[Critique Group 1] cleora's november submission 1389 words

[sitting.duck at springmail.com]

attached in case the format is messed up
content is contriversial

1398 words
For Better or Worse
by C. S. Boyd
“What's that Dear?” asked Martha.
Jeff looked up at her. “It's from that gay couples lawyer,” he explained. “They want to meet and see if we can settle this matter out of court.”
“Oh,” said Martha simply. “That. What are you going to do?”
“Meet with them,”
***
Jeff stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall to the attorney's office. He saw that the gay couple and their lawyer were already sitting around the table in the office.
“Good morning, Mr. Steward,” said the prim secretary coolly. “You can go right in.”
“Thank you,” said Jeff. After hanging his hat and coat on the wrack by the door, he proceeded into the lawyer's office, closed the door behind him, and sat down in one of the empty chairs across from the male couple.
“Your lawyer didn't come with you?" said their attorney, nodding at the remaining chair.
“No,” said Jeff. “I hadn't really thought about one. I'd like to explain my position, if that's ok, and we can go from there.”
“Well, I'm not interested in hearing a lot of preaching. You're wrong to refuse to bake the cake for us, and if you don't, we'll make sure you go into bankruptcy. There's no place in this country for bigots,” asserted Paul, the dominant gay.
“Hold on,” said the lawyer. “Let's hear what Mr. Steward has to say.”
Paul folded his arms over his chest and glared at the Lawyer, and then at Jeff. “Okay,” he said grudgingly, "but I'm not changing my mind.”
Jamie, Paul's gay partner, reached over and grasp Paul's shoulder giving it an affectionate squeeze. “It's ok, Paul,” he said. “it won't hurt anything to listen. After all, that's part of understanding and accepting each other.”
“Paul," said Jeff, “If you met another young man and he expressed interest in you, would you start a relationship with him?”
“No!” shouted Paul., turning his head to look at Jamie. “Of course not. I'm committed to Jamie now.”
Jeff smiled, “Jamie, if someone came up to you and told you he was going to rob a bank, and asked you to drive the getaway car, would you do it?”
Jamie's mouth dropped open. He glanced at the lawyer, and then back to Jeff. “No, of course not, that would be against the law.”
“But, you wouldn't be robbing the bank. The other guy would be doing that. Maybe he would give you part of the take for driving the car.”
“That's ridiculous,” insisted Jamie. “It's still illegal. Isn't that called accessory after the fact or something?”
“So, you would feel that if you participated in the crime by driving the getaway car, you would be just as guilty as if you had gone in and helped with the robbery?”
“Of course,” said Jamie, “but, what does that have to do with you refusing to bake our wedding cake?”
“Under the Old Testament law, the Israelites were commanded to stone homosexuals caught in the act. In the New Testament, homosexuals are listed with fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, homosexuals, thieves, the covetous, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers as among those that will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1st Corinthians also mentions that some of the Christians Paul is writing to had been some of these things in the past, but they repented and stopped doing them. If they were thieves, they repented and stopped stealing. If they were adulterers, they repented and stopped the practice of adultery, or any of the things listed that they had formerly been guilty of engaging in. Those that were homosexuals, stopped practicing homosexuality.
Okay, you asked, what does that have to do with me refusing to make you a wedding cake? Just as you, Paul, would refuse to become involved with another man because that would violate your commitment to Jamie, and just like you, Jamie, would refuse to drive the getaway car, because that would make you a partner in the crime, I must refuse to make a wedding cake for you because I made a commitment to my Lord some 50 plus years ago that I would be faithful, and uphold His statutes, and try my best to help others learn about God's plan of salvation. For me to bake your cake, would be saying that I accept and agree with your lifestyle. I cannot in good conscience do that.
Earlier, you threatened to force me out of business, if I don't give in. Maybe you will. I don't know. Persecution of those that stand up for God's law is not new. We have been fortunate in this country up until the last few years to be free to practice our faith without oppression. In fact, most of our laws are based on Bible principles. Over the last several years, however, I've watched as our freedom from having to do things against our religious beliefs being taken away by those who don't want to recognize that there is a God.
I can tell you, that if this goes to court, regardless of what the ruling is, I will not make you a cake even if it means going to prison. I will consider myself fortunate to be counted worthy to suffer for the Lord.
I know, as I'm sure you do, that mine is not the only bakery in town. I'm sure you will be able to find someone who will make your cake. You can probably even buy one ready-made and put the two male figures on it to represent your commitment.
Every person has some temptation they struggle with. One person may be tempted to shop lift. Another may be an alcoholic, still another may struggle with the temptation to be unfaithful to his or her spouse. First Corinthians tells us we can win that struggle and receive grace and forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. It is my prayer, that you will take the passages in 1st Corinthians and 1st Timothy serious and turn away from this practice and become Christians. God loves you and I and my friend would be happy to study with you and help you find your way to God. The decision is yours, of course.”
“You're so full of it. What is you're so called struggle? Making cakes?”
Jeff looked Paul straight in the eye without blinking. “I was gay. Many years ago I met a man that sat down with me and explained, and now I have a wife and two wonderful kids. He would be happy to talk with either or both of you.”
Paul snorted, “This is stupid! I'm going to see that you rot in jail and your family is reduced to poverty. Jamie and I are going to be married and there is nothing you can do about it. Isn't that right, Jamie?”
Jamie was looking at his hands. Finally, he looked straight at Jeff. “Is it true? Your friend would talk to me?”
Jeff smiled back. “Absolutely," he said. Jeff reached in his pocket and took out two cards, and placed one in front of Paul and the other in front of Jamie. “Here is his name and number. Please, call him, I know he would be happy to talk with either or both of you, And if you want, I would be happy to go with you.”
Paul picked up the card and tore it into pieces, but Jamie picked up his and said, “Thank you, I will. I've been concerned about my way of life for a long time. Paul, I love you but I don't want either of us to be lost eternally. I wish you would go with me to talk to Jeff's friend. It's just that all people have ever said before is that this life style is wrong. No one else has ever mentioned that there may be another way.”
Paul appeared stunned. His mouth fell open, then closed. Looking first at Jamie, and then back at Jeff, he said softly. “I'm sorry, I realize now I've been expecting everyone else to be tolerant of how I feel, but I've been unwilling to be understanding and tolerant of the views of others.” His gaze moved to Jamie. "Yes, Jamie, I'll go with you. I don't promise to change my mind, but I'll listen to what he has to say.”

