In 1857, in Dred Scott v. Sandford, the U.S. Supreme Court held that African-Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be American citizens and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court, and that the federal government had no power to regulate slavery in the federal territories acquired after the creation of the United States. In the eyes of many, this decision stands as the worst decision in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court. There is no question that most people in their right mind would agree that this decision was terrible; African-Americans should have been considered citizens and slavery is an abomination. In another landmark decision just this past week, the U.S. Supreme Court held that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry. For many who support gay marriage this decision is viewed as one of the best decisions the U.S. Supreme Court has ever made. I would bet that most, if not all, of these people also agree that the Dred Scott decision was terrible. The question I want to know is, "What standard of truth do they use to denounce one decision and applaud the other?" As a Christian, I believe both decisions rank as two of the worst decisions the U.S. Supreme Court has ever made; right up there with the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, which gave women the constitutional right to murder their unborn children. Without a standard of truth to rely on, the only thing left is the individual's own understanding of things, based off of feelings and experiences, or whatever group has the biggest numbers or the greatest influence. This is what some would call "Mob Rule" where it doesn't matter if something is moral, ethical, right or wrong. All that matters is who has the loudest voice. When there is no standard of truth to guide us anything goes. And when anything goes, anything will go. In other words, chaos reigns supreme.
For a Christian, the standard of truth is the Word of God; the Bible. The Bible tells us that, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16)." Therefore, since the Bible is God's Word, it would behoove us to look at it as our standard of truth when deciding whether something is right or wrong, sinful or holy. God is not silent on the issues of slavery, homosexuality and marriage. While there are different kinds of slavery, when it comes to the type of slavery which took place in the United States and affected people like Dred Scott, the Bible says, "Anyone who kidnaps another and either sells him or still has him when he is caught must be put to death (Exodus 21:16)." The entire African slave trade was one based on the kidnapping and selling of Africans. The penalty for this type of sin is death. Regarding homosexuality, the Bible says, "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads (Leviticus 20:13)." Regarding marriage, Jesus said, ""Haven't you read," ... "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' (Matthew 19:4-5)?"These are just a few verses on the subjects, but they are clear that slavery and homosexuality are sins deserving of death and that marriage is the union of a man and woman. When you have the standard of God's Word to fall back on these things become simple to define and understand. However, the good news is not just having a standard of truth to rely on, but that the author of that truth has made a provision for all mankind to spend eternity with Him in heaven. Slavery and homosexuality are sins, but they are sins that God has forgiven and is no longer counting against mankind because of the death of Jesus Christ. For those who come to a saving faith in Jesus they will not only be set free from their sins, but will become the "bride of Christ"; forgiven and alive to God. That is a decision from God Himself; the One and Only Supreme Court.
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