The question was asked, “Should a Christian in business have the right to refuse services to a homosexual couple?” In general every day transactions such as buying food, gas, clothes, etc. where buying something should have no concern or orientation to someone’s sexuality I think the answer is NO. A Christian or any person should not bring into consideration your personal lifestyle at all. However, if a Christian (or another person of conviction) is being asked to participate in something they are deeply morally opposed to then I believe the answer is YES, they should have the right to refuse services.
For example, a Christian Photographer in New Mexico was recently asked to take pictures of a homosexual wedding. She declined, on her personal moral basis, because she did not want to participate in that kind of event. She was sued by the party, and the State commanded her to pay about $5000 USD for saying “No.” The Supreme Court also refused to hear her case (article here). Read more from Fox News. In another case, in Denver (Lakewood), Colorado, 2012, a Christian baker was asked to make a cake for a homosexual wedding (which of course includes the idea of what kind of plastic figures you are putting at the top, etc.). He declined on moral basis, and was ordered by the court that he had to bake the cake. Still, he refused. See more here.
The issue extends to other matters as well. Should a Christian doctor (or other person of strong moral conviction) be forced against their moral conviction to perform a sex-change operation on someone or an abortion? Again, I believe the answer is clearly, “No!” They should have the right to decline. People should have the right to live by their moral convictions of right and wrong, which is also protected in our First Amendment rights, “…Congress shall make no Law respecting the establishment of a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” But even just on the simple principle that people hold something to be wrong or a sin should mean they have liberty to say no according to their conscientious belief. Yes. It is their conscientious right to say NO, I will not participate in sin. Just as much as we should have the right to say NO, I will not help you to commit a bank robbery or murder or an adultery against your spouse. THIS IS NOT A HATE-CRIME TO SAY “NO.” It’s the right to stand up for what you believe to be right and wrong at the very core of your being and to say, “I will not participate in something that I believe to be wrong or to be a sin.” You can love a person as a person, but, and still, in that love say “No” I do not approve of this choice or activity and will therefore not or cannot participate in such an activity. As a business reflects the moral and ethical principles of those who run it, and their hand is the one behind the work, they MUST be allowed the fundamental right to say “No” to a certain job on moral grounds!
