The recent decision by the Supreme Court regarding gay marriage rights raises serious concerns; as Christians, we are to be peacemakers, kind, gentle, etc.\u00a0 Romans 12:9 says “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”\u00a0 If we don’t speak up against sin, who will?\u00a0 Politics puts a strain on the church (our church).\u00a0 Should we sit back and do (say\/print) nothing – or make a stand (as gently as possible)?\u00a0 The left in this country is never happy.<\/p>\n
What should we do?<\/p>\n\t
“For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light<\/em>” (Ephesians 5:5-13).<\/p>\n
“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin<\/em>” (James 4:17).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Christians gently but firmly explain to people why sin is wrong and the need to come out of sin. The Supreme Court in its ruling violated the teachings of God; thus, Christians must hold to the higher standards of the Judge of the judges (Psalms 82). Doing nothing is not an option.<\/p>\n
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will<\/em>” (II Timothy 2:24-26).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t
Response:<\/h2>\n
Your brief explanation put it all in focus for me. What a struggle I was having with my conscience – responding when appropriate, with gentleness, with love, and kindness is key. James 4:17 is my struggle. Being prepared, knowing the Word of God – wow – how vital.<\/p>\n
God bless you and your sacred ministry.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: The recent decision by the Supreme Court regarding gay marriage rights raises serious concerns; as Christians, we are to be peacemakers, kind, gentle, etc.\u00a0 Romans 12:9 says “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”\u00a0 If we don’t speak up against sin, who will?\u00a0 Politics puts a strain on the church (our…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[310,35],"class_list":["post-45458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-government","tag-homosexuality"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21761,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/doesnt-a-marriage-license-mean-the-government-controls-marriages\/","url_meta":{"origin":45458,"position":0},"title":"Doesn’t a marriage license mean the government controls marriages?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 21, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: You said: \"They imagine all sorts of nonsense regarding giving up rights, but the reality is that the government is serving as a repository of the covenant.\" License is a prior restraint. It presumes that the activity is not a right but stems from the licensor (government in this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30981,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-for-a-church-to-give-out-a-form-letter-to-its-members-to-send-to-their-representatives\/","url_meta":{"origin":45458,"position":1},"title":"Is it wrong for a church to give out a form letter to its members to send to their representatives?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 16, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I received a church bulletin with a sample letter to be sent to Senators and Representatives demanding the defeat of the Respect for Marriage Act since it broadens the definition of marriage beyond one man and one woman.\u00a0 Although I agree with the content of it, I am of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93453,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-marriage-the-business-of-the-church-or-the-family\/","url_meta":{"origin":45458,"position":2},"title":"Is marriage the business of the church or the family?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello Minister, I hope you are doing well. I have a few issues I would like some clarification on. Is marriage primarily the business of the church or the family? In many African contexts, the acceptance of a bride price by the woman's family during a formal occasion is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68180,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-honor-all-marriages\/","url_meta":{"origin":45458,"position":3},"title":"Does God honor all marriages?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good morning, I would like to know if God honors all marriages. I was recently in a study and they brought up Hebrews 13:4. I was told this verse God applies to Christians who are in the church. God does not honor marriages outside of Christ. For example, if\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33629,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-find-friends-when-im-a-christian\/","url_meta":{"origin":45458,"position":4},"title":"How do I find friends when I’m a Christian?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello! I'm a Christian. \u00a0I'm very conservative, and I act differently from other people my age. \u00a0I'm in college right now and most girls my age like going drinking, partying, or having sex before marriage. \u00a0I'm waiting for marriage. Anyways, lately, I have found it very difficult to make\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1814,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-sexual-acts-should-not-be-committed-before-marriage\/","url_meta":{"origin":45458,"position":5},"title":"What sexual acts should not be committed before marriage?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 21, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What sexual acts should not be committed in a relationship before marriage? Answer: \"Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge\" (Hebrews 13:4). 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