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A Time for Resistance

Institutionalizing Sin

It is a very interesting time to be alive.  By His grace, may God grant us an outpouring of His Holy Spirit in extra measure that we might resist every urge to accommodate to the philosophy of this age or remain silent on the new institutionalization of sin. Make no mistake, the recent Supreme Court ruling on re-defining marriage will have far-reaching ripple effects on every aspect of our society ... and it will require us as Christians to resist by disobeying every law which would force us to compromise the gospel.   And while yesterday may have been a day of mourning for our country (it was for me), today and every day afterwards we should be emboldened to witness the truth of the gospel with a unquenchable fire in our belly. This may possibly be the best opportunity to witness to the reality of Jesus Christ we have ever had. Remember, God has ordained this circumstance, so If due to our convictions, we should suffer the loss of property (as some already have), intimidation, bullying, imprisonment and even violence we should not complain or give in, but, with God's help, willingly suffer for the truth and stand against injustice, continuing to love and pray for the blessing of those who oppose us. If God grants that we can witness this way en masse, the glory of God will shine forth.  And I would encourage each and every one of you to take some time over the next few weeks to pray and fast for the people of our country - that God would have mercy on them and bring them to faith through our witness. And it should go without saying that we should be committed to taking care of one another.  If someone among us should suffer we should all support them financially, spiritually and emotionally as our family members.

If anyone thinks I am overstating this, consider that the "Supreme Court has now, in constitutional doctrine, said that homosexuality is equivalent to race. The next goal of activists will be a long-term campaign to remove tax-exempt status [and deny accreditation] from dissenting religious institutions." (Rod Dreher)

Sadly, those who have pressed for the passage of this unjust law have done so disingenuously.  They have characterized any and all differing points of view as hate and bigotry - instead of seeing us as really the only ones who truly love and care for them enough to suffer their insults while continuing to reach out a helping hand. They have also circumvented our constitutional system of gov't by getting some judges to abuse their power by over-ruling the will of the people in many states, including California. So-called progressives knew that wouldn't become a national policy if left to voters, if left to the discretion of the states.  That's why they felt they had to do an end-run around the democratic process. That was the only way to impose a nation-wide policy.

The Establishment of a New Religion

Furthermore, on Friday, President Obama openly declared that Americans need to change their religious views to be accepting of gay marriage - that those who disagree with the idea of gay marriage based on their religious views, must change to be more like progressives who accept gay marriage. He then encouraged gay marriage supporters to "help” people overcome their deeply-held religious views. We have already seen what this "help" in overcoming deeply held religious beliefs looks like (bullying and intimidation).

As for what most likely will begin happening after the ruling, Robert Gagnon said,

"As individuals, people of faith will be aggressively indoctrinated, fined, denied advancement, fired, intimidated, and subjected to ceaseless verbal abuse in public and private schools, at institutions of higher learning, at places of employment in public and private sectors, and throughout the main communication organs of the media and entertainment industry. Their institutions and businesses will be set on a collision course with the state: denied government funding, contracts, and loans; denied accreditation and tax-exempt status; and subjected to government harassment."

Is this not the very definition of the establishment of a state tyranny?  Ironically, in the past, progressives professed to believe in the separation of church and state but now the truth of their agenda is being revealed - the establishment of a state religion. But should Obama and the US government be in the business of telling Americans what they "must" or "must not" believe, especially with regard to their deepest held convictions? Was our constitutional republic not founded on principles which, above all, should avoid establishing one religion i.e. one group or belief system having a monopoly on power? These kind statements by any President should raise red flags for all Americans. Was not the original purpose of the separation of church and state, balance of power, and rule of law established so that no single person or group of sinful people would be given too much power? And now Americans have seemingly passively received this change without blinking an eye? As we all know, the Bible rightly declares that all people are sinful - therefore no one group should be given that much power. Human history has repeatedly demonstrated this to be a disastrous course of action. 

Look at this carefully.  Obama and the LGBT lobby not only wants to see these kinds of same-sex unions to be legal but they want universal acceptance.  But why? Why can't we just live together in society and have different opinions and convictions about things? No. That does not seem to be enough for them.  We must be coerced and bullied and be assimilated into group think by the thought police and it will reach down even into the education of our children. It would seem to be no overstatement that freedom of conscience is really a thing of the past.

What should Christians do about it?  Some leaders will think that we should simply accommodate and remain silent as if this will bring people to faith  but the Bible is clear that we should steadfastly non-violently resist any attempt to silence us, and if what Gagnon predicts actually happens on a large scale, the greatest possible witness we can give of the reality of Jesus Christ is to value the very souls of those who oppose us more than we value our own livelihood, property and our lives. God will attract people to the faith through people of Christian conviction but those who accommodate will simply show there is no truth to their religion.  If loss is what it takes so be it.  So who among you will join me in prayer and fasting for our neighbors and for the strength to resist all attempts at our assimilation to the spirit of this age? Following Jesus Christ was never billed as the path of least resistance.

Related Essays
The Fear of Man's Opinion by J. C. Ryle

God's Glory and the Church's Weakness by John Hendryx

American Tragedy: Now Gird Up Your Loins by Robert A. J. Gagnon

After Obergefell: A First Things Symposium Carl Trueman

Here We Stand: An Evangelical Declaration on Marriage by Various

Russell Moore's ERLC Posts a Flawed  "Evangelical Declaration on Marriage by Robert A. J. Gagnon

Everything Has Changed and Nothing Has Changed — The Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage by Al Mohler

So-Called Same-Sex Marriage: Lamenting the New Calamity by John Piper

But What Does the Bible Say? by Kevin DeYoung

The First Amendment Defense Act: A New Bill Before Congress by Justin Taylor

Judicial Activism From Supreme Court on Marriage. Here’s How to Respond by Ryan T. Anderson

15 Reasons ‘Marriage Equality’ Is About Neither Marriage Nor Equality by Stella Morabito

Why Four Justices Were Against the Supreme Court's Huge Gay-Marriage Decision

A tremendous defeat for “We the People” and our posterity by Scotusblog

Red Queen Rising by Douglas Wilson

What Your Church Needs to Know—and Do—About the Court’s Marriage Ruling By Erik Stanley

CBMW’s Official Response to the SCOTUS Ruling

Anchoring in God’s Word: Thoughts on the Supreme Court’s Same-Sex Marriage Ruling by Eric Davis

The SCOTUS Decision on Marriage: Will It Change Our Ministry? by James Harvey

Why The Church Should Neither Cave Nor Panic About The Decision On Gay Marriage  by Russell Moore

Audio FAQ with D. A. Carson on the Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Decision

Same-Sex Marriage and the Future by Russell Moore

Same-Sex “Marriage” is Becoming the Established Religion by Frank Turek

The Supreme Court Ratifies a New Civic Religion That Is Incompatible with Christianity by David French

Orthodox Christians Must Now Learn To Live as Exiles in Our Own Country by Rod Dreher

A Biblical Response to Homosexuality - six articles from The Master’s Seminary Journal

From Bible-blocker justices to the Daniel Option By Marvin Olasky

 

Sat, 06/27/2015 - 18:15 -- john_hendryx

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