Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake...

Hebrews 13:
18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. 20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. 



2nd Peter 1 tells us to add to our faith, virtue - in other words, to live out what we say we believe.  Victoria Childress, a baker in Iowa, was attempting to do that recently, taking action based on conviction.   She was contacted by a lesbian couple to bake a wedding cake for them.   She told Fox News:

“I was straight-forward with them and explained that I’m a Christian and that I have very strong convictions,” she said.  “I chose to be honest about it. They said they appreciated it and left. That was all that was said.”

Now, apparently, the couple has taken their case to the media, trying to add to the narrative of gays being victimized:   One of the ladies told KCCI television that "It was degrading...It was like she chastised us for wanting to do business with her. I know Jesus loves me. I didn’t need her to tell me that. I didn’t go there for that. I just wanted to go there for a cake.”

The pair also released a statement, calling the Christian cake baker a “bigot.”  “Awareness of equality was our only goal in bringing this to light, it is not about cake or someone’s right to refuse service to a customer", they posted on the TV station's website.

Victoria has been receiving hate mail, but also affirmation from local business owners.  

And, of course, there is the proverbial discussion of civil rights and discrimination.   Iowa's Civil Rights law protects against so-called "discrimination" for sexual orientation.   But, think about it - this is a far different situation than the civil rights issues we experienced in Alabama regarding race - for one thing, even if someone claims to have a propensity toward same-sex attraction or homosexuality, the "born gay" argument, it is still behavior that is contrary to Scripture.   And, marriage is defined in the Bible as one man for one woman.   And,  in Iowa, where gay marriage is legal, 3 Supreme Court judges that voted in favor of legalizing gay marriage were actually removed from office by the voters.   So there is Biblical and popular support for Victoria's position.

So Victoria Childress was acting in accordance with her deeply-held, Scriptural beliefs...that seemingly small decision would, presumably in her mind, violate her conscience.   You know, we could use more people like that - making a decision, in a moment, that affirms her love for Christ.   She apparently was not rude, but matter-of-fact in stating she could not bake the couple a wedding cake.   

So, in those moments, those points of decision, are we rooted in deep beliefs so that we will be able to state and act in accordance with what the Bible says?   Are our hearts prepared, if necessary or if led by the Spirit, to make a bold decision, or have we been conditioned to go with the flow?