California!

What does the California Supreme Court upholding the same sex marriage ban tell us?

I know the California Supreme Court is not the same as the federal appeals courts but nonetheless I was surprised that they upheld the vote of the people to ban same sex marriage in California via their Proposition 8. This really goes against the recent trend of courts acting like legislators. It is human nature to be swayed by politics and courts are only human so if that dynamic is at work here, it signals a return to a long-standing tradition in this country: minority rights but majority rule.

This surprising decision of the California Supreme Court may be the result of what looks like the beginning of a popular backlash to radical liberal policies of the federal government. The people of California recently voted against new taxes to deal with their spending deficit. It will be interesting to see if the government of California actually takes steps to reduce their services and thus their expenses which means state employees will need to be laid off. I really hope our federal government does not seriously entertain the idea of bailing out the state government of California; we are all pretty weary of the feds propping up bloated bureaucracies.

For me, the popular uprising against liberal policies we may be seeing is a an indication that the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit is still at work. 2 Thessalonians 2:77 says, "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way" (NKJ). The Holy Spirit restrains evil in the world by working through the Church and even unbelievers sympathetic to the Church. Since the Holy Spirit indwells believers, His evil-restraining ministry will be removed with the Church at the Rapture.

It is encouraging to me that God is not done with the United States. This country has been a force for good in this world and my hope is that we will continue to be right up until the Rapture of the Church. I pray our federal government will see the political realities indicated by recent developments in California and back away from their moves toward tyranny. "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (1 Tim 2:1-2, NKJ).

So does this mean that the Lord has delayed His coming? No, He is still on His schedule but it is encouraging to see that He is helping us have more of a quiet and peaceable life while we are still here.