Why Is This Baker Allowed to Discriminate?
Posted on May 19, 2015 in Marriage, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
Why is one baker allowed to discriminate but another is not? That’s the question being asked after two separate – but related incidents involving cake and convictions.
In one incident Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, declined to bake a cake for a gay wedding because he said doing so would violate his religious convictions. Phillips sees his business as an extension of his faith, which means participating in a gay wedding by creating a work of art would violate that faith.
Unfortunately, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission disagreed with Phillips and charged him with discrimination under Colorado’s Human Rights Act. He was found guilty and threatened with fines and imprisonment if he continued such practices at his bakery.
In fact, Phillips was ordered to go “reeducation” along with his entire staff and will be monitored to ensure such an incident doesn’t happen again. Does this sound like America – the home of the free – or more like a communist country?
In light of this disturbing account, Bill Jack, just a guy wanting to make a point, asked three different bakeries to make him two separate cakes. Todd Starnes explains the cakes Jack wanted: Continue reading…
Steps Every Church Can Take to Defend Biblical Teaching on Marriage
Posted on May 13, 2015 in Marriage, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
As I discussed yesterday, the Supreme Court is preparing to rule on the issue of marriage. More specifically, whether or not it should be legal in all 50 states for homosexuals to marry. This decision will have a major impact on every person regardless of which way the court rules.
Several years ago I was involved with educating churches and pastors on what steps they could take to protect their churches from lawsuits due to changing cultural norms. While many churches were receptive to such instruction, some churches believed it unnecessary. Few churches today seeking to protect their religious freedom think being educated is unnecessary.
Groups like The Gospel Coalition have been more cautious in recommending to churches steps that can be taken to protect their pastors, facilities, and religious freedom. So when I see recommendations from The Gospel Coalition, in conjunction with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), I take notice.
In a blog post not long ago, The Gospel Coalition recommended five ways churches can protect their religious convictions and freedom amidst a changing culture. These are five steps groups like ADF and the one I worked with were encouraging years ago; they are more critical today than ever.
The five steps are: Continue reading…
Did You Know the Supreme Court is About to Decide Whether Gay Marriage Should Be Legal for All States? Then What?
Posted on May 12, 2015 in Marriage by Nathan Cherry
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Once they make a decision it is binding on all 50 states and there is little (if any) recourse for anyone opposed to the ruling. For this reason the pending decision regarding marriage is more than important, it is potentially historic.
The question everyone is wondering is whether or not the court will impose a sweeping decision on all 50 states that is – at best – controversial.
Let’s rewind a few years to the Roe v. Wade decision. This decision, which legalized abortion in all 50 states has been hailed as one of the most infamous decisions in U.S. history. This is primarily because it removed states’ rights to determine the issue within their borders. Rather than letting each state determine how to handle the issue, the court issued a sweeping ruling that was binding on all states.
To say that decision has been contested ever since would be a monumental understatement. The fact that pro-life laws are being passed on the state level at record rates is but one sign among many that the court made the wrong decision regarding abortion.
So, will the court repeat their historic mistake and issue a sweeping ruling regarding marriage?
A brief history of the issue in our culture is helpful as we await the high court’s decision. Advocates of same-sex “marriage” like to point out that 36 states have now legalized gay “marriage.” What they fail to mention is that in nearly every one of those states a court or a judge made the decision, not the people. In almost every state where people were allowed to vote on the issue the traditional definition of marriage was upheld. That’s an inconvenient fact that is often overlooked.
According to a recent article, the specific questions the court is seeking to answer are:
“The justices will assess whether states should be permitted to ban gay marriage — or whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires it. They will also examine whether those states that do not permit same-sex nuptials are allowed to refuse recognition of gay unions performed in other locations.”
The ramifications of this decision could impact every sector of life in America.
The lingering questions that will eventually be answered by the court’s decision involve whether churches have the right to refuse gay people into membership; whether a pastor has the right to refuse to officiate a gay wedding; whether churches have the right to refuse use of their property to gay groups. And, perhaps just as critical are the questions surrounding personal liberty, and whether or not a baker has the right to refuse to bake a cake for a gay wedding. (The same can be said for photographers, and florists.)
