In Luke 10:26, Jesus asks a young man, “What is written in the Law? How do you read
it?” He does not ask him “What would you like?” Or “What would you enjoy?” or “What year is it?"
We do not get all the news from the States. Living where we do, we get little of it. But we have been hearing a lot recently about a Supreme Court ruling that was “leaked” to the press before the justices had completed working on it. The reaction would be ridiculous if it were not so very wrong. Some claim that most Americans disagree with the draft ruling. Others claim that the majority agree with the draft ruling. Both positions are irrelevant and wrong.
It is not the court’s job to please the majority but simply to read the law. The question is not “What do people think?” The question is, “What do our founding documents say?” No government official takes an oath to uphold what the majority want. The oath is to “preserve, protect and defend the constitution.” The court is supposed to be especially insulated from public opinion so that they can more honestly respond to the question “What does the constitution say?” That is their job. That is their only job.
About three weeks ago I heard someone at a church conference defend a certain position by saying, “It is 2022. It isn’t the 1970s anymore.” I cannot imagine a more foolish thing to say. There is only one positive thing I can say for that person. “At least he knows what year it is.” The negatives are all too obvious.
The question is not “What year is it?” The question is “What is the correct position for a Christian on the matter at hand?” To find that answer we must turn to the scriptures, not to the calendar.
As Jesus pointed the rich young man to the scriptures, so must we. When it comes to Christian teaching, it does not matter what I like, it does not matter what you like, it does not matter what month or year it happens to be. All that matters is what the scriptures teach.
We used to hear people say, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.” I disagree with that claim. If God said it, it does not matter whether you or I believe it or not.
God said it. That settles it.
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