Resolution begs God not to 'destroy' county in light of same-sex marriage ruling

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (Christian Examiner) -- A Tennessee county commission adjourned Tuesday night without taking action on a resolution that asks God not to "destroy our County as He did Sodom and Gomorrah" in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling.

The resolution in Blount County was sponsored by Commissioner Karen Miller and has drawn national attention for its biblical language and strong opposition to this summer's decision. The Knoxville News-Sentinel newspaper reported that the meeting in the overflow commission room was adjourned after a motion to set the agenda for the next meeting failed, 10-5. Technically, the resolution died with that vote, although Miller said she likely will bring the issue back up.

"I've never experienced this before, for a meeting to be adjourned before it even started," Miller told the newspaper. "It's not fair to the citizens. They've come all this way to speak and they should be allowed to speak. ... I think it's very unjust."

Miller's resolution had stirred strong feelings on both sides of the issue.

"We adopt this Resolution before God that He pass us by in His Coming Wrath and not destroy our County as He did Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring cities," it reads. "As the Passover Lamb was a means of salvation to the ancient Children of Israel, so we stand upon the safety of the Lamb of God to save us."

Further, it begs God's favor "in light of the fact that we have been forced to comply and recognize" a definition of marriage "that God and the Bible expressly forbids."

The resolution also says the Supreme Court justices had "usurped powers not delegated to them" and that the court "is not the sole and final arbiter of the powers of the States under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments."

Additionally, the resolution urges the governor, the state attorney general, and the Tennessee legislature to "utilize all authority within their power to protect Natural Marriage from lawless court opinions."

"Not all orders claiming authority under color of law are lawful," it reads. "... Unlawful orders, no matter their source -- whether from a military commander, a federal judge, or the United States Supreme Court -- are and remain unlawful, and should be resisted."

The Supreme Court's decision "violated Reason, the Rule of Law and Natural Law," it says.

Ginny West Case, who was identified by The Times as a "retired Christian educator in the United Methodist Church," opposed the resolution.

"[Wrath] is not a primary characteristic of the God I know and love," she said. "I'm tired of God being used as a battering ram. The Bible, over and over, tells us God is the God of love and grace and mercy."

Following is the full text of the resolution:

RESOLUTION CONDEMNING JUDICIAL TYRANNY AND PETITIONING GOD'S MERCY

Whereas, the Governor, Attorney General, and ALL WE Blount County Legislators have sworn an oath consistent with the moral Law of God ("So Help Me God") to uphold the Constitution of Tennessee and the Constitution of the United States; and

Whereas, the fulfillment of this oath, in the American tradition, may not be read to contradict the written Constitution, Justice, Reason and higher Natural Law; and

Whereas, not all orders claiming authority under color of law are lawful; and

Whereas, unlawful orders, no matter their source - whether from a military commander, a federal judge, or the United States Supreme Court - are and remain unlawful, and should be resisted; and

Whereas, the American system of federalism envisions a political stance of resistance by States and their office holders against lawless federal court orders; and

Whereas, modernly, federal judges have once again usurped powers not delegated to them, and have violated Reason, the Rule of Law and Natural Law by purporting to strike down State laws and acts of the People recognizing and protecting Natural Marriage; and

Whereas, the United States Supreme Court is not the sole and final arbiter of the powers of the States under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, when it acts in an area outside of its jurisdiction; and

Whereas, the federal Judiciary was created by the Founders to have "neither Force nor Will, but merely judgment; and must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm" and the States, for the carrying out of its judgments, and it is high time that the Court be so reminded; and

Whereas we are forced beyond our wishes to comply with what is clearly against our conscience, and violates what the Bill of Rights, both State and Federal, give us the Right to do...

With a firm reliance upon the providence of Almighty God WE the BLOUNT COUNTY LEGISLATURE call upon all of the Officers of the State of Tennessee, the Governor, the Attorney General, and the members of the Tennessee Legislature, to join US, and utilize all authority within their power to protect Natural Marriage, from lawless court opinions, AND THE financial schemes of the enemies of righteousness wherever the source AND defend the Moral Standards of Tennessee.

WE adopt this Resolution before God that He pass us by in His Coming Wrath and not destroy our County as He did Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring cities. As the Passover Lamb was a means of salvation to the ancient Children of Israel, so we stand upon the safety of the Lamb of God to save us.

WE adopt this Resolution begging His favor in light of the fact that we have been forced to comply and recognize that the State of Tennessee, like so many other God-fearing States, MAY have fallen prey to a lawless judiciary in legalizing what God and the Bible expressly forbids.