28. Did Love Win in the Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage?
Did Love Win in the Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage?
I don’t doubt that for most same-sex couples the longing for marriage is sincere, heartfelt, and without a desire to harm anyone else’s marriage. And yet, same-sex unions cannot be accepted as marriage without devaluing all marriages, because the only way to embrace same-sex partnerships as marriage is by changing what marriage means altogether.
KEVIN DEYOUNG
On Friday morning, June 26, 2015, my wife and I were sitting on the couch when a breaking news report interrupted our program to inform us that in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court had ruled same-sex marriage legal in all fifty states. Undoubtedly, this decision will become one of the most monumental court decisions ever made on American soil.
Shortly after the news report, President Obama’s Twitter feed said, “Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. LoveWins.” I said to my wife, “What I’ve always loved about being a Christian is its generous extension of love to all peoples. But now, love has been redefined in such a way that if we don’t change our moral posture, we won’t be considered loving after all.”
Yet, isn’t it possible to be compassionate without compromise? Can’t we accept each other without agreeing with each other? Isn’t there room to respect each other’s conscience?
Apparently not. The new anthem is “Agree or else… ” And what about the dissenters—the Christians, Jews, Muslims, and many others who disagree with the vote? Will they not be loved until they agree? Will love win for them?
It now appears that love wins only if you approve of homosexuality. That saddens me.
In the end, real love isn’t agreeing with everyone, nor is it approving of everything somebody does. Real love is loving people in spite of our disagreements. And that’s what makes Christianity so special, so unique, and so beautiful. It’s the kind of love Jesus modeled when He spent time with sinners who lived lifestyles He didn’t agree with. At the same time, He did not bend His values to make them feel accepted. Rather, Jesus had a wonderful way of making many He didn’t agree with feel accepted and loved.
So what are we to do as Christians? I’ll tell you. Love the homosexual. Love the Muslim. Love the Hindu. Love the Buddhist and the transgender and the hipster and the polygamist and the drug addict and the prostitute. But by all means, let’s not adopt their views to prove our love. Let’s love those we don’t agree with. That’s when love really wins.
Thought to Ponder
The moment the gospel is gutted of truth or love it ceases to be the bona fide gospel.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ (Ephesians 4:15).
Question to Consider
What are some ways a Christian can show compassion without compromise as it relates to same-sex marriage?
One-Minute Apologist Video
Bobby Conway, “Did Love Win with the Supreme Court Ruling?”