Christians Across America Pray for Supreme Court Justices to Make Right Decision and Uphold Traditional Definition of Marriage

As attorneys presented their arguments on gay marriage to the U.S. Supreme Court today (April 28), believers across the nation gathered to pray God would lead the justices to uphold the traditional definition of marriage.

“We do pray in particular for the preservation of marriage in this country,” Andrew Walker, director of policy studies for Southern Baptists’ Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said during a prayer gathering at the ERLC’s Nashville office. “We pray this as Christians who believe that marriage is something uniquely beautiful that somehow mysteriously unveils the Gospel. But we also pray for marriage for the sake of the common good.”

The ERLC gathering, which included staff members from LifeWay Christian Resources and others from the Southern Baptist Convention building, was attended via phone by the ERLC’s Washington, D.C., staff. Leaders of Southern Baptist Convention entities and Baptist state conventions also convened for prayer via conference call while various churches prayed corporately on Sunday and during the week. Baptist leaders called individuals to pray as well.

SBC President Ronnie Floyd told Baptist Press the church he pastors in Northwest Arkansas “asked God for a miracle” in the form of the high court’s nine justices upholding the traditional definition of marriage.

“This past Sunday at Cross Church, we were on our knees calling out to God for His intervention at this time in our nation. We asked God for a miracle that the justices of the Supreme Court would honor biblical marriage in their decision and honor marriage as we have practiced it since the beginning of time,” Floyd, pastor of Cross Church, said in written comments.

“Additionally, we asked God that regardless of the decision, He would empower us to live before others humbly, holding on to God’s Word and living faithfully. Upon the conclusion, I encouraged our people to pray for Tuesday when the debate was to begin legally and to do so daily until their final decision is made,” Floyd said.

Among the subjects of prayer at the ERLC’s Nashville gathering was that God would lead the justices to understand His moral standards, that religious liberty would be preserved for those who object to gay marriage and that the court’s decision would open doors for Gospel proclamation.

Micah Fries, vice president of LifeWay Research, prayed believers “would have the heart and mind of Christ” toward gay marriage advocates.

“We pray that we would respond with grace, affection and a firm commitment to You and Your Word,” Fries said. “Lord, we pray that this would not be an opportunity for us to just win, but I pray that this would be an opportunity for us to display the character and person of Jesus.”

ERLC President Russell Moore, in a video shot outside the Supreme Court and posted on the ERLC’s Instagram page, called for prayer during the oral arguments and throughout the day.

“I’m standing here in front of the Supreme Court,” Moore said. “The court is arguing today about whether or not to redefine marriage. And I’d like to ask you to join me praying for the court at 10 o’clock Eastern Time today and throughout the day.”

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SOURCE: Baptist Press
David Roach