Religious-based business not tenable

A post on Facebook the other day got me thinking about sin and how religious people react to those behaviors they or their religion define as sin. I don't normally get caught up in religious discussions since "truth" can never be ascertained.

One religious belief is just as good as any other since none can be definitively shown to be correct. The same is true of non-belief.

But, since the Hobby Lobby decision, religious views have intruded into the marketplace. They are again in the news with the current flaps about serving same sex couples. Some religious people feel they should not have to serve homosexuals because that would violate their religious beliefs, i.e. the behavior is "sinful."

OK. That makes some sense. Would not want to force someone to do something against his conscience.

This got me thinking about a religiously based business. Homosexuality is a sin, so I won't serve homosexuals. My reading of the bible tells me so.

That got me thinking about sin in general and wondering how many things the Christian bible says are "sinful." So, I did what any good Twenty-first Century person would do: I Googled the question. One author found 600 sins outlined.

Whew. That is a tremendous load to screen before someone will do business with you. For example, are you baptized? (Luke 7:29-30). Can't sell you that hamburger until I see your certificate, please.

Or, have you dressed "indecently"? (1 Timothy, 2-9) Goodbye speed O and bikinis. Gone, too, are gold, pearls and "costly array." (same Timothy).

Complaining (Luke, Timothy and Numbers). Suck it up or no hamburger for you. Proud speech, gossiping, complaining, discourtesy, lying, despising, disobeying, drinking (one presumes this is alcohol), believing in evolution (PS, 100: 3), being foolish (Mark and Timothy), gambling (Luke), gluttony, gossiping, making a graven image (goodbye Santa), being proud, lying--the list goes on and on.

One writer listed 600 sins carefully outlined in the bible. That's a tremendous amount of checking before you get your hamburger. In fact, I would submit that no business will EVER sell another good, product or service using "sin from the bible" as the litmus test before transactions occur.

Unless--the business person SELECTIVELY chooses "good sins" and "bad sins." We now have a moral dilemma for the religiously-based business. That businss has to shun some sin and countenance other sin. Countenancing sin is an abomination in the eyes of god, is it not?

So, what are these good Christians to do?

I submit that they follow their religion. "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and render unto god what is god's." That is, in business (a legal contract between the buyer and the seller), do business under the laws of the state. Serve anyone who comes across the transom.

After all, it is a sin not to "submit to man's laws." (1 Timothy 2-9, Py 7-10), To do otherwise is to selectively choose which sins to commit and which to ignore.

And that would not be the Christian way, right?