Jack Phillips

Word from the Center
Written By Peter Scaer

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This morning I sip coffee from one of his mugs: "Masterpiece Cakeshop: Yeah . . . that cakeshop." What cakeshop? If you don't know, you're not informed, and you're watching the wrong news. Jack has been embroiled in legal battles since 2012, when the baker declined to use his talents to create a custom cake celebrating a so-called gay marriage. Phillips, mind you, served all people, no matter what. But he did not wish to use his time and talents to commemorate that which he believed was wrong. This is what the First Amendment is all about, freedom of speech, which means the freedom from compelled speech, along with the free exercise of religion.

Phillips was taken to court again and again, the second time for refusing to use his talents to celebrate a gender transitioning. Do you understand? Perhaps, if a singer was forced to sing at a Trump rally, you might get it. Heck, imagine if an artist did not want to celebrate the end of Roe v. Wade. The scenarios are endless. But here we see the absurdity of tyranny. Were there no other bakeries in the Denver area who would fill the order? Or, to ask the other way around, was there even one other baker who wouldn't? Phillips' life has not been easy. How would you hold up under the legal and social pressure, the death threats, and constant hate?

Brother Stephen Scaer stepped in a few years ago and held a fundraiser so Jack could buy a new (used) van, so that he could keep his life and business going. The family of Pastor Adrian Sherrill has stood by Phillips for years, offering every kind of help. But far too few Christians took notice. Phillips kept moving on, even with joy. He said to me that through all this turmoil, he has slept like a baby, knowing the love of the Lord and Whose opinion was the only one that really and ultimately mattered.

For now, the Colorado Supreme Court has called off the dogs. It seems Jack Phillips may have some respite. But let us not forget those who have been damaged along the way. What of Barronelle Stutzman, the Washington florist, who was finally driven out of business in exhaustion. Let us not forget Indiana teacher John Kluge, who lost his job because he would not use wrong pronouns. What then of all who have lost their jobs for speaking the truth or for refusing to speak a lie. Worst of all, are those who know better, but don't say a word or say that which is not true.

Why did Jack Phillips persevere? He loves the Lord. He believes the Bible. He knows that marriage is not man-made but is given so that a child may have a mom and dad. He knows that it is cruel to give puberty blockers and hormone treatment to confused and troubled children. He knows that it is impossible to turn a man into a woman or a woman into a man. That is to say, he knows that which deep down we all know, unless we are so deluded. He would never say that two plus two equals five.

Liberty is worth fighting for, and the truth matters. We owe a great debt to Jack Phillips, but we pay that debt when we actually stand up, wherever we may be. We honor Jack Phillips by speaking the truth and by refusing to lie. We honor Jack Phillips when we speak against the transgender madness, when we call out the corrupt establishment that is pushing this horror upon our children. And as we do all this, we repent for what we have done and left undone, we repent for what we have said and not said. We honor Jack Phillips' example when we, too, disregard the opinions of the world, the elite whose favor so many seek, and instead worship God alone, and we act and speak for those who need our voices.

The Rev. Dr. Peter Scaer is professor and chairman of the Exegetical Department at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Be Informed
Learn more about race and pro-child politics with Delano Squires of The Heritage Foundation.

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Staying out of politics is not the moral high ground some people think it is. A recent article from The Federalist explains.

Be Encouraged
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Jack Phillips
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This morning I sip coffee from one of his mugs: "Masterpiece Cakeshop: Yeah . . . that cakeshop." What cakeshop? If you don't know, you're not informed, and you're watching the wrong news. Jack has been embroiled in legal battles since 2012, when the baker declined to use his talents to create a custom cake celebrating a so-called gay marriage. Phillips, mind you, served all people, no matter what. But he did not wish to use his time and talents to commemorate that which he believed was wrong. This is what the First Amendment is all about, freedom of speech, which means the freedom from compelled speech, along with the free exercise of religion.

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Peter Scaer
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