What Can Christians Do to Protect Religious Liberty?
Jul 5, 2021
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Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, shares his experiences as a Christian baker who faced legal battles for refusing to create cakes that conflict with his faith. He highlights the ongoing threats to religious liberty in the U.S., even after a Supreme Court victory. The conversation addresses the responsibilities of believers in protecting their freedoms, the importance of legal alliances, and the need for a non-partisan approach to advocacy. Phillips emphasizes uniting efforts to support religious rights at home and abroad.
The case of Jack Phillips illustrates the ongoing legal challenges Christians face in exercising their religious beliefs without endorsing conflicting messages.
Engaging in prayer, voting, and collaborating with organizations like the NACLC are essential actions for believers to protect religious liberties.
Deep dives
Religious Freedom and Jack Phillips' Case
The case of Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cake Shop, highlights the ongoing struggles faced by Christians in exercising their religious beliefs amidst legal challenges. Phillips has been involved in several lawsuits for refusing to create cakes that endorse messages conflicting with his faith, such as same-sex weddings or gender transition ceremonies. His situation illustrates the concept of religious freedom versus perceived discrimination, as he serves all customers but declines to participate in events that contradict his beliefs. The case serves as a call to action for believers to recognize the importance of standing up for religious liberty and the distinction between serving individuals and endorsing specific ideologies.
Taking Action for Religious Liberty
To effectively advocate for religious freedom, it is crucial for individuals to engage proactively in several key actions. Firstly, prayer is emphasized as a vital means to seek divine intervention and foster change in societal attitudes. Secondly, participating in the democratic process through voting allows believers to express their values and influence policy that protects religious rights. Additionally, forming alliances with like-minded organizations, such as the National Apostolic Christian Leadership Conference, can amplify efforts to advocate for policies that ensure freedom of speech, religious practice, and legal protection for individuals facing challenges, similar to those experienced by Phillips.
Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, is a professing Christian who has made it clear he will not create custom cakes that express messages which conflict with his religious beliefs. Because of this, Mr. Phillips has been sued, fined, harassed, and publicly reviled. His legal case made it all the way to the United States Supreme Court, where justices ruled in his favor. But despite this victory, Phillips has continued to face legal action for exercising his religious liberties.
How should believers in the United States respond to this and other threats against religious liberty? What can we do to help protect and preserve the religious freedoms outlined in our founding documents? Dr. David K. Bernard answers this question while sharing what he and other Apostolic leaders are doing to aid in the fight for the free exercise of religion.
You can learn more about the National Apostolic Christian Leadership Conference by visiting NACLC.org. For information about the work of Alliance Defending Freedom, visit ADFLegal.org.
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