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Related PostsSermon: Biblical Love and Wedding CakesTwo Tips to Get Better at Discriminating TranscriptThe last week in June is typically filled with announcements of what the Supreme Court has decided in cases that it’s heard over its last term. Then the court goes on to take a summer break. You may recall that two years ago, the court came to a decision in the Obergefell case, which redefined marriage from a governments perspective. It no longer needed to be legally defined as one man and one woman. It could be two people of any sex. At the time, many people were saying this has profound religious liberty implications. It has profound sociological and societal changes and ramifications that we don't even understand right now and more than that, it fundamentally disconnects the purpose of marriage, which is to protect and promote the next generation from what the government recognizes: peoples happiness and felt and perceived dignity. But, that's another kind of conversation. I just simply want to remind you that at this time of year, the court is announcing its decisions and two years ago, one of them dealt with redefining marriage.

This year, the court is hearing and deciding on cases also they've announced that they will hear a case involving a cake baker and a state. That case is Masterpiece Cakeshop Limited vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. This is a case they will hear in their next term.

Basically, the case is not too unique. There have been many of these types of cases in lower courts over the last several years. Here's the gist of the case. A professional who works in a service industry that often will serve the wedding industry, refuses to make or participate in the celebration of a same sex union. For instance, this cake shop said, they do not want to make a cake for a same sex ceremony. Florists have said, "I don't want to make arrangements for your same sex ceremony." Photographers have said, "I don't want to capture your memories and help you celebrate in that way for your same sex ceremony," and the list goes on. These people have been routinely punished; lower courts have said they have to set aside their religious liberty convictions. Now, that sounds like trampling upon of the first amendment’s free exercise clause that says we should be left alone to exercise our religion as we see fit. Now the government is compelling people against their will to celebrate something they have a moral objection against.

In certain circles of the internet, this has come to a head again this last week due to the fact that the court announced that they will hear a case involving a baker and a same sex wedding, and the baker has refused to make the cake. Now, there are some important points that want to talk about. I want to equip you to talk about this case because this case and the issue in general, has two profound ramifications. One, is free speech. The cake is an act of self expression. When you make a cake, especially as a cake baker and you decorate it and you put words on it, you are expressing yourself. You're using your creative talents in a way that's self expression and historically that has been covered under the first amendment. But, it's also a religious rights issue. A free exercise. We're making people, or we're trying to at least, make people contribute and participate and celebrate something they actually have a profound moral objection to. That tramples on their free exercise of religion.

This is not discrimination against gay people because they’re gay

Some people will say today that, no, that's not actually the case, they're just discriminating against gay people. The photographers, the florists, the bakers, they're discriminating against gay people, but that's not actually true. This is a poin…