10 am, April 28, 2015

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 will be an historic and potentially culture-altering day for the United States.  On that day, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments concerning the issue of same-sex marriage.  The outcome of these hearings, slated to be released in late June, will have tremendous consequences for how churches in America do ministry going forward, and it will have significant impact on issues of religious freedom.  It is IMPOSSIBLE to overstate the importance of this decision.  We must reaffirm some things that do not change:

1. We must affirm the importance of PRAYING FOR OUR LEADERS in America.  While we may not agree with or necessarily affirm the direction they are leading, we must remember that Scripture commands we be faithful in praying for all in authority, and in this instance this means members of the Supreme Court as well.  (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

2. We must remember the foundation on which we stand and that NO COURT OR CONSTITUTION can define what doesn’t belong to it. Marriage is an institution ordained by God and DEFINED BY HIS UNCHANGING WORD, not by the opinions of man no matter how highly placed or intelligent he may seem.  Genesis 2 gives us the precept on which we are to stand regarding Scriptural marriage, and it is clearly a relationship established between male and female.  It is a relationship established and imbedded in the creative order that men and women may become moms and dads.  It is a relationship that clearly portrays a spiritual reality, that of Christ’s relationship with His bride, the church and His death and resurrection that secured that Bride for Him.

3. We must stand apart from the cultural decay that surrounds us.  Though we live in the midst of the cultural ruins of our day, we must continue to shine the light of the Gospel and the hope that Jesus brings to a lost and dying people.  Nothing that happens, no matter how marginalized or discriminated against we may feel, must stop us from being the salt and shining the light of the Gospel.

So on Tuesday, April 28 at 10:00 AM, PRAY for this significant decision placed before the Supreme Court:
Pray that all people everywhere would honor the institution of marriage.
Pray for the Supreme Court justices that they would be receptive to truth when they hear it presented.
Pray for lead attorneys who will be arguing on behalf of states seeking to uphold Biblical marriage
Pray for those who disagree with the Biblical definition of marriage, that God would help them understand and respect the opinions of those arguing for the foundation of marriage grounded in Scripture.
Pray for God’s people to be prepared even in the event of a decision that does not go as we hope.  God is not mocked.  He is sovereign, and His purposes will ultimately prevail!

As Christians, we must walk in confidence that God is in control even of this circumstance.  We live, not in fear or in anger, not in malice or rancor, not in bitterness or wrath but in the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts.

May they know we are Christians by our love!
(adopted from article on http://russellmoore.com)

 

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