Christian Bakers Accused of Hate Will Continue to Serve God at "Whatever the Cost"

Leah Marieann Klett : Mar 6, 2017
Gospel Herald

"We just want the government to tolerate and accept differences of opinion, so we can continue to follow our faith. We hope that, even if people have different beliefs from us, that they will show each other tolerance and that we can peacefully live together and still follow our faith. That's all we want. Thank you." -Melissa Klein

(Salem, OR)—[Gospel Herald] Aaron and Melissa Klein, the Christian couple who were ordered to pay $135,000 in damages for declining to make a cake for a same-sex wedding, have said their lives are "dedicated" to serving God and obeying His commands—whatever the cost. (Photo via Gospel Herald)

On Thursday, the Oregon Court of Appeals heard the case of the couple, who lost their business—Sweet Cakes By Melissa—as a result of their beliefs. In a statement made available to the Gospel Herald following the hearing, Melissa said her faith hasn't wavered despite the persecution her family continues to experience.

"I have a strong faith in God, whom I love with all my heart," she said. "My whole life is dedicated to living for Him, in the best way that I know how. America is a place where the government can't force you to violate your religious beliefs or tell you what to believe, but we feel like that is exactly what happened to us. We lost everything we loved and worked so hard to build. I loved my shop—it meant everything to me. And losing it has been so hard for me and my family. Nobody in this country should ever have to go through what we've experienced."

She added, "We just want the government to tolerate and accept differences of opinion, so we can continue to follow our faith. We hope that, even if people have different beliefs from us, that they will show each other tolerance and that we can peacefully live together and still follow our faith. That's all we want. Thank you."...

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