Gay Marriage License

To my Christian friends: This will incite lots of vitriol, but I have my flak vest on. I'm troubled by the glorification of the Kentucky clerk's violation of the gay marriage law. Yes, we are to obey God rather than man. But when? The only report of New Testament believers rebelling against bureaucrats was when they were forbidden to preach the Kingdom of God. Was she really preaching (embodying) the Gospel?

If this clerk risked jail to avoid any appearance of endorsing gay marriage, why didn't she also take a lesser risk, and refuse to give licenses to couples who were fornicators, chronically angry, drug addicts, liars, Muslims or atheists? Why are homosexuals so excoriated by Christians? All humans are in the same boat before we come to Christ, and Christians are not superior. We are just receivers of Jesus' pardon, with access to God's transforming love.

Our role as Christians is to manifest and proclaim Jesus, not to condemn unbelievers. The Bible says: “It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the church. God will judge them. But you must judge the people who are part of the church.” “God...alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?”

History sadly confirms that forcing your morality on someone is anti-Christ. You cannot manifest Jesus without love and mercy. Jesus treated unbelievers with compassion and tenderness, but he was harsh toward religious bigots, not because he hated them, but because religious arrogance is the greatest deception.

The government has no right to legislate religious preferences. Therefore, they had to eliminate God from their definition of marriage, defaulting to a mere civil union. However, if you believe that marriage is a covenant with God and not the state, then the government's approval of all marriages is morally inert. What does a marriage license have to do with God? Nothing! Then, why are you so freaked out over this? Why despise and fear someone whose definition of marriage is different than yours?

The reason America has morally disintegrated, is not the government's fault, it's the church's lack of love. Neither legislation nor insurrection will resolve America's moral cataclysm. Only an awakening to Jesus Christ can transform this nation, person by person. If someone's life style offends you, look inside and repent of cold-hearted pride. We aren't allowed to hate anyone.

Choose your battles carefully! Are you motivated by prejudice (pre-condemnation) or the Holy Spirit who is Love? We aren't fighting against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers. Persecution is inevitable for all who walk the love walk, but there is also persecution for religious pretense that will reap profound regret. Civil disobedience is valid when the Holy Spirit directs it, but be prepared to pay the price.

The only Biblical definition of the church is a “house of prayer for all nations.” That's it. It's that simple! Our bodies are now the temple of God and prayer is the main event. The church's primal mission is not to legislate morality or impose a fascist agenda, but to pray! If prayer is marginalized, and we keep poking the government in the eye, the persecution will become so horrific that desperate intercession will flow like a wild river. It doesn't have to get that bad if we passionately pray now, motivated by love for others.

Our nation aches to see Christ's redemptive love, not condemnation and hatred.

Copyright 2015 by Hayden Humphrey