Sam GreerMarriage is in the crosshairs, and Satan has his finger on the trigger.
As the U.S. Supreme Court justices prepare to hand down their decision on what constitutes marriage, this aforementioned statement becomes more relevant. America, is it worth a look, therefore, to consider marriage by the Book?
The Bible is not just another good book about marriage, the Bible is God's book whereby God defined and designed marriage between one man and one woman. Furthermore, God decrees "Let marriage (between one man and one woman) be held in honor among all" in Hebrews 13:4. "All" here literally means "in the case of everyone" from the Supreme Court chambers to our own houses.
In what way should the Supreme Court hold marriage in honor? Of the nine Supreme Court Justices, six of them list Roman Catholic as their religion, while the remaining three are Jewish. The three Jewish justices would do well to remember that "Let marriage be held in honor among all," was written to a Jewish Christian audience in Hebrews.
The Roman Catholic justices would do well to remember that the Holy Trinity defined and affirmed marriage throughout the Bible. God the Father created marriage in Genesis 2:18-25 with the first wedding in the Bible occurring prior to sin entering the world. God the Son affirmed marriage between one man and one woman in Matthew 19:3-6 and said, "What God has joined together, let not man separate." God the Spirit affirmed marriage throughout the New Testament by giving these instructions: "Wives, submit to your own husbands" and "Husbands, love your wives" in Ephesians 5:22 and 25.
The Supreme Court should "honor" marriage, not rule on it, redefine it or redesign it.
In what way should our own houses hold marriage in honor?
First, stand on God's word. Whether you are married or not, marriage is to be held in honor among marrieds, unmarrieds, remarrieds, premarrieds, and post-marrieds. Any form of sexual behavior outside the bonds of marriage between one man and one woman is sin, and that includes: homosexuality, pornography, cohabitation, one-night stands and pre-marital consensual sex.
As humans, we don't have the luxury of basing what is sin and what is not on our feelings or circumstances. God's word is our final authoritative source for faith and practice. God loves us, and he knows what is best for us. He loves us so much that he created us. He loves us so much that he gave his only son to pay for the penalty of our guilty sin. He loves us so much that he has a place for us in his divine plan. Stand on God's word and honor marriage.
Second, stand up for God's truth.
Jesus was the perfect example of "grace and truth." The grace of Jesus never diminished the truth of Jesus, nor did the truth of Jesus ever diminish the grace of Jesus. We would do well in our own houses to honor marriage (the truth of Jesus) by loving people who don't honor marriage (the grace of Jesus).
Third, stand by your vows.
We would do well in our own houses to stand by our vows we took on our wedding day. In fact, you will be unable to honor marriage in your own house if you don't stay married. God has given us an incredible opportunity to live out the gospel message of Jesus Christ and his church through the marriage relationship.
If you are remarried, focus on the marriage you are in right now. Start honoring marriage in your home today by standing by your vows. I know that marriage is work, but the way God designed it, marriage works.
Regardless of how the Supreme Court decides, let us make a decision to honor marriage in our own houses. In the words of Christian apologist G.K. Chesterton, "Never remove a fence until you understand why it was erected in the first place."
A native of Crystal Springs, Miss., Sam Greer has been senior pastor at Red Bank Baptist Church since 2012. He and his wife, Tonya, have been married 14 years, and have two daughters: 8-year-old Braydee and 5-year-old Belle.