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Lessons from Lakewood

It’s not up to the courts to decide what marriage is, it’s up to God to decide that. If we are living in obedience to Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible we are on the right side of history—no matter what they say.
Jack Phillips

Jack is the right person to pick a fight with, because he’s going to only love you in the name of Jesus.
—Focus on the Family President Jim Daly

Key point: If you think Jack Phillips has compromised his effectiveness as a witness for Christ because he has done something that can be, rightly or wrongly, construed as hateful, think again. First, Jack hates no one. Second, his stand has increased his effectiveness for Christ, despite—and sometimes probably even because of—the controversy that has surrounded his actions. He’s a sterling Christlike example all believers can and should emulate.

Also in this series: Lessons from Orlando; Lessons from Richland

Exterior of the building housing the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2006

Last time we examined the response of some of the members of the Christian community to the Pulse gay nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016. We highlighted as well the reactions of some of the members of the LGBT community to that response. Not everyone reacted in the same way, of course. Still, many LGBT activists apparently refuse to accept as legitimate any signs of concern and compassion on the part of Christians.

Why? Because light makes people who are accustomed to living in the darkness uncomfortable. While it’s not fun to experience discomfort, some discomfort is helpful in that it can lead people to better places in the long run.

Photo by Kristine Weilert on Unsplash

While it’s not fun to experience discomfort, some discomfort can lead people to better places in the long run. 


Photo by Mael BALLAND on Unsplash

Christians need to understand this. Moreover, they need to be willing to uphold the truth lovingly, yet without compromise. The world is a dark place. People need light. They need to hear the truth, too. A great many of them have no idea what truth really is.

In this week’s post we will become better acquainted with a man who graciously, yet with conviction, upholds the light and tells it like it is. Negative press and malicious rhetoric often have distorted the truth about him and his intentions. Even so, Jack Phillips, the Colorado baker who has remained true to his convictions and his God, is a sterling example for Christians everywhere.

We met Jack Phillips some time ago, and we became acquainted with him in subsequent months.To refresh your memory, listen to the following 3-minute audio clip. It comes from this excellent 8-minute video produced by the Heritage Foundation’s Daily Signal.

Why is Jack Phillips an example for all believers?

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

First, he believes and understands the Bible’s teaching on marriage. This includes the sacredness of marriage and his own responsibility before God to treat the first institution God ordained seriously and reverently. As Hebrews 13:4 declares, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (NIV).

Second, Jack’s number one priority in life is to honor God.

Third, he has remained true to his conscience and his deeply held beliefs. He is a man of integrity.

Fourth, he has not sought controversy, but he’s not shied away from it, either. Christians often forget that Jesus was controversial—not because He instigated conflict for disruption’s sake, but because He dared to speak the truth. Remember that the truth sets people free. While we never are to seek controversy, neither should we avoid it when standing up for Christ brings it on.

Fifth, Jack does not compartmentalize his faith. The Jack Phillips people see at church on Sunday is clearly the same Jack Phillips who runs Masterpiece Cakeshop during the week.

Alliance Defending Freedom

Sixth, Jack has been willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to remain true to his beliefs and to honor his God. This not only refers to the sacrifice he’s made in terms of public ridicule and misunderstanding; it refers to financial sacrifice as well. Wedding cakes were a huge part of Jack’s business and income—about 40 percent. When the Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruled against him prior to his victory at the Supreme Court, Jack decided that he would stop making wedding cakes altogether rather than make a cake that would have violated what he knew to be right. His income took a huge hit.

Seventh, Jack’s convictions are broad. He recognizes that homosexuality and same-sex marriage are among numerous perversions of God’s design for sexuality. He therefore does not single-out gays or gay-related events in deciding the kinds of cakes he will not make. He does not make cakes containing alcohol. He won’t make Halloween cakes, either; or cakes with immoral messages, or cakes for a bachelor party. Jack won’t make divorce cakes. He also will not make cakes with disparaging or inflammatory messages about any person or group. He has stated, “I wouldn’t create a cake that would be…disparaging against anybody for any reason, even cakes that would disparage people who identify as LGBT.”

