Anchored in Christ

Friday, June 26, 2015 is a historic day. Same-sex marriage became legalized across the United States.

The ERLC statement said it well when they said,

“Outrage and panic are not the responses of those confident in the promises of a reigning Christ Jesus.”

Even when the culture descends the slippery slope of rebellion against God, believers in Jesus Christ have as much hope as ever—whether or not we keep all of the freedoms we now enjoy. The Christian task is not first to get people to side with us on who should legally be able to marry, but rather to shine as lights in the darkness and make disciples of Jesus Christ by proclaim His gospel in Word and deed.

One of the chief ways Christians influence the culture and shine the light of Christ is by their love. A short Twitter conversation I had with Aaron Earls got me thinking about how Christians can respond in love to the Supreme Court Decision and what some call “new era” for evangelicals. Here are four ways:

1. Love your spouse.

Married Christians: we now have a greater opportunity than ever to live an Ephesians 5 marriage that will be a beacon of light in a dark world. Love your spouse and cultivate your marriage for the glory of God. We are hypocrites if we fight for traditional marriage and yet neglect cultivating the marriages God has entrusted to us.

[pullquote]We are hypocrites if we fight for traditional marriage and yet neglect cultivating the marriages God has entrusted to us.[/pullquote]

2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

This goes for neighbors that are gay, straight, bisexual, or anything else. We can’t minimize anyone’s identity to merely their sexual orientation or their views on marriage—we are all men and women made in the image of God who desperately need a Savior. (This might mean instead of starting an argument on Facebook about the definition of marriage, pray for those you disagree with.)

3. Speak the truth in love.

Christians are God’s ambassadors to take His reconciling message to others. This, at times, will mean we need to speak truth that others don’t want to hear (like the fact that everyone is a sinner). Speaking the truth in love with a genuine concern for the lost will not win every person over, but will win some.

When you have a chance to share why you believe in traditional marriage, walk through creation in Genesis 1. Talk about how every human being has infinite worth in God’s sight by being made in God’s image. Talk about how God instituted heterosexual marriage for our good and also for procreation. Talk about how man rebelled against God in Genesis 3 and the world is under the curse of sin. Talk about how Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 and is the One God sent to destroy the works of the devil and rescue us. This is the truth our world so desperately needs to hear. When the opportunity is given, speak it in Christ’s love.

4. Love God for the living hope He gives us.

Our hope is not in nine unelected robe-wearing men and women or anyone holding elected office. Our hope is not in the stock exchange or our favorite sports team. Our hope is not in the good things of life like friends, family, health, and prosperity.

Our hope is in the Sovereign God of the universe who works all things for the good of those who love Him. Our hope is in the One who gave His only Son to pay the penalty for our sins reconcile us to Himself. Our hope is in the One who has all authority and dominion on heaven and on earth. Our hope is a “living hope” and is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Let adversity in the Christian life lead you to worship, not despair.

[pullquote]Let adversity in the Christian life lead you to worship, not despair.[/pullquote]

An invitation to pray

As our world changes before our eyes and many freedoms we’ve enjoyed no longer seem guaranteed, let’s strive to be people of prayer and not people of despair.

Pray with me for our country. Pray for your own soul’s faith and resilience would be strengthened. Pray that many sinners—homosexual and heterosexual alike—would see their need for the Savior and turn to Him in faith and repentance.

Pray that gospel-proclaiming churches would grow stronger and more committed to Scriptural truth and furthering God’s Kingdom. Pray that nominal Christians will be rooted out of the church and true fellowship would grow sweeter. Pray for our loss of earthly freedoms to cause us to rejoice in the true freedom we have in Christ.

It’s fitting to close with an encouraging word about who is really on the “right side” of history:

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus Christ

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