On SCOTUS, the family, religious freedom, and what we as Christians should do about it

I don’t know about you, but to me, this 4^th of July week feels a little different – and it’s not a good different.

Our church had a patriotic service yesterday, and the songs that normally stir me to gratitude and pride for this great nation kind of just fell flat.

Christians, I’m worried.

I’m worried we are starting to lose our religious freedom.

I’m worried we – yes, we Christians – are starting to lose track of what is right and wrong.

And I’m worried we’re not going to wake up and do anything about it until it’s too late.

Is the fact that gay marriage is now legal across America the end of the world?

No, I don’t think so.

But this decision did way more than that. It struck a huge blow to our religious freedom. It left pastors open to prosecution for declining to marry a homosexual couple. It left Christian schools vulnerable to being forced to hire teachers that disagree with their core standards and beliefs.

This is troubling.

But what’s perhaps even more troubling is many Christians’ reaction to all this.

Too many Christians are simply not thinking Biblically.

If I hear “we shouldn’t judge” or “we need to love” one more time I might throw up in my mouth. Dear Christian, I know you mean well, but you are misunderstanding God’s truths. You really are. We’ll get to that in a moment….

I have so much to say on this topic, but instead of lamenting all that’s wrong and all that’s out of control, I’m going to focus the rest of this article on what we can do about it – about what IS in our control.

So, my fellow Christians, if we want to pass on a free America to our children, if we want the next generation to believe and uphold Biblical truth, here’s some things we MUST do. And do NOW.

We as Christians MUST…..

1. Think Biblically. It does not matter what I think or what you think or what our friends think. The only thing that matters – the only thing we know is true – is what the God thinks. And He has shown us what He thinks in the Bible. We could say so much on this topic, but here are a few relevant points of Biblical thinking…

• God ordained marriage to be a sacred union between one man and one woman until death do them part. This is crystal clear in the Bible, but unfortunately we Christians are straying so far away from this important and Biblical definition. And it’s not just homosexuality that’s threatening our families. Too many Christians simply accept that divorce, cohabitation, and sex outside of marriage are just kind of going to be the norm. 
  
  We’ve got to get back to thinking how God thinks. All of these things are harmful – to society, to the church, and to the very people who are involved. There is so much hurt that comes when we deviate from God’s plan. 
  
  Just because our society says differently doesn’t mean a thing. We must follow God, not our society. We must get back to believing what He believes.

• We are called to love. And to speak the truth. These are not opposed to each other. Listen, we are absolutely 100% called to love others. For sure. But, dear Christian, loving someone means you want what’s best for them. It means you say the tough thing to them because it’s what they need to hear, even if it stings a bit at the time. 
   
   Saying that homosexuality is a sin does NOT mean we hate gay people. Saying divorce is wrong or that cohabitation is wrong does NOT mean we hate people who have been divorced or who are living with someone. 
   
   We are always called to love people, to care about them, to be there for them in the tough times. 
   
   But that does not at all mean that we are supposed to start calling evil good. That does not mean that we should be afraid to say what a God-honoring family should look like for fear we might offend someone. 
   
   That is not love. That is fear. That is cowardice. 
   
   And we’re doing no service to the next generation (i.e. we are not loving them) when we refuse to show them that there IS a best way to structure a family.

• “Judge not” does NOT mean “discern not.” Okay, so this “I’m not gonna’ judge” thing is getting completely out of control. 
   
   We are not to judge people, but we are absolutely 100% called to discern between right and wrong. 
   
   We should never condemn people or hate people or be mean to people because we don’t agree with their lifestyle. I think we’re pretty much all in agreement about this. 
   
   We also need to realize that we are ALL sinners. But that’s the point – we are ALL sinners. Does that mean we should never preach against sin? That we should never say what is right and wrong? 
   
   Not at all. 
  
  We are to humbly but boldly declare the truth. To say, “This is wrong” with an attitude of concern, care, humility, love, and grace. 
   
   To say, “Your actions are harmful but Jesus is the answer” is not judging someone. It is, in fact, the most honest form of love. 
   
   If you’re really confused about the whole “judge not” thing, please read my article “What Does ‘Judge Not’ Really Mean?” It goes into way more detail than I have time to go into here.

2. Talk bolding with other Christians about our Biblical beliefs. 
    
    The Great Commission commands to preach the gospel to every creature and teach them to observe all the things He’s commanded us (Matt. 28:19-20). We focus a lot on that first part – evangelism. And well we should. But the 2^nd part – discipleship – is just as important. 
    
    And we’re not doing a very good job at it. 
    
    Too often we just sit and say nothing. We don’t want to discuss important issues because they’re a bit uncomfortable. Or frustrating. 
    
    But if we don’t discuss them, who will? 
    
    Just this morning a fellow Christian asked an honest question in a Facebook Christian mom’s group about what we as Christians should think about the recent SCOTUS decision. My first thought was to just keep scrolling, but then I realized, No. This mom is asking for Biblical thoughts on this topic. I shouldn’t just sit by and say nothing. I should go ahead & speak the truth. 
    
    As the conversation continues, I keep being tempted to just “unfollow” it and move on with my day, but then I realize that young Christian moms are reading this conversation, they’re struggling with what the Bible has to say about it, and they’re honestly looking for the truth. If I can say something that will help them think Biblically about this topic, then I absolutely should. 
    
    We Christians really need to start adopting this type of approach – where we stop sitting on the sidelines and start speaking up. 
    
     Please note that we need to be wise in this. When an unsaved friend posts about a gay wedding he attended, it’s best to just keep scrolling. That is not the time or place to speak up. 
    
    But when a fellow Christian asks a genuine question, we absolutely need to engage. Even if it’s a bit uncomfortable. 
    
    The truth’s worth getting a little uncomfortable for.

3. Earnestly teach the next generation to think Biblically. Teachers and parents, this country needs you. It needs you to speak the truth.
    
    Let me talk for a moment to Christian school teachers:  If you teach in a Christian school, then you have the privilege and responsibility to teach Biblical truth. Please, please, please be intentional about teaching your students to think Biblically. It’s hard work. It’s not easy. But it is so important. 
    
    Public school teachers, your situation is tough. There is a lot you cannot say, but there is still a lot that you can say. So say what you can. And refuse to be part of the indoctrination of young children. If your school demands you teach young children about how great it is to have a 2-mom family, that might just be worth losing your job over. 
    
    Parents – you are most important. I can’t say it any better than God does in Deuteronomy 6:6-9: “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” 
    
    In other words – his truths should be discussed EVERYWHERE.

4. Be ready to sacrifice to defend our religious freedom. This Supreme Court decision could mean that things get pretty dicey here in the near future. And we need to be ready. 
    
    When the first pastor is thrown into prison for refusing to officiate a gay wedding, we have got to do more than just talk amongst ourselves about “how horrible it is.” 
    
    I’m not sure what it will look like, but we’ve got to be ready to stand as a united force. To speak up. To rally. To sacrifice, if need be, to defend our religious freedom that was purchased at so great a price. 
    
   
5. Pray. And pray. And pray. God has sent revival before. He can send it again. But historically revivals always start after His people get serious about praying. 
   
   So let’s pray.

Are you having trouble figuring out what exactly is the Biblical way of thinking about all this? Share your questions or concerns in the comments & let’s talk about it.