Significantly, Jack is back in court because the Colorado Civil Rights Commission is after him again. According to Michael Farris, President of Alliance Defending Freedom,

The same day that the U.S. Supreme Court granted review in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, an attorney in Colorado called Phillips’s shop, Masterpiece Cakeshop, and requested a custom cake with a blue exterior and pink interior to celebrate a gender transition from male to female.

Masterpiece Cakeshop declined to create that custom cake, because while Phillips serves all people, he doesn’t make all custom cakes.…

Just a few weeks later, Phillips received a letter from the Colorado Civil Rights Division notifying him that a discrimination charge had been filed against him. This has all the makings of a setup.

Indeed!

Cari Kelemen / Twitter

Eighth, Jack Phillips has treated all people fairly and graciously. On June 8, 2018, internet news hound Cari Kelemen tweeted,

Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop found out that LBGTQ protesters were coming to his store on Friday, so what did he do? He baked them cookies! College students helped him pass out water to protesters and supporters alike. You’re an inspiration, Jack!

Alliance Defending Freedom / You Tube

Ninth, Mr. Phillips has demonstrated the principle showcased in Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Tenth, Jack has exemplified patience and grace under threats, false accusations, and intense pressure.

Eleventh, he is showing believers and what it means to “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16).

Twelfth, Jack clearly understands the connections between marriage and the gospel. As we have emphasized, upholding natural marriage means upholding the gospel.

Thirteenth, it’s apparent that Jack understands Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 15:18-21. Jesus said,

18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

Fourteenth, Jack realizes it is his duty is to do what’s right and leave the results to God. Take note! God has used him. Hear again the testimony of his daughter, Lisa Eldfrick, regarding not only how people have been drawn to Jack as they have watched him respond with grace under pressure, but also how his bedrock faith has challenged her to be more deeply devoted to God and His Word.

Lives Transformed

Here’s something else you need to know. Jack’s nephew, Sean, came to faith in Christ as a direct result of watching His uncle.

According to an ADF article, in the aftermath of being sued, Jack Phillips became the target of a flood of hateful words and actions.

At one point, Jack even received a death threat when his daughter and granddaughter were in the store. He sent them in the back to hide while he called the police. The threats got so bad that Jack’s wife, Debi, was too afraid to go into their own shop.

Sean couldn’t understand it.

At that point, Sean didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. But he did know his Uncle Jack. And though he didn’t fully grasp why Jack was willing to take such a stand, he knew all the hate being aimed at Jack didn’t make any sense.

Sean describes Jack as one of the most genuine, kind, and generous people he knows.…

[So, like others close to Jack,] Sean was…shocked at the hateful treatment Jack endured. In fact, it made him angry.

But in observing and talking with Jack, he saw a quiet example of what it looks like to live a life in obedience to Christ.

Over time, Sean let go of his anger. He dug into the Bible to understand the comfort that Jack had in Christ and how he could withstand such hardship with grace and peace. And eventually, God drew Sean to Himself.

There’s more.

According to Jack, as his case and the events surrounding it have played out on the national stage, many people have been encouraged and challenged. A large number of believers now are willing to take uncompromising, yet gracious stands that uphold God’s teachings as revealed in Scripture. Jack doesn’t think he’s special. Anyone, he believes, relying on God’s Spirit for strength, can make a positive difference. His actions have encouraged others, whose actions, in turn, encourage still others—creating a chain reaction of influence for good. Jack affirms, “That really has made all of this worthwhile.”

Haven’t you also been encouraged and challenged by Jack’s example?

 

Copyright © 2019 by B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.

Note:

1The following articles are three of many at Word Foundations that have highlighted Jack Phillips, his fight for religious liberty, his Christian Character, and His love for God and others.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture has been taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

One passage was taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

top image credit: this video, created by the Heritage Foundation’s Daily Signal

 

 

 

 

 

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