Christian Bakers Fined $135K
for Not Working Gay Wedding Continue Fighting for Their Freedoms
In the news today – it is hard to fathom being fined $135K because you turn down providing a service to a client. It is pretty customary that a provider of a service can turn down a paying client for a variety of reasons.
But the prevailing philosophy that has blinded the eyes of many calls out for”tolerance” while simultaneously urging intolerance to another person’s conviction.
The people who espouse this philosophy of tolerance often proudly display the common bumper sticker proclaiming that we all “Co-Exist”. The message of this bumper sticker seems to be accepting – but it is not so appealing when we really examine the statement. To exist alongside another person is not fellowship or agreement, nor tolerance, after all. It is merely breathing the same air.
To demand a service be provided is not respecting or tolerating the other person’s freedom to choose. It is using political dogma to try and force another person to go against the very core of what they believe in. Does not sound like coexisting to me. Sounds kind of bossy and judgmental – the very thing they accuse other people of because they have a conviction. Not just any conviction – but a freedom to believe and to act on that belief that was paid for with the blood of those who fought for our religious freedom in the first place in this country.
The mindset that says everyone has to do what we want does not fly so well if it went the other direction.
The people who want to force their “freedoms” only want freedom for themselves while denying the freedom of those with different beliefs at the same time.
When the law tries to mandate to whom service must be provided it overrides our basic freedom of choice. So many applications for this reality. Should a musician be forced to play for a wedding if they are unable to make the date? Should a Catholic Hospital permit abortions? Equally as egregious as the religious freedom breech that the Kleins who own “Sweet Cakes” endured, “In 2014, a New York Christian couple were fined $13,000 for refusing to allow a same-sex couple to have their wedding ceremony on their family farm, which they live on and also rent out for event”(Smith, Samuel. Christian Post).
What do you think? Does someone have the right to demand that their wedding be hosted on your property? Common sense should prevail on this one.
Does personal preference mean we hate others or are discriminatory? No. It means we all have a choice of what convictions we choose to live by and those personal beliefs should not be questioned and certainly not devalued or judged. If we do not live by what we believe in, we don’t truly believe in them at all.
Let me know what you think. I know we might not agree on this, and that’s ok. We have the freedom to think for ourselves. Hopefully in a respectful manner. 🙂
Philippians 4:5
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
I agree with you. This is about far more than religious convictions, it’s about freedom and liberty and your right to run a business. Whatever happened to no shirt, no shoes, no service?
Great point. Thank you!
Great post. I tried to comment via WordPress; but sometimes have trouble logging in as I did last night.
Blessings!
Jeff Rogers
Founder & Chairman
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Thank you! 🙂