Print 
PDF
The US Supreme Court will be issuing their ruling this month on the case involving the Colorado Masterpiece Cakeshop lawsuit filed by two homosexuals trying to force owner Jack Phillips to celebrate their "wedding."
Much hangs in the balance. Specifically the religious freedom and expression of that freedom by all biblical Christians.
You remember the case.
Jack Phillips owns Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado. David Mullins and Charlie Craig came to his shop and asked him to create a cake for their "wedding."
He said, "I'm sorry, I can't do that, but I'll sell you anything else in the shop"---meaning any existing cakes or other items---"or, I'll make a cake for you for a different event."
The two men left the shop and filed a lawsuit, claiming discrimination because they are homosexual.
The case worked its way through the courts until finally, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.
The case was heard back in December of 2017, and their ruling is expected this month.
Jim Campbell, with Alliance Defending Freedom, whose legal firm is representing Phillips, says,
"Yes, the case raises issues regarding free speech and artistic impression---and other artistic expression and other First Amendment questions. But at the heart of the case is whether Jack Phillips and others who believe marriage is the union of a man and a woman can continue to live their lives and have a place in society, or---on the other hand---is the Supreme Court going to issue a ruling that essentially tells people that there isn't a place for them in public life...that they either need to hide their beliefs when they're participating in public life, or that they need to ignore those beliefs when they're participating in public life?"
The progressive Left---Obama, Clinton, Joe Biden and others have advocated in recent years that biblical Christians have the freedom to "worship" however we please---substituting the word "worship" for the actual First Amendment affirmation of freedom of religious expression and the exercise of it.
Their message is: We can hold and express biblical beliefs about marriage, or anything else, as long as those beliefs are kept within the walls of your church. But to practice those beliefs in the public square is now illegal, in regards to marriage.
The Associated Press is hopefully, I believe, reporting that the "Baker decision won't be the justices' last word on LGBT rights."
They say "no matter the outcome...there are two broad types of cases on this issue, weighing whether sex discrimination laws apply to LGBT people and also whether businesses can assert religious objections to avoid complying with anti-discrimination measures in serving customers, hiring and firing employees, providing health care and placing children with foster or adoptive parents."
AP says, "The outcome of baker Jack Phillips' fight...could indicate how willing the justices are to carve out exceptions to anti-discrimination laws; that's something the court has refused to do in the areas of race and sex."
AP admits that the Trump administration has changed the course on these matters from the path the Obama administration had established regarding "homosexual rights."
Campbell says, "It remains to be seen how broadly the [Supreme] Court rules, but I do think that's correct---that those cases will have to be completed, and if the Court rules very narrowly against Jack, then I think those cases remain to be decided. If, however, the Court decides very broadly---one way or the other---that outcome might dictate the final decision in those cases as well."
I personally believe this case is a watershed case and much hangs in the balance.
The Supreme Court ruling will tell the public whether the Court is willing to actually rule on moral and constitutional matters of religious freedom, and it will reveal just how well religious freedom has survived the recent assault from Obama and his cohorts.
My prayer is that America will not be weighed in the balances and found wanting.
Be Prayerful. Be Informed.