-------------- next part --------------
1398 words
For Better or Worse
by C. S. Boyd

“What's that Dear?” asked Martha.

Jeff looked up at her. “It's from that gay couples lawyer,” he explained. “They want to meet and see if we can settle this matter out of court.”

“Oh,” said Martha simply. “That. What are you going to do?”

“Meet with them,” 

***

Jeff stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall to the attorney's office. He saw that the gay couple and their lawyer were already sitting around the table in the office.

“Good morning, Mr. Steward,” said the prim secretary coolly. “You can go right in.”

“Thank you,” said Jeff. After hanging his hat and coat on the wrack by the door, he proceeded into the lawyer's office, closed the door behind him, and sat down in one of the empty chairs across from the male couple.
“Your lawyer didn't come with you?" said their attorney, nodding at the remaining chair.

“No,” said Jeff. “I hadn't really thought about one. I'd like to explain my position, if that's ok, and we can go from there.”

“Well, I'm not interested in hearing a lot of preaching. You're wrong to refuse to bake the cake for us, and if you don't, we'll make sure you go into bankruptcy. There's no place in this country for bigots,” asserted Paul, the dominant gay.

“Hold on,” said the lawyer. “Let's hear what Mr. Steward has to say.”

Paul folded his arms over his chest and glared at the Lawyer, and then at Jeff. “Okay,” he said grudgingly, "but I'm not changing my mind.”

Jamie, Paul's gay partner, reached over and grasp Paul's shoulder giving it an affectionate squeeze. “It's ok, Paul,” he said. “it won't hurt anything to listen. After all, that's part of understanding and accepting each other.”

“Paul," said Jeff, “If you met another young man and he expressed interest in you, would you start a relationship with him?”

“No!” shouted Paul., turning his head to look at Jamie. “Of course not. I'm committed to Jamie now.”

Jeff smiled, “Jamie, if someone came up to you and told you he was going to rob a bank, and asked you to drive the getaway car, would you do it?”

Jamie's mouth dropped open. He glanced at the lawyer, and then back to Jeff. “No, of course not, that would be against the law.”

