The Supreme Court’s
Decision –
Now What?
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Last week’s Supreme Court ruling would
seem to have been an answer to a major cultural question. But rather than an answer, it was really the
opening to many more questions: What does it mean? What will happen next? What are we, as Christians, to do? Are we living in the End Times? Or does it at least spell the end for our
country?
I have heard all of these asked over
the past few days; I have asked some of them myself. Over the next week or so, I will be
reflecting on them and sharing some of my (very unauthoritative) thoughts.
The first question I need to answer
(which all of us do) is a very personal one.
We are probably all close to people (friends, family, coworkers) who see
last Friday’s decision as a cause for great celebration. We have probably all had to endure some of
that celebration the past few days. How
do we respond to that?
There is no question that much of it
has been, and will continue to be, crass and revolting. We will be taunted, called bigots who have
finally been placed firmly on the wrong side of history, and scorned. It seems to me that such responses should be
met with patience, but essentially ignored.
They are without depth and dignity, and do not deserve a response.
However, I do not begrudge the
marriage redefiners their celebration.
The day that all human life is protected from conception to natural
death, I will certainly celebrate, rightly so.
I will try to be classy and gracious, but such an event would deserve to
be celebrated. Those on the other side
of this issue must be feeling the same way right now. I understand.
Even those who, in their zeal, have crossed the line, I can easily
forgive. It’s easy to go overboard at
such an emotional moment.
But how do we personally respond to
those people we have, or certainly will, encounter, who celebrate last week’s
decision of those five black-robed politicians?
There is no question that they are wrong; we need not back down on that
point. Last week’s decision no more puts
us on the wrong side of history than did the Dred Scott decision put
abolitionists on the wrong side of history.
Right is right and wrong is wrong, regardless of historical events. (Besides, I’d much rather be on the right
side of eternity than history.)
It seems to me that the answer to the
question of how we ought to respond is simple: with charity. As much as I disagree with those who have
sought to redefine marriage, I understand their position, and in most cases, I
respect them. I believe that most of the
people I know personally have arrived at their position, by and large,
compassionately.
This is what I mean. They and we hold totally different visions of
what it is to be a human person – who we are, what our destiny is, and the
genius of our creation. We hold to a
vision of the human person that is much larger and more beautiful than secular
society offers. We believe in a destiny
in which our culture not only no longer believes; it no longer finds desirable. We encourage men to be ruled by their higher
nature, given by God, and in which they will find the fullest happiness. But the world says that we have no higher
nature; we have simply a highly evolved bestial nature.
To be sure, not all those on the other
side of the marriage issue have fallen for the entire secular bundle of
lies. But it is certain that their view
of human beings, human sexuality, and marriage and family, differs greatly from
ours.
Here’s the point: if they are correct
on those fundamental issues, then we are wrong about same-sex “marriage.” Their view of “marriage equality” flows
naturally, and compassionately, from
their basic assumptions.
On the other hand, if we are right
about the fundamentals, then they are wrong about marriage. Our view is the truly compassionate and
loving one, loving towards everyone, because what we aspire to for all
people, is higher and more beautiful, however difficult it may be.
Therefore, although I soundly disagree
with those who celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision, I can respect them –
because both their position and mine are based on charity. Genuine charity has led them from a faulty
starting point to a faulty conclusion, but charity is something I can admire
regardless.
I do not scorn anyone for not knowing calculus. I have never cut off a friend or family
member because they could not properly conjugate irregular verbs. Why, then, would I act in such a manner to one
whose knowledge about man, sexuality and marriage is lacking?
I honor the charity in their hearts, and perhaps they can
honor the charity in mine. Now this does
not answer all the questions that I began this article with, and there still
remain large cultural questions and battles (probably for survival) to be
fought.
But at least with this approach, I can love others as I hope
to be loved by them. In times like
these, that’s at least a start. May we
all pray for the grace.
