Since the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision last week in overturning DOMA, I’ve been wanting to write something about it. About America’s headlong decent into the moral abyss. About the importance of moral boundaries and standards. However, today, I read this piece by columnist, Cal Thomas, and want to share it on ThePreachersWord since it expresses my thoughts succinctly, accurately, and Biblically.
No Standard
Cal Thomas
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” — Genesis 2:24, NIV
The problem for people who believe in an Authority higher even than the Constitution is that in our increasingly secular and indifferent society it has become more difficult to persuade those who do not subscribe to an immutable standard to accept that view. It is nearly impossible to restrain a people intent on throwing off any and all restraints. History is full of examples of empires that collapsed from within before they were conquered from without.
The Supreme Court has narrowly, but effectively, removed another standard on the way to full acceptance of its right to redefine marriage and raise itself to a level higher than the Creator. What or who is to stop them? Various religious-political groups formed over many years to confront cultural erosion are in retreat and increasingly ineffective.
Modern courts might have trouble with Thomas Jefferson’s declaration, “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” Is there anything that is self-evident today and not subject to challenge given the right circumstances?
Even a secular person should be required to answer a question before removing such an important cultural underpinning as traditional marriage: If marriage is no longer to be reserved for one man and one woman, as it has for millennia in many different cultures and religions, what is the new standard and on what is it based? Should we change America’s motto to “in polls we trust”?
The New York Times recently editorialized in favor of transgender rights. Polygamist groups have made it known they wish to be next in line to enjoy full constitutional protection for their lifestyle. Utah was forced to outlaw polygamy before admission to the Union. Can it, should it, revert to its previous practice and who has the authority to say “no”?
There are people who favor sex and marriage between adults and children. On what basis should they be denied their “right to happiness”? Today’s “that goes too far” easily becomes tomorrow’s “right” with a morally vacuous media leading the charge and a morally exhausted people who are afraid to say “stop,” for fear they’ll be labeled “bigots.”
Boundaries serve a purpose, in sport and in life. Fences keep out trespassers and protect children on playgrounds. Governments impose speed limits. Lines define a football field. The problem faced by moral-political forces — from Prohibition, to abortion and now same-sex marriage — is that they are confronted by growing numbers of people who do not believe in, or can be persuaded by, ancient, even biblical, instruction constraining human behavior. Many young people whose parents are divorced, or who are cohabiting without marriage, are not influenced by such commands or “preaching.”
While the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act does not establish a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, that’s where it seems headed. Justice Antonin Scalia predicted it would a decade ago when the Supreme Court invalidated laws prohibiting homosexual conduct in Lawrence v. Texas.
One doesn’t have to approve of the Court’s “reasoning” in order to hand it to the gay rights campaigners. They have done a magnificent job advancing their objectives, but they couldn’t have done it alone. A verse from the Old Testament warns about the detrimental effects such “advances” can have on individuals and nations that abandon moral boundaries: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” — Judges 17:6, NIV
Amen! Mr. Thomas. Do I hear another, Amen?
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
Cal Thomas has it right on this. The shame is a lot of brethren who are weak and ignorant of the scriptures are being entrapped by what our secular society does. Their reaction is from the old illustration often used to define ignorance and apathy, “I don’t know” and “I don’t care.” They think these secular forces won’t effect them, but it will. Thanks for the timely article. Tommy Thornhill
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amen! i am scared for where our country is headed! i’ve seen so much deterioration in my lifetime!
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This truly a sad time in our country and our lives. Remember John 12:48 for there is still a standard by which we shall all be judged.
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It is frightening how much the morals of this country have not only deteriorated, but disappeared! I am most scared for my children growing up in this sick world and pray everyday that I can teach them His Word and bring them up in His Way and they are strong enough to remain righteous in his eyes while living amongst this wicked world.
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Multiculturalism is, sadly, another word for anarchy. Ultimately, one culture always tries to dominate the others. Everyone “doing his own thing” results in an eventual degradation of the overall society until one powerful group is able to force the rest into submission. However, a universal truth is that “a man convinced against his will is a man unconvinced still.” So the cycle is never-ending.
The only governmental system that truly works is a “benevolent dictatorship” over a people perfectly in agreement with the ruling power. Since such a dictatorship and such a people do not, and cannot, exist in the real world the argument is moot.
Our representative republic under the Constitution and Bill of Rights is a grand experiment, but it cannot prevail over time due to the sinfulness and selfishness of man. In fact, no form of government can prevail indefinitely. Look at history. There is not a single government or society that has endured more than a few hundred years since the dawn of mankind. If mankind is still around 1,000 years for now, I am certain the political, social, and moral landscape will be unrecognizable to 21st century man.
As American society and morality morphs more and more toward humanism and drifts away from God and righteousness as defined in the scriptures, we will find our freedoms and blessings diminish as well. Cal Thomas is correct. The reason for boundaries is to protect the individual and define acceptable limits of behavior. Freedom is NOT limitless permissiveness. The Nation that exalts God is blessed. We are turning from God as a nation. I do not foresee this country as a constitutional republic enduring past this century.
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Amen
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AMEN!
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There doesn’t seem to be any limit to what alot of people are willing to accept, and even embrace under the guise of “fairness”. They are teaching their children to “love” everyone and “equal rights” for everyone, not recognizing, or not caring how God defines love. As Christians we must continue to stand on the truth of God’s word.
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Like millions of other “straight” Christians, I struggle with this issue. The problem with attitudes represented by Cal Thomas is in “framing” this issue as only about the sins of, and resulting from, homosexuality. As the majority opinion of the SCOTUS stated, DOMA resulted in over 1,000 instances of hurtful discrimination to downright bigotry which is a sin also. How does one hold to Scripture on homosexuality but also follow Christ’s 2nd most important commandment? Supporting laws which deny things like hospital visitation rights to gays sure isn’t loving. As this issue now moves to individual States, I pray that a wholistic dialogue begins with conservative Christians.
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Stephen, the issue of attitudes toward homosexual sinners shouldn’t be any different than any other sin. We should be loving! i.e. the second greatest commandment. But being loving doesn’t mean I endorse, agree, or give an credence to sin. Allowing allowing homosexuals to visit a friend in the hospital is a far cry from changingGod’s definition of marriage! Society will always have some inequities, but Christians are called to a higher standard.
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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Your above sentence “Society will always have some inequities” coupled with your blog today just breaks my heart. In Kenya, homosexuals are killed, imprisioned, tortured, denied basic health care (one could go on and on).
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I haven’t been to Kenya, so I don’t factually know. I googled it and found that homosexuality is illegal and punishable with up to 14 years in jail, however, the source I read said they must be caught in the act. Read nothing about it being a capital crime. If it is, maybe they are just following the Old Testament law of Moses. I would prefer they be given a chance to repent of their sins and not be executed for the crimes against God and nature.
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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We are afraid in all churches today to stand on moral principles,we might offend someone. I can see someone in public position being afraid for his job but not christians, we should know how to speak about these issues and do it out of love for the lost.
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Amen!
Too many times Christians want to go against the will of the Father because they are afraid of hurting one’s feelings or stepping on toes!
As a preacher once said, if your toes weren’t sticking out, I wouldn’t be stepping on them!
As Christians, we need to ensure that we are teaching God’s Law!
This nation was once a God-fearing nation. and now look at what has become of it.
The only way for it to return is to let God’s law rule the land!
Isaiah 26:9b- when your judgments are in the land, the people learn righteousness!
This country is headed down a rough path, we as Christians must constantly stand for the truth and preach it and it only to this sinful world!
Caleb M. Wray
calebm.wray@yahoo.com
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