Image source: LCMS
First, the background, a Richland, Washington florist is being sued for declining to make floral arrangements for the ceremony of a homosexual client. Of note here, Barronelle Stutzman, the florist, did not refuse service outright. In fact, the man in question, was a long time client. Furthermore, she was very clear in the significance of wedding ceremonies to her faith, and recommended other florists that could help. This is not a matter of a gay man being denied flowers for his wedding. Nor even of a hateful or spiteful business owner attacking his beliefs. In fact, the two were long time friends.
"I knew he was in a relationship with a man and he knew I was a Christian. But that never clouded the friendship for either of us or threatened our shared creativity — until he asked me to design something special to celebrate his upcoming wedding."
"I’ve never questioned Rob’s and Curt Freed’s right to live out their beliefs. And I wouldn’t have done anything to keep them from getting married, or even getting flowers. Even setting aside my warm feelings for them, I wouldn’t have deliberately taken actions that would mean the end of being able to do the work I love or risk my family’s home and savings."
"This case is not about refusing service on the basis of sexual orientation or dislike for another person who is preciously created in God’s image. I sold flowers to Rob for years. I helped him find someone else to design his wedding arrangements. I count him as a friend."
Source: Why a friend is suing me
The point here is not whether or not you or I or anyone else agrees with her moral decision, the point is we own our creative abilities, our labor, and our talents. If one can be coerced to do something they feel is wrong, or even just do not wish to do, then ownership of self and individual freedom begins to fade.
“Barronelle and many others like her around the country have been willing to serve any and all customers, but they are understandably not willing to promote any and all messages,” said ADF Senior Counsel Kristen Waggoner. “The briefs that have been filed in support of Barronelle encourage the court to affirm the broad protections that both the U.S. Constitution and the Washington Constitution afford to freedom of speech and conscience. These freedoms protect Barronelle in the same way that they protect an atheist painter’s right to decline to paint a mural for a church, or a pro-same-sex-marriage print shop owner’s right to decline to print materials for a rally promoting marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”Source: (LCMS) Synod joins amicus brief for florist sued twice over marriage view
We as a free and diverse people must never forget that while we have a right to our beliefs, to live freely, to seek happiness, we do not, nor should we ever, have the right to coerce another to our view, or to coerce another to support something we want that they may well fundamentally disagree with. If one's labor, talents, and creative abilities are ones to share freely, then we can have a diverse and beautiful marketplace of diverse creations. If we decide that individuals must set aside a portion of themselves, must conform, then we will lose that beauty, we will lose wonderfully talented artists and skilled people who may find themselves forced to decide between deeply held faith and their business. It does not matter if you think an issue is trivial or minor. Because you see, you may have a deeply held belief, that I may think is a non issue. If we live and let live, we are both happy. If I demand you set aside that belief, because it conflicts with what I want, then I become an aggressor seeking to steal your liberty, your ownership of self. This is fundamentally wrong, and is another tale of the loss of individual rights in our society. Whether you believe rights are God given, or inherently natural, regardless of your faith, this is wrong. Either we have ownership of self, of our talents, of our labor and the creation thereof, or someone else does.
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