WHEN TOLERANCE IS A ONE WAY STREET...

     I just heard about and read up on a story that hit very close to home for me and thus had to write about it. I was made aware of this through the blog of one of my favorite theologians, Albert Mohler and it is entitled '"It is the Price of Citizenship"?-An Elegy for Religious Liberty in America'. I encourage you to read it (among the many other posts he has on his page, as he is far more eloquent than I could hope to be).
     In short, the story is about a couple in the state of New Mexico, Jonathan and Elaine Huguenin. This couple is first and foremost Christian. And they happen to own and operate a commercial Photography studio. In 2006 they refused to photograph a same-sex couple's "wedding ceremony" and were in turn sued for this refusal. Just last week the courts ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and stated that the Huguenins had violated the human rights of the same sex couple.
     The reason that this hits so close to home for me is because I am also a photographer with my own business and clearly, I am also a professing Christian. That being said, the only difference between myself and the Huguenins is the state we live in. My religious convictions are the same as theirs. I believe - according to the bible - that homosexuality is a sin and by extension same-sex "marriage" as well. When I, like so many other business owners in this country, undertook to make my passion my vocation I did so with the full understanding and belief that it was my God that provided me with not only the abilities but also the means to do this. And this being the case I entered in to it with the mindset that I would honor God in all I do, from the business end to the photography itself. That meant no indecent images and nothing that ran counter to my beliefs or to the word of God. As a photographer, I can say that what I do is not only a passion, but is also deeply personal. The images we capture are an artistic display of what we naturally see in a scene, event or occasion. It is not possible to, at least for me, to separate what I do from who I am. I'm not a photographer that happens to be Christian. I am a Christian that has been blessed with the God given ability to take photographs. And this will continue to echo in my work and business.
      But we see many small and large businesses that show their Christian values in their business dealings. Chic-Fil-A, for example, is closed on Sundays in order to allow their employees to attend worship services, a practice clearly stemming from their Christian beliefs. No one complains about this or has sued them in an attempt to force them to open their doors on Sunday. Why not? Because it would be forcing someone to do something or offer their services 1) against their will and 2) against their consciences and convictions. After all, they offer a service and do so at their pleasure and their leisure.
     Yet in this case, the state of NM has the audacity to literally force someone to do just that or risk going out of business!
     This is not merely an attack on a business or on small business owners. No, this is an attack on the Christian values and God's people as a whole. If this travesty is allowed to stand, then where will the stopping point be? Today it's Photography, tomorrow it's the Florist, the next day it's the Caterer, and next week...the Church!
     We cannot afford to continue to turn a blind eye to the denial of religious liberties to our fellow brothers and sisters. We cannot afford to sit idly by while these kind of rulings come about. We can't allow ourselves to be forced to disobey our God for the sake of how a particular group of people chooses to sin/fornicate. This is simply a stepping stone in a much bigger campaign. The goal is not achieve some sort of "equality" as they would have us believe. It is to attempt to pull God from his throne. A God that claims the right and power to judge a people based on their sin and disobedience is a god that no sinner wants to tolerate. Why do I say this? Because it is exactly how I felt when I was reveling in my sins! And for this reason I also urge caution in how we deal with these issues. We are constantly accused of "hating" homosexuals and of "forcing our views down their throats". Though we, for the most part, understand that the very definition of Christianity bars anyone from being forced to practice or profess it, we cannot deny that there have been some that we would call brothers and sisters that have not exactly practiced love in their witnessing. Let's not give the enemy further ammunition against the truth of the gospel. Instead let us determine to take an unwavering stance against sin (no matter what it is) and to refuse to budge from our God given position, but to do so in love. After all, we long to see them repent and be saved from the wrath of their sins just as we have been.
     If we are expected to be tolerant of others, in this case homosexuals, and their choice of lifestyle then they should be expected to be so as well. But I think that we fail to realize that the very definition of tolerance means that we disagree, yet we do agree to live peaceably with one another. In essence, agreeing to disagree.
     But whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, let us do it all to the glory of God. So if you are a small business owner like the Huguenins, the Cathys or myself and you are a believer, find comfort in the fact that being obedient to God in your business dealings brings glory to him. And in the fact that we, along with countless others, are standing at the ready to pray for and defend you.
     If the choice is between being in business and compromising what I believe and remaining obedient but going out of business, I will always choose the latter. And to God be the glory.