Yes.
The debate rages across America. Religious Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are working overtime- rallying their sides to both defend and attack Arizona's SB 1062.
What the bill accomplishes depends on who you ask.
Proponents of the bill claim it would protect business owners from violating their personal religious beliefs. Supporters point to a Colorado baker named Jack Phillips, who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. Phillips refused to create the cake claiming it would infringe on his personal religious views towards homosexuality. This past December a Federal Judge ruled that Phillips broke Colorado's Anti-Discrimination law. Arizona SB 1062 is intended to protect those like Phillips who believe that their religious freedoms are being threatened by activists courts and laws.
Critics of Arizona's bill claim it will increase oppression and discrimination towards those who have long felt marginalized by society and the courts. The ACLU of Arizona released a statement urging the Governor to veto the bill- fearing that the bill, "Allow[s] private individuals and businesses to use religion to discriminate, sending a message that Arizona is intolerant and unwelcoming." Many businesses like the NFL, Apple, American Airlines and AT&T have threatened to leave Arizona if Governor Brewer signs SB 1062 into law.
I think Christians should make gay wedding cakes. Here's why....
- Serving our neighbors does not mean agreeing with their personal beliefs. Just hours before Jesus was arrested, he was in the upper room where he washed his disciples feet. He served every disciple, not just those he liked. Jesus even aided Judas who had already aligned himself with the corrupt religious leaders to betray Him.
- Do Christians want a society where we can refuse a business interaction with another person on the sole basis of our personal religious beliefs. What if an Atheist restaurant owner refused to serve a Christian family because she thought Christianity was foolish? How would Christians respond to a Muslim store owner denying Christians access to their goods because they were buying items for a Youth Group activity? Would Christians tolerate being denied access to a doctor's office because the doctor disagreed with the patient's personal religious views on the sanctity of life?
- Christians support Anti-Discrimination laws because they reflect the Biblical truth that everyone has value by being created in God's Image. The Biblical view that every person is created in God's Image extends to everyone -even those who may be opposed to the cause of Christ.
- A democratic society protects the rights of minority from the oppression of the majority. Freedom of Religion exists as ways of ensuring that even non-traditional religions have equal protection. Our Bill of Rights must extend to everyone, even those whose lifestyle may exist outside of Biblical parameters.
- Serving those with whom we disagree seems to be a core message of the Cross. Jesus willingly died for everyone, even those who were in defiant opposition to Him. Serving those outside of our religious and moral spheres is at the heart of Christianity.
- Jesus calls us to Love God and to Love Others. It is rewarding to Love God, and its easy to Love Others (who think, look, act and believe like me in every way). However, true Christian love is meant to extend to everyone, not just those who believe just like me.
- In January of 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized a 'ministerial exception' from employment discrimination laws. This ruling allows religious institutions to hire and fire employees without government interference. In a 9-0 unanimous vote, Chief Justice Roberts affirmed, “The Establishment Clause prevents the government from appointing ministers, and the Free Exercise Clause prevents it from interfering with the freedom of religious groups to select their own.”
Jesus parting words before his death are instructive for us today...
'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.'
10 comments:
I agree with you, mostly, but have a problem believing that Jesus would just smile at everyone, and say oh go ahead and live any way you want, you're created in the image of God and He loves you. Did Jesus not tell the woman caught in adultery to "go and sin no more"? It's fine to love everyone, but we can't just accept everything that they do that is anathema to God's Word. Jesus saved that woman's life, but told her in no uncertain terms that what she was doing was wrong, was sin, and she should stop it. I think we should show the love of God to gay people, but they still must be told that their lifestyle is an abomination to God, and therefore wrong, no matter what any person or government says. And in this day and age of political correctness, who is going to say that except the Church?
Jonathan,
Last night our small group met. During our "1 word time" (one word that sums up our week & sharing why we chose it), we heard stories of being salt & light, & on being on the receiving end of someone telling them why they hate Christians. A wonderful conversation ensued. I sensed we needed to focus the rest of our time on wrestling with these practical issues. I used the TV to project your blog, along with the challenging comment, pausing for responses as we read through it together. It was awesome to talk through our differing views as did your blog. Thanks so much!
My 2cents
g.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ...I'd be cautious of siding with the world and the aclu against a Christian being persecuted for his faith. We're suppose to stand with our brother in Christ not join the world in persecuting him cause it's fashionable.
Appreciate the comments, received so many more via email....
Christians should stand together under the face of persecution, no doubt. However Republican Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona, declared in her veto speech,
'Senate Bill 1062 does not address a specific and present concern related to religious liberty in Arizona. I have not heard of one example in Arizona where a business owner's religious liberty has been violated... Religious liberty is a core American and Arizona value, so is non-discrimination.'
If the holy spirit has convicted this man to not make the cake, who are we to say if he should or shouldn't. The world is going to be worldly and when one man in Colorado stands on his conviction we should stand with him verbally and with our prayers, regardless of what jan brewer says. Abortion is also law of the land, sooner or later civil disobedience based on biblical principals must occur. When good men are silent, evil triumphs.
The challenge Christians face is applying the words of Jesus in to our modern day culture. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors, pray for our enemies, turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, and even pay our taxes. The Apostle Paul expands on this by telling us to submit to all governing authorities and to pay taxes to them. Peter continues this same line of thought when he urges Christians to honor all people and honor the King.
The difficulty lies in trying to separate our American cultural influences of liberty and freedom -and to subsume them to the higher calling of following Jesus.
Good article, John. i agree with you... however I might make a distinction between serving and loving. There is probably at least an 80% overlap, but there are some differences too. The Bible calls me to love my neighbor. Most often that means serving them. Yet loving them well doesn't always mean serving them according to their requests. Sometimes they might want me to do something for them that isn't loving; like lying to cover something up or helping them do something unhealthy. For example. I'm a pastor. If my lesbian neighbors came to ask me to do their wedding... the most loving thing I could do is to open the Bible and explain why I won't conduct their wedding ceremony. Serving them by doing what they ask would not be very loving in that case. This wedding cake guy is somewhere in between "being nice by serving them" (which we all affirm) and giving his blessing on their wedding ceremony (which we can't affirm).
Is this why Paul said " I'm determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified"?
Praying for our enemies and paying taxes is one thing, actively participating in an abomination is another. What if state law changes and says no pastor can deny homosexual marriage, for religious reasons then what would you do?
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