freeman3 wrote:Maybe. Then again...perhaps the Christian Baker could have thought merely baking a cake for a same-sex marriage was not that big of a deal, especially since he is required by the government to not discriminate against gays. There is nothing in the Bible about whether it would be a sin to make food for a gay wedding. It was his personal interpretation that it was sin. Other Christians could reasonably interpret that obligation differently.
No.
And, again, you assume the worst--and it's not in evidence. This isn't like being asked to make cole slaw for a homosexual wedding.
Moreover "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities." (Roman 13:1-14) No doubt a Christian could refuse to comply if the government required them to do something that violated a command of God. But...it seems that they should be willing to take the consequences.
And, they have. They are constantly put to death for failing to confess Caesar as god, or failing to worship Allah, or for evangelizing others.
If the American government can force a business to take business it finds morally objectionable, then we really don't have much in the way of freedom, do we?
I wonder if it violates the free exercise of religion...when the religion itself says Christians should try to obey the secular authorities.
One should never violate his/her conscience.
(Acts 24:16 ESV) So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
No one is going to hell over a wedding cake.
So true. One goes to hell for not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
I think God would be much more concerned about a Christian being involved in homosexuality rather than a tangential involvement in a same-sex marriage that is required by the State. This appears to be more of a political act than one based on religious conscience.
A political act? That's about 4 too many cushions on a 4-cushion bankshot.
Maybe, the artiste-uh, wedding cake designer--should grow up...
On the contrary, he is the adult. His teensy little feelings weren't hurt. He's not the one who filed a complaint--they were. He had to sue the State because they violated his Constitutional rights.
Freedom. The freedom not to be coerced by government.
Try it. You might like it.