In other words, free speech and religious freedom are at stake in this decision. If the court decides that same-sex “marriage” is a legal right under the Constitution, what will be the recourse for Christians that have a conscientious objection based on their deeply held religious convictions? Will we even be allowed to vocalize our opposition or be faced with government attack; as in the case of the florist in Washington, baker in Colorado, and photographer in New Mexico?
Perhaps we could learn from our neighbors to the North. Canada legalized same-sex “marriage” in 2005. Since that time a systematic erosion of free speech and religious freedom has taken place. Recently the daughter of gay parents shared her experience and issued a warning to the United States Supreme Court, she wrote:
“I am one of six adult children of gay parents who recently filed amicus briefs with the US Supreme Court, asking the Court to respect the authority of citizens to keep the original definition of marriage: a union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, so that children may know and may be raised by their biological parents. I also live in Canada, where same-sex marriage was federally mandated in 2005. I am the daughter of a gay father who died of AIDS…Many of us struggle with our own sexuality and sense of gender because of the influences in our household environments growing up. We have great compassion for people who struggle with their sexuality and gender identity—not animosity. And we love our parents. Yet, when we go public with our stories, we often face ostracism, silencing, and threats. I want to warn America to expect severe erosion of First Amendment freedoms if the US Supreme Court mandates same-sex marriage. The consequences have played out in Canada for ten years now, and they are truly Orwellian in nature and scope.”
We could talk about the right of every child to be raised by their biological mother and father. Something I believe strongly. But the truth is that I am concerned that we witnessing the crumbling of fundamental rights that our forefathers fought and died for. Our right to speak freely. Our right to live life according to our religious convictions. Our right to disagree with each other and still behave civilly. Will those rights exist in 10 years?
I don’t know how the court will rule and I’m not keen enough to guess. What I do know is that the ruling will impact our culture, permanently. Regardless of the decision there is no doubt that people will be deeply affected. So, how will Christians handle the outcome? I have two very short suggestions:
First, set an example for what life-long marriage is supposed to look like. Get married. Stay married. And live out what it means to be a man, husband and father; or a woman, wife, and mother. Do it well for the glory of Christ and His Gospel.
Second, be gracious. People will be hurting and the last thing we need to do is rub it in their face. Seek to love them in the same way Jesus would. I don’t know what this will look like for you but I know that love is powerful and can build bridges.
We ought to be praying for the court as they deliberate this issue and render their decision sometime in June. It seems to me we truly are at a turning point.
Author Wants to Recreate the Christian Sexual Ethic in Her Own Image
Posted on May 5, 2015 in Marriage, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
It’s no secret that the Bible is under attack. What is interesting is the fact that it’s the oldest (and first) attack in the book (yes, pun intended). It’s the old “did God really say?” attack that is once again being foisted upon Christians and readers of the Bible.
Nowhere is this attack more prevalent than in the area of sexuality.
For centuries there has been a certain sexual ethic that has served as a guide for Christians. That doesn’t mean people didn’t ignore it or abuse it at times, but the truth that a guiding ethic for human sexuality existed can’t be ignored.
While we are all very familiar with the fact that the Christian/biblical view of sexuality with regards to homosexuality has been a constant topic in our culture; what has not been so obvious is the other aspects of sexuality that are now under attack.
First, let’s be clear about what I mean when I talk about the Christian sexual ethic. In a few short words the basic theology of sexuality that has governed Christians for centuries is: homosexuality is wrong, sex outside of marriage is wrong. Obviously adultery, prostitution, and pornography are all wrong. This is the very simple, very basic Christian sexual ethic.
For Christians, what happens between a married man and woman is no one’s business. We believe there is freedom for a husband and wife to enjoy one another in whatever ways they each find mutually beneficial within the confines of their exclusive marriage. Any kind of abuse, especially within marriage is viewed as sinful and never acceptable. Christians know that the bedroom is a sacred place where mutual love and respect is given highest priority.
Knowing this, it’s no surprise that self-described Christians are now attacking even the marriage aspect of sexuality with the “did God really say” attack. What better way to recreate sexuality in your own image than to first undermine sexuality’s foundation by casting doubt about what God really intended?
