Gay marriage and its Supreme consequences

In what many are calling a “historic” ruling, last week the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in all 50 states. Although those who support the homosexual movement celebrate this victory, I wonder about the social, religious and political consequences.

Now that the definition of marriage—which all human cultures have had for all of human history— has been redefined, what will prevent it from being redefined again? We have taken the first step down the proverbial “slippery slope.”

For example, do we allow for three or more people who “love” each other to get married? If not, will those who oppose that definition be accused of discrimination, bigotry and hate? Will they be labeled as “polygamaphobes”?

Our culture doesn’t think it is fair to exclude anyone, but every definition of marriage excludes someone. Excluding same-sex couples from marriage isn’t “hate” any more than excluding a brother and sister from marrying. Redefining the foundational human institution of marriage cannot but have serious repercussions throughout our entire social fabric.

The four dissenting judges all warned of the negative impact this ruling will have for religious liberty.

Among these included Chief Justice John Roberts who in his dissent wrote: “Respect for sincere religious conviction has led voters and legislators in every State that has adopted same-sex marriage democratically to include accommodations for religious practice” but “The majority’s decision imposing same-sex marriage cannot, of course, create any such accommodations.”

Though a bedrock of our country’s principles is the First Amendment which guarantees freedom of religion, many are trying to restrict that freedom in the name of gay rights.

But chipping away at the rights enshrined in the First Amendment should cause a shudder in every American.

In addition to these concerns, our entire system of government has been affected by the court’s ruling. In criticism which

came not from outside the court but from one of the nine judges themselves, Judge Antonin Scalia said the majority’s decision was a “threat to American democracy” as he views the court’s ruling as judicial usurpation of the democratic process by removing it from the hands of the American voters and state legislatures.

He makes the astute— but chilling—observation that with this judicial overreach, all Americans are now ruled by a majority of unelected and unaccountable judges on the Supreme Court. This, too, should cause grave concern for every citizen of our country.

Only time will tell how the nationwide legalization of gay marriage by the Supreme Court will alter our country in the future and how the social, religious and political (and economic) institutions will be affected as a result, but as we move forward I will personally continue the same posture I’ve always held: I will stand firm to my convictions while at the same time love those who disagree with me—no matter what the issue, as I’m instructed to “love your neighbor as yourself.”