by Clyde Kilough on June 26, 2013

The U.S. Supreme Court has just issued two major rulings that will impact the nation socially and morally for years to come. It declared portions of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (or DOMA) unconstitutional and struck down California Proposition 8, which had banned gay marriage in that state.

When it came to federal recognition and tax laws, the Defense of Marriage Act strictly defined marriage as a union between a male and a female. DOMA did not prohibit individual states from recognizing homosexual marriage—12 states currently recognize marriages between same-sex couples—it merely provided a federal definition for marriage.

With DOMA being struck down today, anywhere homosexual unions are recognized, couples in such unions will now be able to file joint federal tax returns, receive alimony tax-free and claim a marital deduction on their taxes when a “spouse” dies and bequeaths an inheritance to the other partner.

In the California case, Proposition 8 was a referendum approved by California voters in 2008 that recognized only marriages between a man and a woman in the state of California. With Proposition 8 gone, California is on the way to becoming the 13th U.S. state to recognize homosexual marriage.

Today’s rulings effectively pave the way for the other 37 states to surrender to the wave of acceptance of homosexual marriage. You can expect to see an explosion of lawsuits and appeals against the current laws within these states, and Wednesday’s ruling will undoubtedly be used to expand homosexual marriage into these states.

America, prepare for this new definition of morality to spread, not stop. When basic godly moral standards are abandoned, they are rarely ever restored through human efforts. The sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s led to an overall acceptance of sex outside of marriage that continues to this day. Now, with the acceptance of homosexual behavior and the idea that same-sex couples can form a “marriage” that is no different than marriage of a man and woman, the decline of biblically based morality in this nation is accelerating.

The traditional norms of society have been eroded by years of the liberal media and entertainment industries striving to normalize all aspects of sexuality to the point where anything is accepted and little is condemned. Today’s developments are huge because, while media can only influence, government can enforce.

So what’s the problem? What’s wrong with it?

Simply this: There is a Creator who not only gave us life, but designed life to work in a certain way and for a great purpose. Within His Word He gave us the perfect laws to govern life. The witness of history is one of verifying that His way works, and not following His way leads to catastrophe.

God’s standard for marriage is summarized in Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This is how life was designed to work: a man and woman were to come together to form a marriage union, and that marriage union binds them together as “one flesh” in God’s sight. The design of human reproduction reinforces that this is how life was designed to work.

All through the Bible, we see this fundamental principle reinforced: sex and marriage are designed for a man and a woman, and this human-plane relationship pictures a higher-plane relationship between God and humankind!

Not only does violating God’s law not work for humans, but it violates our relationship with our Creator. It is nothing less, God says, than sin; and His standards have not changed.

Sad to say, though, human standards are collapsing, and the train of sin is careening out of control. Because of the open sin of this nation, and others, in endorsing and accepting many things God defines as sin, we must warn this nation that the consequences will be destructive. Just like ancient Israel and Judah, great nations fall when they reject God and His ways, and this nation is facing the same fate.

Centuries ago God sent a message to the people of Israel shortly before they fell, saying, “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts; a people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face. … I will not keep silence, but will repay.”

This is not a game. God is not to be mocked. God is bigger than the Supreme Court, or any state legislature, or the federal government. Unless America repents and changes direction, we will face the same fate as ancient Israel and Judah.

But even if the whole nation doesn’t repent, you can. Don’t be fooled by human reasoning. Don’t allow the lowering moral standards of this nation to define your standards. Seek the standards of your Creator and make them your own.

Continue reading this website to understand what those standards are.

For Life, Hope & Truth, I’m Clyde Kilough.