One of my favorite movies is the Bok of Eli (another favorite is Fight Club, but that’s literally and figuratively another story). It’s a graphic and gritty portrayal of good and bad vying for control of the Bible. The Good Guys want to preserve the last copy of Scripture and have it copied for all to read. The Bad Guys want to have the Bible for themselves so that they can misuse it for their own purposes. Whoever holds the power to interpret Scripture is in control- the GGs would put it in the hands of the people, the BGs would keep it to usurp authority.
Note Yahweh’s declaration in Genesis 2:18, 22: ‘It is not good for man to be alone. I will make him a helpmeet… And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.”
Notice cd (chief deity – lower case d, so as not to confuse him with someone who has real power) Kennedy’s opinion on same-sex “marriage” – “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.” (sniff, sniff) Sounds biblical so far. But this is, of course, not about biblical love and marriage – it’s about SSM. It’ s not about Adam and Eve, it’s about Adam and Steve (more specifically about John and Jim, but that’s not as poetic), which the Justices really found buried in the Constitution. It’s the kind of twisted interpretation that comes from “let the professionals handle this.” (Which stems from the belief that the average citizen is too stupid to interpret the Constitution and the Bible on their own, and people often believe that themselves.)
People wonder why Christians are up-in-arms about this SSM thing. It’s not about politics at all. The issue at hand is not the value of life, or that one side wants people to be lonely, or about hatred – the issue is “Who interprets Scripture?” The majority in SCOTUS see their role as being the gods who can determine what marriage is, and they see themselves as those who are in the position to provide spiritual direction to those seeking their favor. The plain meaning of Scripture is husband and wife; the plain meaning of the Constitution is, well, ummm…it’s not in there.
Kennedy’s opinion uses traditional and theological language. Reread the quote above and you’ll see that you’ll find his statement in any Christian, or any other religious, marriage book. What’s he doing? He’s usurping Scripture for his own purposes and to gain control.
Christendom is largely at fault – yes, the same people who blame SCOTUS for working against them. For too many years now the Church has upheld professional ministers and missionaries as the highest calling, when they’re not. The highest calling is being a Christian – period. A minister, a missionary, a businessman, a student, a factory worker, a judge – all are equal in standing if they’re in Christ. Christians need to continue training Christians to go into the political arena. It’s resurging, but it was left out for a long time and there’s a lot of building to do.
In time, we can have the likes of John Jay, who was the first Chief Justice of the US and (gasp!) a Christian. Not just some “I attend government church service when I can” Christian, but the president of the American Bible Society. He wrote, “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” When we have a justice like John who believed that peace was through the spread of the gospel, instead of twisted devotional literature masquerading as legal opinion, things will be better.
Anything is Progress 