Religious Freedom

Now, let's just say that homosexual behavior is sinful.

The bill in Arizona protects religious freedom as the freedom "to act or refusal to act in a manner substantially motivated by a religious belief."

This could be used to one of two extents. In the most extreme, someone could say it's their religious right to refuse to serve a gay person at a restaurant. They'd be saying, though, that they're refusing to serve him because this person breaks what they believe to be a Christian law, in other words, because this person is a sinner. But by that logic they also shouldn't serve people who don't keep the Sabbath day holy, who don't love their neighbors as themselves, or, I dunno, every single person besides Jesus who's ever lived because it's a basic Christian belief that we're all sinners.

Jesus never said to make sure you don't sell anything or do business with sinners; he's was more into suggesting that we cool it with any stone-casting.

But I know, there's the other level. Some Christian florists don't want to make flower arrangements for gay weddings. Ditto gay wedding cakes. Ditto photography.

Okay, I get it. They don't want to support a definition of marriage they don't think God recognizes. And I honestly do think that should be anyone's right. I think the market could sort that kind of thing out. They might lose business from a lot of people who find that kind of discrimination offensive, and gay people can go elsewhere for flowers and cake. It kind of makes me wish I owned a gun store because I would be very discriminating in whom I sold those to.

But, forget the political issue.

I just don't know that Jesus would encourage these florists and photographers to deny service to gays. I think of the story of Jesus and the harlot. It's not the same thing, I realize. The gay people aren't coming to the Christians saying, "We're sinners. Please help us." But Jesus was always more into preaching love, compassion, forgiveness, and turning the other cheek.

If they wanted to convince gay people and the world in general, that Christianity is the beautiful and true religion they think it is, then taking every opportunity to show kindness and acceptance would probably serve them best. Jesus ate with the sinners and tax collectors because he thought that's who most needed some Jesus in their lives. So, really, if you followed his example, you might not only bake a cake for a gay couple, you might come to their wedding and break bread with them. How else will you ever get close enough for them to hear the message of The Gospel?

Matthew 7:1-3

Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?