The Supreme Court ruled this week, Friday, June 26, 2015, to make same-sex marriage legal across our nation. Many of you, as I, have read articles and reports to understand what this means and what challenges it will likely create for Christians.
Many Christian leaders have reminded us that now is the time to live God’s mission in the world. This is true. But it does not dismiss that Christians should rightly mourn and grieve when righteousness is desecrated. We cannot turn our eyes forward without looking first upon the grievous transgression that has occurred.
Jesus is still Lord. He is still on His throne. Therefore, we humble ourselves and trust in King Jesus who rules and reigns, as the highest Judge and Court of all creation. As Christians in America, we acknowledge our corporate responsibility for this nation. Therefore, we repent.
- We repent as we grieve and mourn through conviction over sin.
“My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.” Psa 119:136
We grieve for America. We weep over this nation that we love as Jeremiah wept over his lost city. We have lost the rule of law in our nation that rightly reflects God’s holy Word. There is no regard for God in our nation. God is forgotten. Righteousness profaned. We do not honor God. The mind and heart of America is darkened and deceived by sin. We have exchanged God’s truth for sin’s lie. We have become wise in our own eyes with no need for God. Sin, ungodliness and unrighteousness have been legislated and institutionalized .
- We repent and confess our sin as your holy Word, the Bible, calls it.
Sexual immorality, in every form, is sin. Same-sex marriage is sin. It profanes God’s holy design for humanity, man and woman, marriage and the foundational relationship for this world. The church has neglected marriage far too long, statistically measuring no different than the world. We have profaned the holy union of marriage.
“The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.” Psa 33:10-12
We have no reason to believe that you, God, should bless America. It is hypocritical for us to sing “God Bless America” except as a prayer of repentance. We acknowledge that every second of life that you grant to us without eternal judgment, even by raining down burning sulphur as on Sodom and Gomorrah, is your divine mercy bestowed upon us. We profane your Word and mock you.
God, we pray, do not give us up!
- We repent as we look to Christ to know THAT He has paid our sin debt and HOW He has paid our sin debt, by his own blood.
America has made a mockery of God’s Holy Word. Our Supreme Court has institutionalized unrighteousness and our nation celebrates wickedness. Our nation profanes your Name by washing the colors of your divine promise over our statues and monuments. As individual people, we have done the same in our own sin.
Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. Isa 52:13-15; 53:4-6,12
We plead, “God, wash over our nation with the red, redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. Awaken us by the blood.” The only flag we raise is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Wash us in the blood of Jesus Christ and forgive our sin.
- We repent and renew our faith in Jesus to humble ourselves and live, speak and love in obedience to His commands.
We repent to renew our commitment to pursue God’s glory in mission, knowing that we must ‘come out from among them’ (2 Cor 6:17) before we can ‘go and make disciples’ of them. (Matt 28:18-20).
Christian, have you confessed your sin? Are you walking humbly and courageously in faithful obedience to Jesus?
The people of the LGBQT community are not our enemy. Satan is our enemy. And he is wreaking havoc on all who believe that this ruling will make people happy, that this ruling will solve a problem, that this ruling will be good for people or for our nation. The world believes happiness and love is living any way you choose to live, and having it validated by legislation. But the law is powerless to save or make one happy. No law can remove the shame, condemnation and guilt that sin creates. The Gospel saves us free from sin and ourselves to live as God commands by His truth. True happiness and joy comes only in Jesus Christ.
- We repent that we might remain in the love and joy of Jesus.
LifePoint, let us…
- …humble ourselves before the Almighty, Sovereign One. Our hope is not lost, our joy not destroyed.
- …lift our eyes and look to the Lord, our helper and strong tower.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Prv 18:10
- …love God with greater faith through obedience.
- …shine the light of Jesus and tell the world that He is the only hope.
- …love all people with a selfless love, no matter the cost or sacrifice.
- …live to make known the name of Jesus in our generation, our nation, city, neighborhood, our home, and family.