What Would Jesus Bake?

There are increasing news reports of homosexuals walking into Christian-owned businesses and threatening legal action if refused service. One pizzeria in Indiana was set up by a local TV station but that ploy backfired. The owners temporarily closed their doors after receiving all kinds of threats for announcing they wouldn’t cater food at a same-sex wedding. Someone launched a GoFundMe page for this pizzeria to help offset lost income resulting from this fiasco. In just a few days, almost 30,000 people donated over $840,000!

One of my Facebook friends recently posted a photo suggesting Christian bakers make TWO wedding cakes when approached by gay couples because Jesus told us to “go the extra mile.” I believe this is a misapplication of God’s word. Christians are not to affirm sexual immorality but flee from it (1 Corinthians 6:18). Years ago I worked as a disc jockey at a variety of places including wedding receptions. If I was still doing that today and someone asked me to provide music for a same-sex wedding, I would decline just like I wouldn’t DJ in strip clubs. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV) commands, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Nevertheless, a woman who exchanged emails with me through our mutual Facebook friend kept insisting Jesus would bake a cake for a gay couple. It’s ludicrous how this woman claims to know what the Lord would do considering she admits to being “lost.” Besides that, Jesus was a carpenter...not a baker. If someone had asked Him to make a wooden idol, He would violate His own word by doing so. The first two commandments in Exodus 20 tells us not to have any other gods nor make carved images of them.

It’s possible Jesus would attend a same-sex wedding but to minister truth and not condone the ungodly union. Just like the woman caught in adultery, He would likely tell those who repent, “Go and sin no more.”

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” - Ephesians 5:11

Pancakes and Prayer

I figured this would happen sooner or later. The Kansas City-based ministry IHOP (International House of Prayer) has been sued by the other IHOP…the International House of Pancakes for trademark dilution and infringement. The California-based restaurant chain claims it made several attempts to persuade the ministry to change their name to avoid confusing the public. The lawsuit was prompted by the ministry’s expansion plans plus some of their branches are now serving food (it’s actually a coffee shop called Higher Grounds that sells coffee and bagels…no pancakes).

In one way, I'm a little more supportive of the restaurant. After all, they trademarked the initials IHOP 26 years before Mike Bickle founded International House of Prayer. Mike could settle this matter out of court by renaming the ministry to something like Worldwide House of Prayer. Other ministries have changed their names for various reasons. For example, Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship was originally called Toronto Airport Vineyard. Now they have changed their name again to Catch The Fire Toronto.

But what if Mike Bickle insists on keeping the IHOP moniker? If International House of Pancakes persists with this lawsuit, some Christians plan on hopping away from IHOP and take their business to other restaurants for their “prayer breakfasts.” It would be unfortunate if the International House of Prayer were forced to spend extra money on legal expenses.

International House of Pancakes spokesman Patrick Lenow has said that they are compelled to protect the “good name” of IHOP. Does a prayer ministry using identical initials really damage the reputation of a restaurant? Last December I went to Kansas City to attend IHOP’s OneThing conference. Some friends of mine from Minneapolis who also traveled to Missouri often went to the pancake place after the evening meetings. I actually read on a message board that the restaurant closest to the International House of Prayer headquarters gives discounts to prayer house staff members.

Sounds like the two IHOPs can be a blessing to each other.

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” - Proverbs 22:1