The following remarks were made by IRD’s Chelsen Vicari, the Director of Evangelical Action, at Tuesday’s #1M1W marriage rally held outside of the Supreme Court while Obergefell v. Hodges oral arguments were heard.
Thank you for coming out and standing up for your convictions!
As a country, today we pray that our leaders do what’s best for the health of society, the welfare of children, and the protection of freedom of conscience. But no matter what our nine Supreme Court Justices decide come June, to Christian citizens, I say to you the Church, that we must never compromise our convictions according to the tide of popular culture!
Marriage does not need to be compromised; it needs to be cherished with courage.
For a moment, I want to speak to the young people here and watching online who stand for God’s model for sexuality and marriage, the bedrock of every successful civilization. I know you’re here. I know you’re watching. And I know you are facing tremendous pressure to suppress your conscience for the sake of cultural appeasement.
Know that you are not alone!
We are intimidated for our stance on marriage. We face bullying, internet trolling, hateful name-calling and slander because we wish to practice our faith and moral values. We are accused of being backward, unloving, and uncompassionate if we support God’s model for marriage. And if we are willing to stand by those convictions in public, then we fear being ostracized, marginalized, threatened or called demeaning, hate-filled names.
Though you are looking around for faithful leadership, you find little because some faith leaders are unwilling to preach the whole truth. They only go so far out of fear of offending someone’s feelings. Well, I wonder if their lack of courage is why we are in the mess we are in?
Don’t lack courage!
We know that whatever decision the Supreme Court makes will have very serious consequences for our Christian convictions on our campuses, at our jobs, and in our private lives. We face losing friendships, garnering hostility from schoolmates and perhaps even family members all because we refuse to compromise and water-down the Gospel. But Praise God, because we are not alone in your stand for marriage!
Remember that Christ was criticized, crucified, by the popular culture of His day. Don’t give up. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t get burnout. Don’t be silent. Silence does not spread justice, compassion, or truth. Silence leads to accommodation.
Most importantly, as the prophet Isaiah wrote, don’t be afraid, for the Lord promises He is with you. Don’t be discouraged, for He is your God. He will strengthen you and help you. He will hold you up with His victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Never lose your compassion, but never ever abandon your convictions!
God bless!
Comment by MarcoPolo on April 30, 2015 at 9:56 am
That sounds more like a call to arms!
Frankly, the institution of Marriage will not suffer the losses that Ms. Vicari warns against. It will more than likely comfortably accommodate the many people who wish to enter the covenant of marriage for the fidelity, faithfulness, and family attributes that marks membership in the social construct that she so proudly admires, and awkwardly defends.
The sky will not fall… and God will not admonish those who LOVE.
A free society demands equality, and it is time to show our support for Equality. Let’s pray the Supreme Court sees the injustice that Marriage previously coveted for a select few, and decides favorably FOR the People.
Comment by DD on April 30, 2015 at 11:50 am
Your comment about the mealymouthed “faith leaders” is spot on. I remember when Joel Osteen was interviewed by a secular journalist who asked him why he didn’t preach on sin, and Osteen just smiled and shrugged, “You know what? That’s not me, that’s not who I am.” Unfortunately, too many of the evangelical churches have been infected with this “That’s not me” excuse, so worship services are actually concerts with a feel-good pep talk that basically says “Be nice, and be positive,” which isn’t exactly the Christian message. The lefty churches gave up preaching on sexual ethics 50 years ago, sadly so many of the “evangelicals” are following suit. The New Testament admonition to “keep oneself unspotted from the world” is ignored.
Comment by Darah Gaz on May 2, 2015 at 9:03 am
Christianity is not a featherbed religion, it is serious and demanding, and it’s not for people who are constantly checking their peer pressure. Given the immoral nature of our culture, it’s inevitable we will have a smaller Church, but a better one.