In the summer of 2012, two men walked into Jack Phillips’ cake shop and attacked him without once brandishing a weapon, throwing a punch or laying a hand on him. Jack’s body was not harmed. But for the next six years, his religious freedom was on life support.
After being disconnected from the ventilator, Jack’s religious freedom had to lace up its running shoes in preparation for a marathon. That’s because in 2017, an attorney set Jack in his legal crosshairs and pulled the trigger.
Whose Rights Are Right?
At issue in these attacks was Jack’s decision to say no. He had been asked to design cakes promoting messages which conflicted with his Christian convictions, and he believed he had a right to refuse.
Jack’s opponents believe he had discriminated against them and violated their right to be served by his bakery. Whose rights were right? What does the Bible say about the freedoms Americans celebrate on July 4?
Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32) As the source of all truth, the Bible is also the foundation for freedom.
What does this mean? From what does the truth free us? Jesus continued, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
The Power of Freedom
We can relate to slavery here in America. It was the practice of holding people captive against their will. Jesus said those who practice sin (and that includes everyone) are held captive by it. It controls them, and they cannot break free. The only way to experience true freedom is through faith in the Son of God who broke the chains of sin when He died on the cross.
Once we have been released from sin’s power, we are free to follow God as we were created to do.
Rights: A Case Settled in Heaven
What does this mean for Jack? It means he is free to accommodate his customers so long as doing so will allow him to remain faithful to the One who freed him from his own sins. He has a higher obligation to say yes to Him, even if that means saying no to others.
What does this mean for Jack’s opponents? It means their rights to be served by men on Earth come second to their need for a right relationship with God in Heaven. Without Jesus, they are slaves to sin who need His mercy and forgiveness to be set free. More than accommodation, they need His truth.
While human rights battles continue in courtrooms on Earth, we can rest assured the matter has already been settled in the courts of Heaven. And that means we are free to say ‘no’ to sin — both in our own lives and the lives of others.
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