Sugar and Light

Recently there has been a story in the news about a Christian couple who owned a bakery and refused to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple.  The ensuing firestorm resulted in the eventual closing of their shop.  A heated political and legal debate has only just begun over religious rights versus discrimination based on sexual orientation.  After reading the article, I couldn't help asking the question, "Why not bake the cake?"  Owners respond,  "We don't have anything against lesbians or homosexuals . . . it has to do with our morals and beliefs."

This is not the first story of its kind.  A few years ago we read about Christian entrepreneurs in England who refused a gay couple admittance to their bed and breakfast.  Again with the predictable backlash, the outcome was not pleasant for the B&B owners.  And another story told of a florist who refused to provide flowers for a homosexual wedding.  It seems that larger issues exist here that should not be classified as political, legal, or cultural, rather they are missional.

I understand the reason for refusing to bake the cake.  The couple does not wish to condone immorality.  Therefore, they made a "moral" decision to not participate in the homosexual wedding.  I also understand their argument for exercising their freedom to provide business services to the people of their choosing (although the state of Oregon may have something else to say on the matter).  However, as Christians, they have forgotten the purpose for having a business in the first place.

As Christians, we are called to be salt and light in the world.  Our mission is to glorify God by loving Him and loving our neighbors (simply stated).  Christian business owners have the wonderful opportunity to show the love of Christ to colleagues as well as customers by the way they run their businesses and conduct themselves.  Christians are to work as unto the Lord (Col. 3:2-24); our work should be the best, because we are not working for the praise of men but to bring glory to God.  So it is no wonder that not-yet-Christians would prefer a cake baked by a Christian; it is the best! 

God has then brought a missional opportunity to your doorstep.  Only the wedding dress is more closely scrutinized than the wedding cake.  It stands as a beacon of celebration.  What better way to worship God than to bake a beautiful cake for all to see, if God has given the ability.  Perhaps a Christian baker's mission is to be "Sugar and Light" (that might even be a good name for the shop).

Sadly many Christians have lost sight of the mission.  We get trapped into thinking more about the here and now than about using our gifts to further the Kingdom of God.  Our tendency is to withdraw from the world to avoid being stained with sin.  If Christians avoid contact with sinners, who then will tell them about Jesus?  Did the lesbian couple feel the love of Christ?  I don't think so.  What if all Christian business people refused products and services to anyone living in open sin?  Christian attorneys face these issues daily, for example.  How does a Christian attorney defend a known criminal?  Because the criminal has the legal right to a proper defense.  By providing this defense the attorney has an opportunity to share Christ's forgiveness as well as provide a much needed service.

We might ask how Jesus would have responded in this situation.  Would he, as a carpenter, have made furniture for a homosexual couple?  Or would he have been more concerned about his political freedom than with loving people?  I think we gain insight into the answer by observing Jesus interacting with the woman at the well.  Here is a women living in outward sin and shunned by society.  Yet Jesus went to her in love and changed her for all eternity.

As Christians we tend to see people as the enemy.  Whether people differ with us politically or theologically, we target the person.  The real enemy here is Satan.  We are right to hate sin, but we are wrong to hate those who are still blinded by it - as we once were (1 Cor. 6:9-11).  God may be using you to bring this sinner to himself.  Respond with compassion for the sinner.  It is possible to love the person without condoning the lifestyle.