Second Class.

            I am a Christian. I believe in the Bible and Jesus. I am not confused by the words that are there. I feel I need to say these things because I believe some of you are. The Bible is very clear on what followers of it are to do and be. It outlines in both halves rules for morality that are clear. Where both halves agree, I take note. Where they are different, I follow the words in red. Meaning, the teaching of Jesus trumps all. This is my way of life. This is my truth. I know that it is a good way to live. I have no right to force another human to live the way I live. I have no right to treat another human badly because he or she lives a different way than I do. I am called to do the best I can, share when sharing is wanted, and to encourage other believers when needed. Encouragement is tricky. Sometimes the encouragement is an affirmation of doing the right thing and other times it is a call to stop doing wrong things.

            Believers, we are doing wrong things. Despite my hopes that Indiana would be a place of religious freedom, we all must acknowledge that it is a place of religious oppression. Personal choices and lifestyles cannot be mandated by law. Whenever I try to impose my beliefs and lifestyles on others, I become a tyrant and tyrants are evil. This week Indiana proved that the powers of religious oppression and discrimination are large and in charge. This mess is set to pass the state senate. http://wlfi.com/2015/01/03/bill-would-allow-hoosiers-to-refuse-gay-weddings/This article is about a bill that will allow business owners to deny customers **who have the money to pay for services rendered** because they do not agree with them about religion.

            Dear Indiana, This is America it has been based on a free market, capitalist system where the only way to encourage your beliefs is by the goods and services you seek to sell and offer. I am a Christian. If I were to open a store, I would carry goods that reflected my beliefs. I would then allow whoever wanted to to come in and read, discuss, and buy. If I were a florist that did weddings, I would carry trinkets and baubles that reflected my views, but I would make bouquets and arrangements for every single couple regardless of orientation and gender and charge the same rates to all. WHY?? Because that is the Christian thing to do. It is the way of life that protects my way of life as well as theirs. There will come a time when being a Christian is discouraged and discriminated against, probably because wackadoodle behavior like this. Who wants to have a bunch of bigoted haters around? I can think that couple is making a mistake or committing a sin but listen up, IN MY FLOWER SHOP THAT DOES NOT MATTER. If I gave the flowers away, that is support. If they buy them and I make them, THAT IS BUSINESS WITH PROFIT. Jesus did not refuse service or deny flowers. He was friend and servant to all.

            I believe in the American ideals of integration, capitalism, freedom for all, and the right to choose. Discrimination is an end to all of those ideals. Because of this, I must make a difficult announcement. If this bill becomes law, I will have no choice but to boycott any business that denies paying customers because of religious oppression. This means I will not be buying goods and services from people who are Christians. (Added to clarify, I will boycott only the Christians that discriminate against customers over religious difference.) This hurts me, but as we live in a capitalist market, it is the only way to make my opinion truly heard. I finish with the famous quote from Martin Neimoller. He was a German pastor in the Lutheran church. He refused to listen to Bonheoffer until it was too late. When the Nazi’s came for him, he was alone.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
            Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
            Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
            Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me