Preacher Bob Returns

So I don't usually get political in this Goodreads blog but it's the only blog I've got and Preacher Bob needs to say something.

We’ve got all these politicians passing legislation that allows folks to refuse service to gay people ostensibly because of their religious beliefs. We could talk about how that so-called “freedom” won’t stand up in court because the segregationists tried this a few decades ago and lost. We could talk about how mainstream Republicans who may or may not have a problem with homosexuality have spoken out against this kind of legislation because they know that any state whose governor is foolish enough to sign it will experience economic and political ostracization of almost Biblical proportions. We could talk about the kind of society we’d have if businesses open to “the public” were allowed to discriminate at will. Me personally? I am as much of an asshole as the next guy, but even I would refuse service to the bigots writing these bills. Is that good for the country? Then I thought “wait a second.” These folks who don’t want to bake wedding cakes for two grooms, or use a defibrillator on a lesbian, or sell a bottle of water to a transgender person…….they’re all Christians, right? Back when I almost became a Baptist preacher, the most important thing was to be Christ-like. So Jesus was a carpenter. I can’t prove this, but I’m willing to bet he didn’t turn away gay people who wanted to buy his stuff. I’ve read the Bible through as many times as these politicians have and seems to me that the only people Jesus ever truly got pissed at were those judging others. So in Matthew Jesus says this:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Now I’m no theologian, but seems to me that Jesus is saying that since God sends sunshine down on everyone regardless of their holiness or sinfulness, we ought to bake cakes and sell water bottles and save lives whether we think someone is sinful or holy. Let’s just say for the sake of argument, that two gay guys ordering a wedding cake is equivalent to the “cursing you” that Jesus talked about. He says “bless them that curse you.” I personally think baking a cake would be a good blessing. In fact, wouldn’t the best way to “save” those two gay guys be to bake them the best goddamned wedding cake they ever tasted? So as we go forward, let’s be frank: legislation of this kind is plain old bigotry. If having gay guys eat your cake is going to ruin your life, then find a different career. And while you’re at it, find a different religion.