“But, you wouldn't be robbing the bank. The other guy would be doing that. Maybe he would give you part of the take for driving the car.”

“That's ridiculous,” insisted Jamie. “It's still illegal. Isn't that called accessory after the fact or something?”

“So, you would feel that if you participated in the crime by driving the getaway car, you would be just as guilty as if you had gone in and helped with the robbery?”

“Of course,” said Jamie, “but, what does that have to do with you refusing to bake our wedding cake?”

“Under the Old Testament law, the Israelites were commanded to stone homosexuals caught in the act. In the New Testament, homosexuals are listed with fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, homosexuals, thieves, the covetous, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers as among those that will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1st Corinthians also mentions that some of the Christians Paul is writing to had been some of these things in the past, but they repented and stopped doing them. If they were thieves, they repented and stopped stealing. If they were adulterers, they repented and stopped the practice of adultery, or any of the things listed that they had formerly been guilty of engaging in. Those that were homosexuals, stopped practicing homosexuality.
Okay, you asked, what does that have to do with me refusing to make you a wedding cake? Just as you, Paul, would refuse to become involved with another man because that would violate your commitment to Jamie, and just like you, Jamie, would refuse to drive the getaway car, because that would make you a partner in the crime, I must refuse to make a wedding cake for you because I made a commitment to my Lord some 50 plus years ago that I would be faithful, and uphold His statutes, and try my best to help others learn about God's plan of salvation. For me to bake your cake, would be saying that I accept and agree with your lifestyle. I cannot in good conscience do that.
Earlier, you threatened to force me out of business, if I don't give in. Maybe you will. I don't know. Persecution of those that stand up for God's law is not new. We have been fortunate in this country up until the last few years to be free to practice our faith without oppression. In fact, most of our laws are based on Bible principles. Over the last several years, however, I've watched as our freedom from having to do things against our religious beliefs being taken away by those who don't want to recognize that there is a God.
I can tell you, that if this goes to court, regardless of what the ruling is, I will not make you a cake even if it means going to prison. I will consider myself fortunate to be counted worthy to suffer for the Lord. 
I know, as I'm sure you do, that mine is not the only bakery in town. I'm sure you will be able to find someone who will make your cake. You can probably even buy one ready-made and put the two male figures on it to represent your commitment.
Every person has some temptation they struggle with. One person may be tempted to shop lift. Another may be an alcoholic, still another may struggle with the temptation to be unfaithful to his or her spouse. First Corinthians tells us we can win that struggle and receive grace and forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. It is my prayer, that you will take the passages in 1st Corinthians and 1st Timothy serious and turn away from this practice and become Christians. God loves you and I and my friend would be happy to study with you and help you find your way to God. The decision is yours, of course.”

“You're so full of it. What is you're so called struggle? Making cakes?” 

Jeff looked Paul straight in the eye without blinking. “I was gay. Many years ago I met a man that sat down with me and explained, and now I have a wife and two wonderful kids. He would be happy to talk with either or both of you.”

Paul snorted, “This is stupid! I'm going to see that you rot in jail and your family is reduced to poverty. Jamie and I are going to be married and there is nothing you can do about it. Isn't that right, Jamie?”

Jamie was looking at his hands. Finally, he looked straight at Jeff. “Is it true? Your friend would talk to me?”

Jeff smiled back. “Absolutely," he said. Jeff reached in his pocket and took out two cards, and placed one in front of Paul and the other in front of Jamie. “Here is his name and number. Please, call him, I know he would be happy to talk with either or both of you, And if you want, I would be happy to go with you.”

Paul picked up the card and tore it into pieces, but Jamie picked up his and said, “Thank you, I will. I've been concerned about my way of life for a long time. Paul, I love you but I don't want either of us to be lost eternally. I wish you would go with me to talk to Jeff's friend. It's just that all people have ever said before is that this life style is wrong. No one else has ever mentioned that there may be another way.”

Paul appeared stunned. His mouth fell open, then closed. Looking first at Jamie, and then back at Jeff, he said softly. “I'm sorry, I realize now I've been expecting everyone else to be tolerant of how I feel, but I've been unwilling to be understanding and tolerant of the views of others.” His gaze moved to Jamie. "Yes, Jamie, I'll go with you. I don't promise to change my mind, but I'll listen to what he has to say.”