The Supreme Court gave their ruling on the Hobby Lobby case today, ruling by a slim majority in favor of religious freedom. Here are some helpful posts:
First, a news story: Supreme Court rules ObamaCare provision can’t force some employers to cover contraception – Fox News
Second, a quick summary of the case: What You Should Know About the Contraceptive Mandate Decision – Joe Carter (Acton)
Third, a good summary of some major issues: Hobby Lobby and the Liberty of Conscience – Kevin DeYoung
Finally, an analysis: The Supreme Court Agrees with Hobby Lobby, But Your Neighbor Probably Doesn’t – Trevin Wax
While there is reason to celebrate the decision, it is more than a little disconcerting that four justices and much of the population believes a “right” to free birth control should trump the First Amendment right to freedom of religion.
Trevin Wax in his post above also makes a point worth quoting:
Consider this. A generation ago, a person’s religious observance was a public matter, a defining characteristic of one’s identity, while a person’s sexual activity was something private. Today, this situation is reversed. A person’s sexual behavior is now considered a defining characteristic of identity, a public matter to be affirmed (even subsidized) by others, while religious observance is private and personal, relegated to places of worship and not able to infringe upon or impact the public square.
In the midst of this “brave new world” of confused identities and priorities, we as Christians must look to Jesus for our identity. Serving Him must be our priority. And no matter what comes, we will find our hope for the future not in rulings or cultural opinions but in the One who reigns over all.
