Earnestly Contend For the Faith

In a 7 - 2 ruling today, the Supreme Court sided with the Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for two gay men. I applaud this ruling but at the same time know it will not end the clamor of the LGBT community for the "right" for their lifestyle to be recognized as normal behavior. How has our nation and world gotten to this place?

I think some of the answer can be found in a presentation given by Lamar Martin at the Conservative Mennonite Teacher's Institute on September 15, 2017. He said:

"The Protestant work ethic has made democracy work in North America. Someone asked Ben Franklin what kind of government the Constitutional Convention had produced. He replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." Both George Washington and Ben Franklin said in effect that democracy will work as long as there is virtue in the people. Thus, the decline of Protestantism (or Christianity) in America as a whole is requiring the U. S. government to decide moral issues and provide social programs. As Americans exhibit less virtue and self-control, they will need government control." 

In the past, homosexuality was shameful and kept under cover because the general public knew it was sin. If Americans had maintained Christian beliefs and principles, the wedding cake would never have been an issue. That it reached the Supreme Court is simply an indication of the breakdown of society. Protestant churches failed to uphold Biblical standards on the issue and things rapidly spiraled downward. 

Lamar Martin goes on to say:

"From the beginning, the Anabaptists have held to the belief that the civil government has no authority to determine matters of Christian doctrine or practice. They have believed that the New Testament teaches a clear distinction between the kingdoms [of church and state]. . . . Are we willing to unashamedly bear the suffering of being identified with the kingdom of Christ or will we accept the cultural norms around us?"

I am sure the LGBT community will continue to pressure for acceptance. How long will it be until our government bows to the pressure? Will their "rights" take precedence over the religious freedom guaranteed in the Constitution? How can the government justify granting the wishes of one group of people at the expense of canceling religious freedom? 

The more important question is, are we willing to stand for Christ and not compromise His truth? If it comes down to it, are we willing to suffer persecution to maintain our faith like our ancestors did 500 years ago? It's a spiritual battle. "Earnestly contend for the faith."