Landmark Legal Decision

Yesterday New Jersey's highest court ruled that "the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our state constitution."  While the court also said it "cannot find that a fundamental right to same-sex marriage exists in this state," the decision is being hailed as a victory for gay activitists.  The state legislature now has 6 months to enact legislation that provides full benefits to gay couples.

One provision of the ruling should be especially troubling to Christians -- and indeed to anyone who values religious freedom.  The court asserted that homosexuals have a right to have their unions sanctified by a religious institution.  Not only is the New Jersey court telling the legislature what to do; it is also telling the church what to do. 

The good news is that a number of other recent court decisions have protected the biblical and traditional definition of marriage.  In fact, properly speaking, no state permits gay marriage and most states have an outright ban.  However, the cultural trend is in the direction of affirming homosexual unions.  Some Christians will say that this trend threatens to bring our country under the judgment of God.  If I am reading Romans 1:24-28 correctly, it means that we are under God's judgment already.