A Lutheran pastor has issued a call to support Christian business owners, arguing that religious freedom is currently under attack in the United States.
In a press release posted on Christian Newswire, Rev. CJ Conner, author of "Jesus and the Culture Wars: Reclaiming the Lord's Prayer," contended that Christians in the United States are being attacked by the "gay lobby." He thought the attacks came during the holiest time of the year for Christians.
"Even radicalized Jihadis have put war on hold during Ramadan," Conner said.
The Lutheran pastor urged others stand up for "Christian liberty."
"I'm encouraging Christian pastors, churches, florists, bakers, and boutique merchants to join together in concrete and deliberate steps to take a stand and protect the principle of American Christian Liberty," Conner said.
Conner outlined his plan on how Christian business owners could protect their livelihoods, particularly those working as florists, bakers and other wedding-related businesses.
"Christian merchants who serve weddings can protect their religious liberty by only offering their services to Christian Churches in exclusive, binding contracts," Conner wrote. "Merchants can continue to provide all other services as usual, but protect the free practice of their faith by contracting exclusively and specifically with Bible believing congregations to provide wedding services for their members."
Conner thought his solution would enable merchants to sell to everyone while maintaining their core Christian beliefs. He then turned his focus on what "faithful Christian congregations" can do to protect themselves.
"Congregations who rent space out for wedding related events or services as an outreach ministry should modify their organizational by-laws so that their facilities are only available for use to confirmed members of the congregation," Conner wrote. "This is a good general rule of thumb for every congregation."
The Lutheran pastor argued that churches could face "costly legal action" if they did not open up their space for rent to gay couples. In addition, he also thought it would be a good idea for Christian congregations to team up with Christian business owners through exclusive contracts.
"This will help ensure the success of Christian owned businesses while also protecting the religious liberty of Christian wedding merchants and congregations," Conner wrote.
The pastor claimed that such a scenario could happen in the future, especially in churches were Boy Scout Troops are allowed to hold meetings.
"Congregations that allow the Boy Scouts to use their facilities either for rent or for free are at risk of legal liability should they refuse to perform a gay marriage on the basis of religious liberty," Conner said. "The Boy Scouts have embraced the gay lobby and their agenda."
However, Conner ended his press release with uplifting encouragement for fellow Christians everywhere.
"For faithful Christians, we are called to the same long-suffering as our Lord Jesus who gave His all for us on the cross on Good Friday," Conner said. "To the extent that we can peacefully side-step and not engage the gay lobby at all, we will be free for Gospel Mission- to be a Holy blessing to our communities and the world."
