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People of faith and conservatives should also be watching the Republican Party.
Republican Party National Chairman Reince Priebus told USA Today this week, "I don't believe we need to act like Old Testament heretics" regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
The Supreme Court continues its hearing on marriage. And the future of our nation.
The questioning yesterday perhaps gave a clue to how they are thinking.
Today they are considering the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Some thoughts on the Court hearings yesterday and what is the Republican Party thinking?
Some thoughts of the Court hearing yesterday.
It appears from the justices' questions that the Court may neither decide that the Constitution requires all states to allow same-sex couples to marry, nor rule against other courts that denied voters the right to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Personally, from what I have heard and read, I'm wondering if the Court has the 5 votes necessary to get to any definitive result---either way.
Justices Alito, Scalia and Chief Justice Roberts, I think, made it pretty clear that they do not believe the Constitution requires states to legalize same-sex marriage. Justice Thomas didn't ask any questions, but certainly agrees.
The 4 far left progressive justices, including Obama's Elena Kagal and Sonia Sotomayor, not surprisingly seemed favorable to redefining marriage for all 50 states.
Justice Kennedy wondered if it is too early to rule on same-sex marriage. This probably means he favors a more narrow ruling on Prop 8. Or even no ruling.
Which means the Court could decide the case on "standing".
The State of California is not defending the case through its governor or its attorney general, so the court could decide that the defendants do not have the right to bring the case before the court and dismiss it.
That option would not surprise me on Proposition 8, but would be disappointing to the majority in California who voted to defend marriage as between one man and one woman.
The audio and text of today's hearing will be posted here.
What is the Republican Party thinking?
GOP National Chair Reince Priebus told USA Today, "We do have a platform, and we adhere to that platform, but it doesn't mean that we divide and subtract people from our party who support the right of gay men and lesbians to marry."
He said, "I don't believe we need to act like Old Testament heretics," we "have to strike a balance between principle and grace and respect."
This is an example of why the church must lead in cultural matters of morality.
If the church is absent in this discussion---avoiding politics, as some say, then in that vacuum these kinds of statements become the so-called moral voice and compass in the culture. While the church and its leaders commit the sin of silence.
Old Testament prophets were not heretics.
The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God.
The New Testament does not abolish the law, it fulfills the law.
Biblical Christians do not chose between the teaching of the Old and New Testaments. Jesus affirmed both.
Christianity is not an eclectic choice. A Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ and His teaching which affirmed both the Old and New Testament. If Isaiah was a heretic, why did Jesus quote him as He defined his own ministry?
What are we thinking?
We're thinking we must win an election. But at any cost?
This is troublesome. Priebus said, "We have a platform, and we do adhere to that platform."
How so? It is written that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. He is tossed by the winds of every new thought or belief.
Recognized Republican leaders are defying the platform plank about marriage, while claiming to represent the party. They are also defying the clear instruction of God's Word regarding homosexual behavior, while proclaiming to be a Christian.
Grace and respect are indeed biblical virtues, but do not equate to affirmation of a behavior that the Bible---Old and New Testament, clearly condemns.
Robert Knight wrote a column this week responding to the recent evolution of Republican Senator Rob Portman on the issue of same-sex marriage. As you know, Portman said he changed his view after his son came out as a homosexual. Portman said biblical teaching led him to change his view.
Knight says, "It's one thing to have unconditional love and compassion toward a friend or loved one, and another thing to redefine marriage for the whole nation. Public policy is the force of law." He says, "'gay marriage' will lead to less freedom and more government."
He says marriage is already under attack by no-fault divorce and co-habitation. Knight believes that when marriage becomes "genderless," it will lose even more legitimacy and contribute less to stability, prosperity and self-sufficiency. "As nuclear families fail," he says, "the government will grow to pick up the pieces---and to enforce the new reality."
Knight believes this drive to redefine marriage poses the greatest domestic threat to the freedoms of religion, speech and assembly.
"When traditional morality is equated with racist bigotry, civil rights enforcement becomes a gun aimed at the head of citizens, forcing them to choose between God and Caesar," he says.
Knight says, "This should never happen in America, where our Founders said rights come from our Creator, not capricious man, who can mistake fashion for morality."
Indeed.
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