A recent article comments on a new book wherein the author seeks to replace the centuries old Christian sexual ethic with the ethic of a woman who has decided that she knows better than God what your sexual ethic ought to be. The author doesn’t like the current Christian sexual ethic because, according to her:
“Evangelicalism seems to have encoded rape into its very theology, casting sex as a duty, no matter what one’s mood is at the time. It gives people free rein to rape their spouses, because, after all, one’s body is not one’s own. If any and all sex before the wedding is a sin, regardless of consent, and all sex after the wedding is a duty, then individual desire, sex drive, and consent are erased in the name of God.”
I’m not sure where the author is getting her information, but this doesn’t sound like the Christian sexual ethic I know. Personally, if my wife is “not in the mood” or is feeling ill, the last thing I want to do is force her to be sexual; my ultimate pleasure is in her being pleased. So this author, apparently, has a faulty premise for writing her book.
Anyone that would advocate a spouse being forced into being sexual regardless of any other factors is ignorant concerning the Bible and the constraints placed on husbands and wives. Words like respect, love, and sacrifice are abundant when discussing the relationship between a husband and wife. The idea that any husband would simply demand his wife to be sexual with him regardless of her feelings is false, at best.
What becomes clear is that this author is not advocating for anything remotely Christian or biblical. This author sees sexuality as something she can mold into her own image. She wants to remove the safety of God’s guidelines as outlined in the Bible. She has no trouble advocating for sex outside of marriage and anything else that “liberates us from rules…”
The author says she would like to see:
“A theology and an ethic that centers female pleasure, that affirms agency on the part of women and views each member of the Body of Christ as an autonomous being who has the capacity for sexual desire and the right to experience it in safe, healthy ways—a theology that liberates us from rules—is the answer. You must develop your own understanding of what it means to be liberated, what it means to bring justice and grace and mercy and love into the bedroom.”
This is all the information needed to determine that this author and her book is nothing more than another liberal, feminist attempt to undermine the good design God created with one that is based on man’s opinion (or, woman’s). When someone starts telling us that our view of sexuality should include the idea that we are “autonomous” we have a problem. God specifically tells us that in marriage we are “one flesh” (Mark 10:7-9). We are not autonomous and, in fact, that is the very idea that leads to abuse within a marriage. It’s when we understand that we are one flesh that we truly learn to love and respect our spouse.
As Churches Die – Millennials Seek Deeper Faith
Posted on April 29, 2015 in Uncategorized by Nathan Cherry
There’s a lot of talk about why younger generations are leaving the church. Some have grown up in the church and are simply walking away. Others have a hit-or-miss relationship with the church and have found little use for continued attendance. Either way, the reality that younger generations are leaving cannot be ignored or swept under the rug.
I’m not as young as I used to be, but I haven’t reached middle age yet. I grew up a pastor’s kid and thought everyone should be so lucky to spend most of their time in church. In fact, when I found out someone didn’t go to church at all, it struck me odd. I went to church 4 times a week. Went to camp. Sang the songs. Got the t-shirts and bracelets and made the promises and pledges. I was all in.
Now, a little older, I am starting to see why men and women my age and younger are walking away.
Let’s be clear. I have not walked away from the church. I have taken a step back and begun to reconsider many things I took as truth when I was younger. After studying theology for 20 years I have started over with a clean slate. I’ve thrown out much of what I once considered absolute truth and approached Scripture and theology with an open heart and mind. Why is that important? Because growing up in the denomination I came from that was not necessarily encouraged. It was more of a “take what you’re given and like it” approach.
What I have come to discover is that many people my age are having the same experience. They are looking around and saying “something isn’t right” about their church and Christian experience and choosing to begin a new journey. They want to know what the Bible really teaches, not what it says according to the pastor’s agenda. The attitude is “whatever the Bible really says, that’s what I will believe.” It’s a great thing.
In fact, a recent article underscores some of these thoughts and trends.
The article highlights several of the recurring trends among young evangelicals that, to me, are an encouraging sign. Among these signs are the following:
- Emphasizing the big story of the Bible. Millennial leaders understand the need for Christians to be grounded in the grand narrative of Scripture, and the resources they use range from chronological Bible reading plans to theologically robust kids’ Bibles.
