In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding gay marriage, a large number of Biblically-based Christians feel beleaguered.

However, regardless of feelings felt, if a church interprets this decision as something that really doesn’t affect them (after all, that’s society’s decision, not theirs), that church may want to think again.

Consider this. Since same-sex marriage is now recognized as a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution, those who oppose it can only be characterized as bigots motivated by irrational prejudice. In this new reality, in this new definition of marriage, they might like to prepare themselves for those charges.

More importantly, this ruling has left Bible-believing churches scrambling to protect themselves by changing their constitution and by-laws such that they clearly state their belief in marriage as being between one man and one woman. What was once a given and face-valid for any church now must be specified in writing and adopted as the rule of the church, or that church may face discrimination charges when denying a same-sex couple the same rights as other couples (the right to marry, etc.).

These changes have left conservative, Biblically-based Christians confused, bewildered and angry. I have seen and heard many irate (and some mean-spirited) assaults from both sides over the past week. While I completely understand those responses and often do not disagree with arguments made, I choose to respond in a different manner.

First, if we are to respond as Christians, we should do all we can to ensure that our communications reflect faith, patience and love. The Lord reigns, and He will enable us to spread His love in this very messed up world if we rely on Him rather than react in our flesh.

Second, St. Paul warned about this very thing over two millennia ago in his first letter to a young pastor named Timothy in the church at Ephesus. The apostle wrote, “Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons.” (1 Tim 4:1)

And therein lies my third point, something I believe is helpful to remember when encountering those who support this new reality and oppose God’s view of marriage. Do not hate them, or even see them as the “enemy”. They are not. For as St. Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Ephesus, “For our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm.” (Eph 6:12)