Posted on 10/18/2014 8:28:58 AM PDT by Patton@Bastogne
My response would be similar. I'm not one to fight losing battles. Fighting evil in court serves a purpose, but I am not the right person to do it; I would not refuse service. If artistic wedding support was the job I chose for my retirement, I also would not show up for the pretend ceremony. I would make sure the contract specified that there was no penalty for nonperformance, and I would cancel at the last minute. Thugs are entitled to neither honesty nor courtesy, so I would not even attempt to deal with gay demands for service in good faith.
Photography? After signing the contract, I would suggest that they hand out disposable cameras to the guests as an added fun activity (even perverts and bullies deserve some record of their faux-ceremony, just not my artistic talent or slave labor to create that record), and then I would call in sick an hour before the ceremony. If they were at all threatening on the phone, I would show up, swallow Ipecac on my way in, and leave after throwing up on the floor. "Sorry," a true statement, considering how sorry I am that freedom is dying, "I tried because you were so upset, but something made me sick, and I cannot do it."
Baking? Same thing. I actually do bake experiments before bringing anything to a party/gathering, and I would try an experiment before the "wedding". After tasting each part/layer, to learn how those recipes turned out I would assemble the cake, and then "trip" to either drop it or push it off the cart and dump it on the floor on the way in. Again, last minute, no proof of intent to refuse, and no artistic support for perversion.
Wedding venue? I would hire a friend with septic trucks to come and spend as many hours as necessary "pumping" back and forth for the duration. Or I would disconnect the wiring for the well pump and call another friend for service. "I've got a problem," and I do have a problem with involuntary servitude, "perhaps you could hold the 'ceremony' at the public park?"
Under no circumstances would I participate in celebrating perversion. If refusal is not permitted either, then I would go through the motions of compliance and then fail at the last minute in a manner that is not provably intentional and that the contract specifies cannot be penalized.
This has been a very lively thread but I have yet to see comments address practical actions and consequences. While it appears that most if not everyone here agrees that certain taxes infringe on religious liberty, there is great division on how that should be corrected. One school of thought says that churches should not apply for 501.3(c) tax exempt status because it is basically a deal with the devil to silence religious freedom in exchange for a tax break. Others say that provision of the IRS code is unconstitutional and should be ignored and challenged in court if necessary. This is the type of victory big government is looking for where it splits the opposition into fighting each other.
It should also be apparent why we are having this debate today and did not have it 12 years ago. When Republicans had the opportunity to reform the IRS code they were too busy spending money and expanding government, but were also unwilling to undo the carrot and stick they had to use for or against their friends and enemies.
For me, the fight is against the IRS and big government types that want to destroy all opposition to their elitist rule. I have no problem with a church that has a 501.3(c) tax exemption that ignores the unconstitutional provisions of the tax code. I have no problem with a church that does not have a 501.3(c) tax exemption. My problem is with any church that fails in its duty to preach the Word of God, but that is not for government to police.
The only right thing to do is get the government entirely out of the business of rewarding and punishing by way of the tax code. We have laws to punish wrong doing and speaking against the evils of government is not wrong doing. Any church that speaks against wrong doing deserves our support regardless of its IRS status. Those churches that remain silent in the face of wrong doing regardless of their tax status deserve our scorn.
We need to work hard to elect people that agree that taxes are to pay for the legitimate costs of government and not as a reward or punishment for government approved and unapproved behavior.
My internet pastor had much praise for Senator Cruz when addressing his congregation about this matter this morning...as usual; he held nothing back.
Could you post a name or link to your pastor? My internet pastor is generally good but when he goes of the reservation, it drives me crazy. I’m looking for another church.
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