When Six is Four

If consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, color mine small. Over at the Gospel Coalition, John McDowell and John Stonestreet offer advice on how Christians should proceed after the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage. The problem is that the six points of advice only add up to four.

Number One: We can change our reputation from those who hate gays to those who love them.

Number Two: We must tell the truth about same-sex attraction, homosexual sin, and same-sex marriage.

That’ll work. Not. Aside from the hype surrounding bakers, photographers, and pizzerias, Christians being honest about homosexuality is not going to change Christians’ reputation.

Number Four: We can defend the religious liberty of all Americans.

Does that include the liberty of Christians? This doesn’t sound very tolerant:

It is vital that all of us defend religious freedom. Even if it is not our heads on the proverbial chopping block, it may be soon enough. No Christian should sit this one out.

Christians must distinguish between discriminating against a gay person and refusing to participate in certain behaviors. Christians should never refuse services to someone because they identify as gay or lesbian. Our actions are to be based on convictions, not hate.

So, the Christian business people who are of the conviction that serving gay couples in wedding related activities is a sin, those believers are guilty of hate? Gospel Coalition apes CNN.

I don’t think I would refuse a gay couple if I owned a business (boy, are some people laughing, not about my tolerance but about the idea that I could run a business). But I would like to try to honor the consciences of those who are so inclined not to do business for religious reasons.

It looks like the Allies’ counsel, though designed to improve evangelicals’ reputation, is going to be as confusing as it is incoherent.

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