Pastor Unveils Gay Wedding Strategy

[Rolfe]

As debate continues to rage over the viability of religious freedom laws, the Rev. C.J. Conner of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Dodge City, Kansas, has detailed a plan that he says would help both congregations and business owners be a “bit smarter” about protecting their right to refuse wedding-related services to same-sex couples.

Conner, who recently published his thoughts on the matter, told TheBlaze that Christian business owners who wish to stay true to their values by not taking part in gay nuptials are currently “on the losing end” of the current social and political debate.

“We can’t trust our government anymore to uphold the Constitution,” he said. “We can’t trust our government to protect the rights of Christians, or just the right of any individual not to be forced to violate their deeply held convictions, and so we have to be a little bit smarter.”

Photo credit: Shutterstock
Photo credit: Shutterstock
The pastor, who said that he has been helping churches navigate these issues for decades, went on to recommend that Christians and houses of worship, alike, take ownership and get back to the “basic Christian understanding of marriage.”

In doing so, he suggested that bakers, photographers and others who provide wedding-related services should engage in exclusive and direct contracts with Bible-believing churches.

While these business owners could still serve the general public — gays and lesbians included — for other occasions related to their services, weddings would only be afforded to contracted houses of worship and their affiliated church members.

“To have them engage in contractual obligations within their faith communities and not offer those services to the general public,” Conner said. “To kind of reclaim the sanctity of marriage, which the church has lost. We’ve done some things to lose some ground on some of these issues by not holding marriage in high enough value.”

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...ess-owners-and-same-sex-nuptials-on-its-head/

Makes sense and seems like a good plan.

 

[Revmitchell]

Makes sense and seems like a good plan.

I think so as well.

 

[Rolfe]

I just don't get the sanctioned discrimination coming out of the church. If you're gonna position yourself as a Christian business who only does business with other Christians, then so be it. But be consistent. Don't do business with other sinners for the same conviction.

Speak about misrepresentation...

 

[Zaac]

Weddings are not dependent upon baked goods, flowers, or photography. Their wedding is regulated by the government and the person officiating the ceremony.


At the point where I was asked to perform the wedding or create pornographic art using baked goods, flowers, or photography.


As I said in my original post, I support the rights of businesses to select the jobs they choose to perform. Printing posters - for payment - is not the same thing as endorsing the event. I would like try to use the opportunity to open a dialogue with the KKK organizer. Whether or not I performed the work, they would know that I did not approve, but that they - as an individual - are loved.


As far as I know, the Church of Satan is a publicity whore, but it does not conduct e-mail campaigns. Most overtly occult groups do not. But if I pretend that your situation is real, I would probably use the opportunity to open a dialogue with the CoS representative. Whether or not I performed the work, they would know that I did not approve, but that they - as an individual - are loved.

I know those are supposed to be "killer" questions, but unless the organization or activity is illegal, I would have to weigh whether or not I would be an effective witness to the person/group. Jesus is the example here. He did not keep the evil people from Himself, but often opened Himself up to engagement with Him - often bringing transformation to those who were doing evil. That's what loving one's enemies does.

Let me throw one back at you: Should an attorney vigorously represent someone in court with whom he/she disagrees and whom he/she thinks is guilty? Can a Christian be an advocate for a dishonorable person? If so, then God can use Christians to work in the lives of Klan members and satanists too.

Well said.:thumbsup:

 

[Zaac]

Tell you what, Zaac, you probably agree that you are entitled to cater whatever you want from Islamic female mutilation ceremonies to Clinton events, but what God has not given you the power to do is to force others to do what violates their freedom of religion.

You're incredibly confused . But I knew that. I haven't asked anyone to violate their freedom of religion.

What I have asked is that the Body of Christ stop acting as though some man-made notion of freedom of religion not supersede their responsibility to love people in the same manner that Jesus did.

Why, with issue after issue, do the same people politicize EVERYTHING and you never hear how said person is going to act like Christ? It's always me, me, me.

Consider others better than yourself for a change and treat them the way you would want to be treated.

And believe me it is against my religious convictions to cater a Clinton rally.

Then don't do it. People generally don't ask people whom they know don't like them to do anything for them. But like I said, some of you have to politicize everything.

It doesn't matter that the word of God tells you to love your neighbor as yourself.
It doesn't matter that the word of God tells you to love your enemies.

Your first thought seems to always be about YOU. And there is NOTHING of Christ in such selfishness.

 

[church mouse guy]

I realize you are actually talking about church property and not the church.

That aside, your scenario has nothing to do with my post. Moreover, religious institutions are protected under the First Amendment guarantees and the federal RFRA. I also support appropriate state RFRAs that are similar in content to the federal version.

But my post had nothing to do with RFRA, legislation of any sort, or government protections.

I was asking how someone thinks they are endorsing a same sex marriage by simply selling a cake, flowers or photography services? Does that mean they are endorsing every event/person/organization they serve?

You are right about church property. Thanks. I should have said that you had a Christian business I suppose.

I would not care to cater a KKK or Planned Parenthood or Nazi Party or Clinton rally. But there are plenty on this board that would do it for dollars.

 

[SolaSaint]

Rev, thanks for the post, I think it is a great idea to counter the enemy. However we must remember the man behind all this is very cleaver and slick---Satan.