After the Supreme Court decision regarding so called, "same-sex marriage" was released, there were many voices speaking from all sides of the decision. Some called the decision a victory. Others called it a travesty. Our own Synod President wrote an eloquent response. Read it here. While there will likely be continued legal challenges to the law, what is done is done. Pandora's Box is wide-open. The question for the Church is not, "How can we undo this?" The question for the Church is, "Where do we go from here?"
The Church has enjoyed the favor of society for over 700 years. The Roman Emperor Constantine ruled in Edict of Milan in 313 A.D..that Christians could freely and publicly practice their religion. And ever since, Christianity grew to dominate the Western World. But since the 20th Century, that pride of place has slowly eroded - first in Europe - and we have watched that erosion continue in the United States. Many call the SCOTUS decision the beginning of the end of the Church in America. But I would say the Church has been on a slow slide downhill for decades. It's just that now, that slope has gotten a lot steeper.
So, where do we go from here?
The Church should continue being the Church. Our status in society has changed, but the mission of the Church has never changed. We are to make disciples by baptizing and teaching. Is that task going to be more difficult? Absolutely. But difficulty has often been a good thing for the Church. The Church thrived and grew by leaps and bounds while she was being tortured and killed for sport in the Roman amphitheaters. The Church is an enigma - she grows while suffering through hard times and she fades while enjoying peace and prosperity. But that's the way the Kingdom of God works - when weak, it is strong. Just as when Christ was weak and dying on the cross, he showed the power of God to the world.
I think the time of speaking to the entire society as a whole with a recognized authority is over. The Church will now have the task of doing what she does best, speaking the truth in love with humility. Speaking law and Gospel, proclaiming Christ crucified for sinners to the individual - one at a time, even to those who would destroy her.
We can take comfort in our Lord's words:
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
