Gay Marriage, The Apostasy Of End Time...
Supporters of traditional marriage
between a man and a woman rally in front of the Supreme Court in Washington
June 26, 2015. The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the U.S. Constitution
provides same-sex couples the right to marry in a historic triumph for the
American gay rights movement.
Following the Supreme Court's ruling
last Friday that states must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, at
least two county court clerks in Mississippi and Arkansas have already resigned
because they will not comply with the court's ruling, while other clerks across
the nation have had differing responses to the ruling.
On Tuesday, Linda Barnette, a circuit
court clerk in Grenada County, Mississippi, announced her resignation and
explained that it was due to the fact that the Supreme Court's ruling
conflicted with her Christian belief that marriage should only be between one
man and one woman.
Barnette, who held her position for
24 years before her resignation, said she is choosing "to obey God rather
than man."
"The Supreme Court's decision
violates my core values as a Christian," Barnette wrote in a letter to the
Grenada County Board of Supervisors. "My final authority is the Bible. I
cannot in all good conscience issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples under
my name because the Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality is contrary to
God's plan and purpose for marriage and family."
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| "My final authority is the Bible" |
Acquaintances of Barnette told The Clarion-Ledger that Barnette's husband is a pastor
who has worked with world renowned evangelist Billy Graham for several years.
Effective Tuesday, Dana Guffey, a
clerk in Cleburne County, Mississippi, told the Associated Press that she informed judge Jerry Homes
on Monday that she is stepping down from her post.
Guffey, who has also held her post
for over 24 years, said she arrived at her decision because she has deep moral
objections to issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
After Gov. Asa Hutchinson stated
that he expects county clerks to follow the Supreme Court's ruling and the
state's Attorney General, Leslie Rutledge, directed government offices to
comply, Guffey knew she had to step down.
"It is definitely a moral
conviction for me," Guffey explained. "I didn't announce anything
publicly or on social media or anything because I didn't want my decision to be
seen as hateful. I know some people will look at it like that, but this wasn't
easy. It wasn't a decision I made lightly. And I do not hate anybody."
Guffey called an emergency meeting
of the Cleburne County Quorum Court to address her resignation.
"My officemates
understand," she said. "They're not judging me, the same as I'm not
judging anyone else who issues the licenses. It's my conviction, though."
Although the Supreme Court's ruling will force other clerks and magistrates around the nation to comply with the new law or step down to stay true to their religious beliefs, Guffey and Barnett are the only two known clerks to have resigned thus far.
Another Arkansas county clerk, Susie
Williams of Dallas County, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that she considered stepping
down after the Supreme Court's ruling but decided against it after praying.
"After a lot of praying and
thinking about it, I've decided to stay," Williams explained. "I'm
trying to stay where the lord wants me to stay."
"I'm bound by law to do what
the Supreme Court tells me to do," she added.
A number of clerks in states across
the Bible Belt are neither resigning nor issuing marriage licenses. Casey
Davis, who is the county clerk in Casey County, Kentucky, told AP that he would
rather go to jail rather than issue a same-sex marriage license or resign from
his job.
Kim Davis, county court clerk for
Rowan County, Kentucky, is no longer issuing marriage licenses for any couple,
gay or straight, following the court's decision, which has caused protests
outside her office.
"It's a deep-rooted conviction;
my conscience won't allow me to do that," Davis told AP. "It goes against
everything I hold dear, everything sacred in my life."
Sam Marcosson, a constitutional law
professor at the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of
Louisville, told AP that if a public official can no longer uphold
their duties under the law then they should no longer be able to occupy that
office.
"If it means that you simply
cannot fulfill your duties because of your religious beliefs, what is required
of you is that you can no longer hold that office," Marcosson asserted.
"That applies to a judge, that applies to a senator, that applies to
anyone who holds public office."
Contrary to Marcosson's statement,
Arkansas State Sen. Jason Rapert told the at public officials have the right to
stand against the "unjust ruling."
"County Clerks have
rights," Rapert said. "I stand with any elected official to refuse to
comply with an unjust ruling that violates their religious beliefs."
Read Pastor Graham Perfect Responds To Gay Marriage Decision From The Supreme Court
So what should be our response to this action? It’s that not angry debates and marches. That will simply characterize the church as a bigot organization and fuel attacks on our institutions and beliefs. Instead, evaluate what we believe and how that aligns with the Word. Is the church modeling morality for the world or modeling the world in our churches? Most importantly we need to be at peace and humbly pray without ceasing, turning our ear heavenward for GOD’s direction.
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