Open Response to the Supreme Court Decision on "Obamacare"

     This past Wednesday everyone held their breath awaiting the Supreme Court decision on the Health Care bill that has been dubbed, "Obamacare."  There was a thought among conservatives that the court would strike down part or all of this law.  The part most egregious to many was the so-called "mandate" for all Americans to buy health insurance.  When the ruling came out there was a sigh of relief for some - and a sense of wide-eyed horror for others.  I was among those horrified by the outcome because it forever fundamentally changes the relationship between the government and the citizens of the United States.  It was only later, after I had turned to the Lord and sought Him in the midst of my anger and disgust that God showed me something in myself that I found even more disgusting.  

     Early in the week I was asked by some of the precious people I pastor what my reaction was to this ruling.  Again, as stated above, my early reaction was anger and disgust.  I was angry and disgusted that the Supreme Court basically allowed the existing administration to lie to the American people to get something passed - and then let the truth of the law come out only when interpreted by the courts.  We were told repeatedly during the debate, however limited it was, that this was NOT A TAX!  Over and over again this was asserted because, this bill would have gone down in flaming defeat if it was offered as the massive, regressive tax that it was later upheld as being.  So we were told this was a "commerce" issue.  As a commerce issue this was declared unconstitutional - but as a tax, it was upheld.  Therefore one of the things that happened last Wednesday was that one branch of government could pass a law based on their version of the truth - while another could uphold it denying the first truth - and then making up another.  Now, the fact that our government lies to us is not shocking.  The fact that they have lied on this scale for the creation of a first time right to tax us for all we are worth - a little more shocking.  One can only imagine the founders spinning in their graves at the way in which we are being taxed once again without representation - or at least truthful representation.  

     After I worked my way through my initial anger and disgust, I was leveled one day while praying with a couple of brothers for revival in our churches and awakening in our land.  What floored me was a verse that I believe the Holy Spirit brought to my mind.  Here is the verse:

"You are the salt of the earth ; but if the salt has become tasteless , how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything , except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men . (Matthew 5:13 , NASB)


     As I meditated on this verse, God reminded me that throughout the entire health-care debate we continued to kill 4,000 babies a day through abortion.  Nothing was mentioned, even by Christian conservatives, about this issue.  Nothing was mentioned about heterosexual immorality in our nation which is rampant.  No one made an issue of the flood of pornography that continues unabated on our airwaves and through the internet.  (Actually the legal system did make a move in this area.  It removed the fines imposed for the intentional wardrobe malfunction that happened during a Superbowl broadcast.  Oh, and by the way, our highest court also made it easier to use foul language during prime time television - as if God recognizes times when it is OK to use perverse language - only prohibiting it from 6-9 weeknights!)  Nothing was being said about gay marriage - which we were promised would NEVER happen only years ago by our elected liars - oh, sorry - that's supposed to be elected officials (same difference in most cases).  We once again bought the lie that it is, "the economy stupid" that is the issue.  Let me say in the strongest way I can, "It is not the economy - it is our lack of morals" that is the problem.  Let me say even stronger, "It is a tasteless, unsalty church that is the worst of our problems in America."  

     The church has been losing its saltiness since the 1950's - when it became vogue to have an affair outside of marriage - the church did not respond by falling on her knees and crying for revival and repentance.  In the 1960's we were introduced to "free love" - which is nothing more than fornication dressed up in groovy clothes - the church did not respond by falling on her knees and begging for restoration and revival.  The 1970's and 80's were the me-generations - with live being lived for self and self alone.  The immorality increased - and pornography began to explode with the advent of videotape - the church mulled over church growth strategies and spoke of dealing with the un-churched, rather than the ungodly.  The 90's gave rise to a growing homosexual movement that became more and more radical.  This was inevitable to anyone who has read Romans chapter 1.  The rejection of God through heterosexual immorality inevitably leads to rampant homosexuality.  Because the church was not cleaning her own house, rocked by one sexual scandal after another, she had little voice in society.  One might call that a serious loss of saltiness.  In the 2000's and now in the 2010's all these problems are converging as atheists are rising, God is openly mocked, and more and more oppressive laws are being passed limiting the freedom of the church.  


     I don't know if you see it yet - but the Supreme Court ruling should not have been such a shock to us.  Neither should further rulings that allow us to be trodden under foot by men.  The church has not been what she should be for generations now.  The result of this is that freedom has been - and will continue to go away in our land.  God is not pleased over the rampant innocent blood that is being shed - the rampant sexual immorality that is being advanced - and the rampant blasphemy and mocking of His name.  He is also not pleased that the church is just kind of "treading water" in the midst of this.  The church is more concerned with their creature comforts and comfortable living being taken away than they are with any moral decline that is happening in our land.  How do I know this?  I know it because we have yet to hit our knees in pray that inconveniences us on a daily basis.  


     My prediction is that November 5th, 2012 will make little if any difference in the moral trajectory of our nation.  In all that is being argued leading up to this election - almost none of it even concerns the moral failings of our nation evidenced by heterosexual immorality, homosexuality, and abortion.  They will barely even be blips on the political radar.  The only difference that will happen in the Fall is that we will determine how fast we go down the toilet as a nation.  Since none of the real causes are being addressed - I have little hope that they will be after the heat of the election is over.  

     What should we do in light of the Supreme Court decision on Obamacare?  Honestly . . . if we do not come to the point where we fall to our knees in repentance and brokenness over sin - nothing we do politically will really matter in the end.  The church should repent - over this decision - as well as any other that comes after it.  Our problems do not ultimately rest on the greatly undermined Republic in which we live.  They rest on the character and godliness of the people voting those who represent it into office.  Our hope lies in the mercy of God moving in our hearts to drop us to our knees.  Saints of God - we have only one chance - and that is that we see a coast to coast movement of broken-hearted, sin-confessing, God-honoring prayer.  Our one chance is that the church will turn from sin and turn to God - then turn to intercessory prayer.  Our one hope is that there will be a heaven-sent, world-shaking revival that will so stop sin in its tracks that we will once again see the church making inroads to sin - not the other way around.  Oh to see hundreds of thousands - even millions coming to Christ, throwing off their sin and embracing Jesus with all their hearts.  Oh to see churches overflowing their parking lots for prayer meetings - and for meetings where seekers hear the gospel of Jesus Christ preached without apology.  This is our hope - this and this alone.

     Bottom line - this ruling by the Supreme Court only shows me that the church continues in her  faltering slouch toward saltlessness.  It comes as no surprise that God is removing all protection so that the oppression of an ever-expanding government will continue to tread her underfoot.  I am not shocked that a president who is acting more and more like a dictator is rising.  It would not shock me if we even saw a takeover and martial law declared so that the November elections don't even happen.  We are being stepped on, saints of God, and it is actually a biblical thing we are experiencing.  The only way to stop the trampling is to repent, return, and fall to our knees in prayer.  We have never needed the admonition of 2 Chronicles 7:14 more than we do in the shadows of this most recent decision.  

"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven , will forgive their sin and will heal their land ."  (2 Chronicles 7:14 )