Elements of America’s judiciary have chosen to rebuild the Tower of Babel. But this time, words, not brick and mortar, are the construction materials. The Tower of Babel defied the mandate of the living God. God commanded that man should occupy the earth and have dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28). However, some of Noah’s descendants decided they didn’t like the idea that they should spread out over all the earth at God’s command. Rather, they wanted to make a name for themselves, thus rejecting the Name of their Creator. Their thinking was that if they banded together and built a city with a tower that would reach to the heavens, they could avoid being dispersed and build a center of power for themselves. (See Genesis 11:1-9.) So the reason for building the city and its great tower was to defy God. Put another way, these folks were saying, if we don’t build this tower, we will be forced to obey God.
Thus, the Tower of Babel was not about building stunning architecture. At its very core was defiance of God. In similar fashion, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker has overturned California’s Proposition 8 which defined marriage as being between a man and woman. This ruling is aimed squarely at defying the rule of God. Judge Walker has joined a long list of people who have attempted to make God irrelevant. By replacing the standard found in the Bible, Judge Walker put in place his own understanding of what constitutes marriage.
Indeed, in a series of findings the judge noted:
“Religious beliefs that gay and lesbian relationships are sinful or inferior to heterosexual relationships harm gays and lesbians.”
Judge Walker has replaced the standard of the Word of God with the standard of Vaughn Walker. Like the builders of the Tower of Babel, this judge is out to enhance the name of man. The rule of God is repugnant to him. Dr. Albert Mohler has a helpful article on the judge’s ruling. You can view the article here. Mohler quotes another of the judge’s chilling findings: “Gender no longer forms an essential part of marriage; marriage under law is a union of equals.”
It is fair to ask, “Under whose law?” The answer is clear. The word of Judge Walker, on behalf of mankind, has become the law. The standard of God, stated in his word, is no longer binding. As the judge says, “Same-sex couples are identical to opposite-sex couples in the characteristics relevant to the ability to form successful marital unions.”
Just as the Tower of Babel was not ultimately about a building, this ruling is not primarily about marriage. This ruling is about man making a name for himself. This ruling says that man is the sole determiner of morality.
Parents, this is the point that you must teach to your children: one standard of morality is being replaced with another. One man has determined that the teaching of Scripture regarding the nature of marriage is immoral. One man has determined that procreation has nothing whatsoever to do with the marriage union. Following the precedent set by this ruling, there is also no basis to affirm that marriage is a union between two people. Walker only states that “marriage under law is a union of equals.” With this kind of thinking three or four or more people can also constitute a marriage of equals.
This rising tide of the self-importance of man will not be stemmed by legislation. This tide will only be stopped and reversed as the church embraces its mandate to be salt and light in this culture. Teach your children at home and in church what it means to be salt.
What is at stake? Dr. Mohler ends his article with this statement:
The central institution of human civilization suffered a direct hit, and its future hangs in the balance.
While I have great respect for Dr. Mohler and I am grateful for his courage and leadership, I do take issue with this statement. It is true that the institution of marriage has been savagely attacked. But as long as the Lord Jesus Christ is King of Kings, it is not marriage that hangs in the balance. That institution will go forward because God has ordained it. What hangs in the balance is a nation that will openly flaunt the laws of the King of Heaven and Earth. Despite America’s arrogant assertions about what constitutes marriage, she is no more protected from the power of God than the would-be builders of the Tower of Babel. What hangs in the balance is America.