At the aftermath of the Supreme Court's ruling to legalize same sex marriage throught the whole United States of America, some conservatives decried that the judges have violated the United States constitution. 

     I am not writing as a proponent of same sex relationships. I believe that our creator truly spoke in history and declared that it is good for human beings to confine their sexual expression towards someone of the opposite gender (man to woman and woman to man) whom they have committed themselves to a lifelong relationship. He sees this as humanity's good and to trust him is to agree with him that what he declares to be good is good for us. I understand its hard to swallow for some because for those who have sexual desires towards somebody of the same gender, God is asking that person to forego sexual desire in obedience to God. I empathize but remember that all human beings are asked to forego desires that God says are not good (the desire to use the neighbor for our own purposes, the desire to harm somebody, etc.). All good gifts come from him (bodies, food, life etc.) and are expressions of his goodness. As a Christian, the ultimate exression of that goodness is on the cross where Jesus, God in the flesh, gave his life for our eternal good. You can trust that he desires good for you.

     I know that the Old Testament permitted a man to have sexual relationship with many wives. However, just because something is allowed does not mean it is the ideal. God is not a revolutionary who comes down to humanity to suddenly change the practices already embedded in culture. The Old Testament laws are designed not to introduce something completely new to humanity at that time (there are people who already think killing is wrong for example) but to move humanity into a new direction (the people will not worship anything created but only the invisible creator for example). I wiill not go into the reason the Old Testament permitted polygamy. However, in the qualifications for leading the church, and Jesus's declaration concerning divorce, the idea of one man and one woman relationship in marriage is upheld.

    Saying that, I believe that conservatives are not right in this regard. The supreme court's decision is the culmination of America's dedication to freedom. The same can be said about abortion rights, to violent effect. This nation was built by people who wanted to have freedom of conscience. They were running away from governments that seek to violate their freedom of conscience for the sake of national unity. We must understand that governments back then believe that there must be uniformity in religion, for example, so that the nation can be united. Dissent can be dangerous for the nations's peace and prosperity. English puritans have to be suppressed and Anglicanism established as the right religious expression for the people. It is understandabe that persecuted people desire freedom from their respective nations. Notice that it is the suppression of conscience that is being opposed by that article, not the expression of conscience. 

     That is why the constitution made sure that there will not be an established national religion that persecutes those not of that national religion. Despite that article in the constitution, there was a vast Christian consensus. For many years, nobody would object to Christian expression in the public square. Now there are atheists who believe that religuious expression in the public square (prayer, symbols) violate this article of the constitution. In their zeal for their "religious" expression, they are moving to suppress "other religious" expressions.  

    In the case of marriage, there are some people who see marriage as their happiness and the constitution does say that all men are free to pursue their happiness. Some of them believe that objection to their happiness is a violation of their rights as human beings. In the same way, there were some women that says that being able to abort their babies makes them happy and they are free to pursue their happiness. The constituition never put any moral constraints on people. Those moral constraints were assumed. Conservatives could not appeal to the constitution for the enforcement of moral constraints. Freedom is idolized in this country. People appeal to freedom of speech for their right to be mean to others. Politically correct people complain that people's rights to "feel good" are violated when people say "mean" things to them. People want freedom without constraints (unless it directly affects them) and the constitution grants them that. Those who question freedom, especially for those in power, will be persecuted. 

    As Christians in this country, we are used to our conscience being accepted by the state. The government does not force union of religious groups for example. Also, the US governnent sees the church as a social good. That is why there are tax exemptions for religious groups, to help them promote the social good. Now there is a fear that the state will not respect Christian conscience anymore. Refusing services based on religious conscience would get businesses penalized (I understand that there could be an overreaction- a pizza place refusing to cater to a same-sex celebration is something I see as overreacting. However, a shirt maker not agreeing to print statements on a shirt that violate his conscience, I see as valid). Churches who don't conduct same-sex marriages will be considered in violation of the state's new ideology and would not be respected (lose helpful tax exemption and worse, be closed down for voicing opposition to policies).

     Religious persecution is scary. It has happened before and it is still happening. It is an old reality. People have violated religious conscience. We can appeal to the state but we don't control the state. Only God has sovereignty over history and people's hearts. The same God who is sovereign over history has allowed ungodly governments and he did not promise to spare us from them. All he promises is victory in the end; the gates of hell will not prevail against the church and he will be with us until the end of the age. Therefore, instead of trusting in the constitution, let us trust in our good God.

     The prophet Daniel knows what it is like to face persecution. What helped him through it. First, Daniel had a community (friends) that supported him. Jesus' movement for the redemption of humanity is building a community. In our individualism, we have forgotten that. Many evangelicals tell people that to be saved, one has to say a prayer. However, when the Spirit moved through the Apostolic preaching, people wer baptized into community. They were automatically put in relationship with other baptized individuals. They were in fellowship with each other under the Apostles' teaching and it helped them grow despite persecution. Second, Daniel served the king (Babylonian state) really well. He did so well, he gained favor in the sight of the king. He was tactful when talking about how his conscience was being violated by being asked to eat "forbidden" food. From the beginning the church did have an impetus for service. It held the disintegrating Roman Empire together, it has fought for the abolition of slavery, etc. This society that idolizes freedom is unraveling and will continue to unravel. Are we Christians going to be there to pick up the pieces? Are we going to bind up hearts that are broken by divorce and parental neglect and selfishness? Are we willing to love to win people's hearts? The Lord who showed us love by forgiving our sins and who calls us to forgive others, will help us endure. His love will melt hearts and lead people's hearts to himself.