- Utilizing a catechism-like resource with their kids. In the previous point I mentioned theologically rich children’s Bibles, but it doesn’t just stop there. Millennial parents are using other resources and even smartphone apps to teach theological concepts and lessons to their children at home. While they aren’t typically formal catechisms, they emphasize building a foundation of correct answers to Biblical questions.
- Study groups working through systematic theology.I know of several churches that have weekly study groups who cover basic systematic theology. This is not just donuts and devotions. These groups intensely study Scripture and theology and in many cases have seen an increase in theological education and evangelistic fervor.
- Church membership classes. As I’ve stated several times on the blog and in the podcast, the two main things you should communicate in church membership classes are information and expectations. And both of those must be firmly built on a biblical foundation of good theology.
These encouraging trends communicate the concern many church leaders have voiced regarding biblical illiteracy among their people. It’s a well known truth that many Christians are theologically shallow and churches are partially to blame. But younger generations are not settling for shallow Christianity and see their responsibility to study theology and be equipped. Churches are, rightfully, responding to this theological hunger by creating study groups specifically to study theology. Thank goodness.
It pains me to think I spent most of my life not even knowing the catechisms existed. That they were created to teach theology to kids and equip adults make this reality even sadder. But I, like many others, are correcting this error by diving headlong into the catechisms and discovering the rich theology that can be clearly, easily communicated and learned through them.
Here’s the bottom line: the younger generations are less interested in religious agendas and denominational traditions than they are in teaching their kids and knowing what the Bible really says. We will see many mainline denominations shrink in the next decade as millennials and their families gravitate towards churches that place a premium on expository teaching and theological education. That’s a good thing.
If we can show people how theology is connected to everyday decisions we will develop theologically grounded Christians that can easily apply their religious convictions to their everyday life. That is a possibility that every church and church leader should embrace and seek to effect.
I, like many, grew up believing I had all the answers, that my theology and my church were always right. I’m wiser now. I’m no longer willing to accept what is thrown at me from the pulpit simply because someone says it. I’m willing to confront biblical and doctrinal errors because more than anything, I care about communicating what the Bible says accurately and clearly. Eternity depends on it.
Why This Christian Shop Owner is Hurting Christians
Posted on April 28, 2015 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
I get it. Christians want the right to live according to their beliefs. That freedom, which has been foundational in American history, is currently under attack with the advancement of same-sex “marriage” and LGBT rights. So as a Christian, I get it.
Case after case can be cited showing how the rights of Christians to conduct business in accordance with their religious convictions is being assaulted:
Arlene’s Flowers.
Masterpiece Bakery.
Elane Photography.
These are some of the more prominent cases, but the list is ridiculously long and growing.
So I understand Christians wanting to stand up for their religious freedom and live and do business according to their convictions. However, there is a line that must be drawn – and here’s where I draw it.
The owner of a Michigan auto shop posted on its Facebook page that it would refuse to offer services to openly gay people. This announcement came with other revelations, such as people who bring in their guns would be given a discount (including off-duty cops). Citing his freedom of speech and religious freedom the owner, Brian Klawiter, said he has no plans to back down and would stand firm concerning both his convictions and his right to live and do business according to those convictions. He wrote: Continue reading…
I wish I could get this article read, studied, and learned in every church. It’s not that it is some previously unknown theological truth that will amaze with its depth and riches. Quite the opposite. It’s a very simple teaching grounded in biblical truth that should be known by churches, but is, sadly, not.
The bottom line is this: the pastor/overseer/shepherd/elder of the church is answerable to God, not you.
While I love our democratic-republic form of government here in America, it has, unfortunately, caused a little chaos in the church. Many church members have this idea that everything must be voted on, and everyone has to agree. With that in mind we want to vote on who the leaders are, what ministries will and will not exist, and how every dime of “our” money will be spent. The result is a church where the biblical leaders are little more than talking heads and puppets acting on behalf of the people.
But that’s not how God designed the church and certainly not how He intended it to be operated.
