Both states passed a bill that would allow businesses/business owners to decide whether they can deny service to someone for religious reasons.

Can a Christian business turn away someone for being gay?

Yes.

Transactions are multiple parties agreeing on a trade for goods or services. If one party does not agree to the transaction, then they cannot be forced to go through with it. This applies to every free person, not just a single religion.

Why do Christians display such intolerance? Why all the hate?

Most people, even some Christians (say what?), misunderstand the reasons behind Christianity’s disapproval of sinful acts, or the refusal to contribute to what is perceived by Christianity as a sinful act. First let’s establish the understanding that according to Christianity, the act of homosexual activity is sinful. In the OLD Testament there are numerous examples but Leviticus 18:22 says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” That’s pretty “straight” forward I would say. But alas, I referred to the Old Testament. A lot of Christians would site the Old Testament as being outdated since the New Testament is about the teachings of Christ.

Fine.

In the NEW Testament, there are also numerous examples, but Romans 1:26 & 27 says, “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”

We have established in the Old and New Testaments, consistent over thousands of years in both Judaism and Christianity that the acts of homosexuality is a sin. Knowing this is important for this next part.

Christians are discouraged from taking part in something that “emboldens” another person to continue to sin. It’s not because of intolerance or hate. Yes it is discriminatory but it’s not for negative reasons. Please read the following passage about eating food that was had been blessed to an idol:

1 Corinthians 8

⁹ But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

¹⁰ For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

¹¹ And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

¹² But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

¹³ Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

 

In short, Christians have the liberty to eat food that was raised to an idol for blessing but it might embolden the idolater to see a Christian taking part, which could be detrimental to the idolater’s potential salvation, causing the Christian to have sinned as well.

By accepting the transaction of baking a cake for a gay wedding, it is possible that the Christian business, or person, will inadvertently embolden the gay community in their sin, which could be detrimental to the gay couple’s potential salvation. It’s not an act of hate, but rather an act of concern regarding whether or not your actions will contribute to someone’s eternal suffering. How guilty one would feel knowing they contributed to such pain.

Hopefully this brings out a pinch of understanding of the Christian point-of-view to some of you.

Do we need a law protecting religious freedoms?

Not necessarily. We have the 1st Amendment and the principle of the separation of church and state. Unfortunately some protections may be needed when one side of the argument tries to force another to provide that side a service [it does not believe in]. What would be the alternative? Forcing a business to serve someone? Having to choose between forced servitude or punishment? That’s hardly tolerant or pro-liberty.

 

You decide.