must pray and give thanks to God that His Word on marriage has not been
violated. What nation can long avoid judgment if it directly opposes the Word
of the Living God on holy matrimony? Thank God for the prayers of intercessors
on this key national issue for the soul of our nation. The spiritual battle against principalities
will continue. Litigation will continue.
Legislation may come forward. One
positive result is that the issue of same sex marriage is now more out in the
open than ever before. There is more time for the body of Christ to be
activated around this vital issue of Biblical versus same sex marriage. Apostate or lukewarm congregations can
finally awaken to God’s line in the sand, His precepts on this key issue. We
can learn about, and support, Christian ministries that support ex-gays, [such
as pfox.org] confirming the truth that with the help of the Holy Spirit the
spirit of the flesh can be overcome in any person. There’s no gene at birth forcing
homosexuality. Those that have come out of the lifestyle now need our
support.
Most
important, especially as pastors and priests or in leadership positions in our
communities, we need to stand for Christ’s position on sins of the flesh as set
forth in John 8:11. In addition to the
Lord saying “Neither do I condemn you” the
Lord then said to her “ go and sin no
more.” Clearly all forms of sexual
immorality are sins for which repentance is required to enter His Kingdom
(Revelation 22:15).
In
gentleness and love, wise as a serpent, gentle as doves, with information on
these two key Supreme Court cases, we now have a new way to breach an awkward
subject. With courage from the Holy
Spirit we have now a great opportunity to reach out in love to our neighbors,
to speak with the teachers of our children in our community, with members of
our local media, frankly dealing with the bigger issue of same sex attraction
from a Biblical perspective. As the salt
and light in a culture increasingly clueless about Him, you and I are His
Ambassador to witness to everyone-----at school board meetings, during
political debates, one on one as neighbors--- about the love and transformation
only Jesus Christ provides. How else
will they come into the Kingdom and be saved if you and I don’t witness to
them---gently and boldly-- in the Liberty and Love of the Living God? 2 Timothy
2:23-26 states: “But avoid foolish and
ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel
but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who
are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may
know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of
the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
Jesus
Christ is the Bridegroom and we are His Bride.
To water down marriage is to attack Jesus Christ directly and to attack
us Christians as His Bride. With these
two Supreme Court decisions we now have a new opportunity to correct
misunderstandings and bring His love and His standards forward to protect and
restore the soul of our nation. And we
have the assurance that the battle is the Lord’s-------it’s His Word on
marriage. Even when our leaders lead us
astray, the Lord comes in to judge on our behalf. He ALWAYS has
“standing”! Isaiah
3: 12-14 says: "As for my people,
children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My
people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your
paths. The Lord stands up to plead, And stands to judge the
people. The Lord will enter into judgment With the elders of His
people, and His princes. “
Pastor
Jeff Daly
Jesus
Christ Fellowship
Post
Office Box 1302
Middletown
CA 95461
www.dayofrepentance.org
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