I recall an experience where I was brought in to a church to help it change. The church was older and needed to make some much-needed changes in hopes of seeing younger people join. In the course of seeking to do just that some of the older members bristled at some of the suggestions I made. In a conversation with the pastor he cautioned me against upsetting those members because “those people pay your salary.” Continue reading…
The Reason This Gay Woman Supported a Local Business is Stunning! I Hope More People Are Like Her
Posted on April 21, 2015 in Marriage, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
Courtney Hoffman via Facebook
Remember that pizzeria in Indiana that was targeted by hateful people just because they wanted to do business according to their beliefs? The pizzeria said they would not cater a gay wedding because it would violate their convictions. Of course the media exploited their comments and liberals and LGBT people lost their minds.
Then a GoFundMe page was started and people across the country began raising money to support the business because it had to close its doors temporarily due to death threats (that’s some “tolerance” for ya!).
The donations all seemed relatively normal.
Until Courtney Hoffman donated.
Courtney Hoffman is a gay woman. She not only donated to help the pizzeria she expressed her sadness over how the media and LGBT people reacted to the pizzeria owners’ desire to live according to their beliefs. She wrote:
“As a member of the gay community, I would like to apologize for the mean spirited attacks on you and your business. I know many gay individuals who fully support your right to stand up for your beliefs and run your business according to those beliefs. We are outraged at the level of hate and intolerance that has been directed at you and I sincerely hope that you are able to rebuild.” Continue reading…
Mean Churches: How to Spot Them and Avoid Them
Posted on April 15, 2015 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
I wrote not long ago about mean people in the church. Sadly, if you’ve been going to church for any length of time, you’ve had an encounter with someone that is known to be mean.
It seems I’m not alone in my discouragement over the growing number of mean people (and mean churches) that give Christ and His church a bad name. In fact, if you’ve never read about “The Dones,” you will find it fascinating. This group, which is the fastest growing group of people is characterized as: once faithfully committed church members walking away from the church because they are tired of the abuse inside the church.
One common trait among The Dones that I have noticed is that they say they are fed up with the mean-spirited, abusive people in the church. One person recently wrote a letter to Lifeway President Thom Rainer saying:
“The non-Christians I associate with are much nicer people than the members of my church.”
As stinging a comment as that may be, it is also very true in many cases. I’ve often said that church people are some of the meanest I’ve ever known. An old adage says “if you want to learn to fight, join a church committee.” I didn’t say it was a good adage.
For my part, I want churches that are known to be mean to simply cease to exist. I want them to grow smaller and smaller until their doors close forever. That might surprise some people, but, in my experience, the harm done to unsuspecting people by these churches outweighs any possible “good” that comes from their existence. Continue reading…
The Connection Between Dolce and Gabbana and “Synthetic Children”
Posted on April 14, 2015 in Marriage by Nathan Cherry
If you didn’t know better you would think that anyone still in support of the traditional family is an outdated bigot that needs to get with the times. Everyone, the media and “experts” tell us, supports alternative families.
With this in mind I am sure it was a surprise when famed designers Dolce and Gabbana revealed that they support the traditional family. The fact that they are both openly gay makes their support for the traditional family more powerful; and more heinous to LGBT activists.
When the famous duo’s position was made public there was immediate backlash against them. Stars like Elton John called for a boycott of Dolce and Gabbana for simply stating their position. Responding to such backlash the duo said:
“Boycott Dolce & Gabbana for what? They don’t think like you? This is correct? This is not correct. We are in 2015. This is like medieval. It’s not correct.”
Here is two gay men supporting the traditional family, receiving immediate backlash and calls for a boycott, and even they don’t understand what all the fuss is about. There’s a joke in there somewhere. But, truthfully, it’s not very funny. The media wants us all to believe that everyone supports new and strange definitions of the family that include two dads and kids, three moms a dad and their kids, or whatever random group of people you choose to assemble. The reality seems much less optimistic to the new definition of family.
I’m reading more and more about gay people that don’t support marriage redefinition and kids brought up by gay people that also don’t support marriage redefinition. This growing group of people is struggling to get the attention of a culture that wants to stop its ears and pretend their cries of protestation don’t exist. But they do exist. Continue reading…