“There’s a big difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” – Michael Josephson
Someone may say, “I’m allowed to do anything,” but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but not everything encourages growth. 24 People should be concerned about others and not just about themselves. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (GW)
The California Supreme court recently struck down a state ban on same sex marriage, which allows same sex couples to marry for the first time in California history. This is another in a growing trend of supreme court rulings overturning state laws forbidding same sex marriages. The argument seems to be that these same sex couples want the same legal benefits of the heterosexual community. Some seem to think this only makes sense, but much like the equal pay for equal work arguments of a bygone era, this too shall bring about unexpected results that will harm both heterosexual unions as well as the same sex unions.
Much like the outrage of the equal pay crowd when many more women were seeking employment, the resulting wage stagflation was an unexpected outcome. Instead of the women’s wages rising to the higher male pay grade the over all pay rate of all workers was reduced to match that of the lower earning women’s rates. Simple oversupply for the demand drove wages downward, not up as demanded, by the feminists lobbyists. The end result was equal pay for equal work just at a much lower level.
I foresee the same effect happening across the spectrum as more and more same sex couples tap into the “benefits pool” that once was reserved for married couples. The strain on insurance benefits, medical spousal benefits, tax breaks, and social security payouts will force the laws to be changed and could effect all “married couples” negatively. Instead of the anticipated financial windfall the same-sex couples sought to tap into, their ever increasing numbers will only force the system to change to adapt to the increased demand for benefits. The system was not set up to accommodate the demographics now being presented to it.
I can foresee a time in our not to distant future where the so-called marriage benefits will be all but eliminated. Each individual will therefore be responsible for themselves and will not qualify for spousal benefits any longer. Just because you can and want to do something, does not mean it is best for society at large to engage in such behavior.
Living for the betterment of society is what the bible teaches. Not thinking only about oneself but the overall benefit to our fellow man is what the Christian model dictates. As more and more basic Christian values are removed from our society, an even greater strain is placed upon our nations moral foundation. Without the rock solid foundation of God’s word as our societal building block, our nation, like others before us, will falter under the weight of immorality and lawlessness. The virtues that made this country great, the selflessness and self-sacrifice of former generations, has been lost to the narcissism of today.
1986. U.S. Supreme Court upholds a Georgia law banning sodomy between consenting adults.
1993. Hawaii’s Supreme Court rules the state constitution could give gay couples the same marital rights as heterosexual couples.
1996. President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act defining marriage as a “union between one man and one woman.” It says states need not recognize same-sex marriages from other states.
1998. Hawaii voters amend state constitution to allow Legislature to reserve marriage for opposite-sex couples.
2000. Vermont becomes first state to allow civil unions between same-sex partners, giving them most of the benefits of marriage.
2003. U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a Texas law barring consensual gay sex, reversing its 1986 decision. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules that same-sex couples have a right to marry.
2006. New York Court of Appeals, that state’s highest court, rejects gay marriage, as does the Washington Supreme Court. New Jersey Supreme Court rules gay couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples. It lets the Legislature decide whether to allow same-sex marriage or civil unions.
2007. Maryland Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, upholds ban on gay marriage.
May 15, 2008.: California Supreme Court strikes down a state ban on same-sex marriage.
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12 (NKJV)
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”Heb 8:12 (NKJV)
How many of us remember our school days and the permanent record? How many times have you, like me, been threatened with the words, “it is going into your permanent record”. It was the duty of the school to keep a permanent record of our activities both good and bad during our tenure. This permanent record was a history of who we were, when we were in that institution of higher learning. Ideally this permanent record would have been kept spotless and only list accomplishments, not the exploits of a wayward teen.
School discipline was something we feared as children. Being sent to the principals office was not a school trip we looked forward to taking. We feared the permanent record almost as much as we feared failing a class.
Some miscreants enjoyed the permanent record of misdeeds and foibles. To them it was a badge of honor, a written record of their misdeeds. They were proud of these outlandish acts that others thought were not so noteworthy. To them a trip to detention was an admirable goal. For me however it was something to be avoided at all costs.
Law enforcement has a record of all the lawbreakers in their data base as well. I wonder how many miscreants from high school found themselves with a permanent record of lawlessness? I wonder how many have permanent criminal records to coincide with their high school permanent records? I wonder how many of them spent time in a detention center of a different sort?
Truth be told we are all lawbreakers when it comes to the ways of God. The bible teaches clearly that no one is righteous. Romans 3:10 None of us seeks after what is true and right, we all like sheep have gone astray, each one following after our own way of doing things. Isaiah 53:6 We all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. Romans 3:23 We all have a record of wrongdoing so to speak. In the end we must stand before the principal and give an account of what we have done with our life. Revelation 20:12
Unlike the school district’s and law enforcement’s permanent records God does not keep a permanent record of wrongs. They are not written with a permanent marker. God made a way to erase all those permanent mistakes without having to endure detention. God’s way was to send someone else to detention in our place. God sent an advocate, a substitute, a scapegoat who would take our punishment for us. Jesus would take all our misdeeds with him to the cross of Calvary where they are forever engraved on his hands.
If we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and acknowledge that he died for our sins, and if we repent of our sins, then Jesus will go to work on our permanent records to blot them out of God’s record book and replace them with forgiveness.
Therefore the only permanent marks in heaven are the marks in the hands, feet and side of Jesus. They are permanent reminders of the price he paid for our sins. A permanent mark of the sacrifice offered for our forgiveness. These scars are a permanent record of His love for us.
God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.John 3:16 (GW)
But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)