I did read the verse. I don’t see anywhere in the Bible where Jesus says to invite tribulation. I have enough that comes to me unbidden.
So what would you prefer I do? Have a religious test before I do a cake? What about the Wiccans? Is it just the gays I should refuse? How about Baptists? I drink wine.... they don’t. Am I endorsing their brand of Christianity over my own?
I prefer my solution. I pray over every cake tasting I get, every cake order I get, every cake that I do, and tell God that I don’t want any..... repeat...... ANY of those things that are not brought to me by Him. So far it has worked. I expect it to continue to work, and that God will only bring to me those He wants me to work with.
This is a topic I have been pondering and praying over for years. I am not opposed to standing and fighting for my first amendment rights, and have told Mr G on a number of occasions that he may need to bail me out of jail. However, yesterday finally clarified it all for me. This was a wedding I had no clue was to be conducted by a phony preacher. It made me realize my hypocrisy to deny one brand of sin over others.
So my solution is prayer. It doesn’t mean I won’t tell any gay couple that comes through my door that I believe God has a better plan for their lives, and I will be praying for them and all their guests as I make the cake.
And until instructed otherwise, that is how I will continue.
“Invite” tribulation? No, I never said that either; I said anyone who follows Jesus will experience tribulation and have their faith tested; indeed, lack of trials is a bad sign. Trying to evade tribulation by compromising faith is not the way; tribulation will catch up.
These are your rights, remember; they are not privileges, and lots of people died to defend them. Think about the Founding Fathers and their stances.
Bless you Grammy, I think you are taking the right path on this issue. We are all sinners, some looking to find our way home, and some not realizing how lost we are.
I was thinking about this issue, and I realized that if I were a baker with strong beliefs, I would do much as you do, although I would have a clear, consistent policy of not putting lettering on cakes other than scriptural passages or verse numbers of an uplifting nature. I would also explain that my business follows the principal of tithing and anyone uncomfortable with the churches and charities my business supports should consider other vendors.
Feeding people is not a sin, and telling them that you love them as the Lord loves all of us and that you are praying for their souls seems like the way we should all try to live our lives.
On a final note, you’ve made me wish I could taste one of your cakes! If I’m ever headed through Tennessee, I’ll get in touch.