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A Christian baker in Colorado who has been at the center of a yearslong debate after he declined to make a cake for a same-sex wedding has revealed the intense harassment and “horrific” response he and his business faced amid the fallout.

“The emails [and] the phone calls were sometimes horrific,” Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips recently told the “Edifi With Billy Hallowell” podcast of the events that followed his July 2012 cake refusal. “You’d just hear profanity.”

Phillips, who shares his story in the new book, The Cost of My Faith, said he had to protect his staff and totally take over any and all incoming phone calls to the bakery, as his business was severely impacted by the anger and angst.

And before long, the nasty phone calls morphed into something far more diabolical.

“We had our store vandalized. We had death threats,” he said. “I had a guy call me up one day, said he was in his car, he’s got a gun, he’s on his way to the shop and he’s going to blow my head off … the man kept calling and calling. It was just crazy.”

Listen to Phillips share his story and reveal why he wouldn’t simply “bake the cake” as some implored:

Phillips, who has spent the past nine years amidst legal battles stemming from the refusal, recounted the day two men came into Masterpiece Cakeshop and sought a wedding cake.

“I sat down, I introduced myself … I immediately knew what my answer would be,” he said, noting that he said, “I’m sorry, guys, I don’t do cakes for same-sex weddings.”

The men were purportedly frustrated and left the bakery, with their anger leaving Phillips a bit shocked.

“I was stunned. I tried to be polite,” he said. “I tried to, in that couple of sentences, let them know that I’d be happy to serve them in any other capacity … but this was a cake, because of the message and my faith, that I couldn’t create.”

The baker said his phone started ringing within 20 minutes of the encounter and then emails started streaming in. That quick encounter was soon a national debate, and by October — just three months later — Phillips received notice that he was being sued by Colorado.

“The [Colorado Civil Rights Commission] required me to change my policies, ignore my faith,” Phillips explained. “And when I’m at the cake shop I don’t get to exercise my freedom of religion.”

The baker said he would have had no rights over the design of his cakes and that the incident would force him to report to the commission quarterly for two years as he retrained his staff to meet government standards. Phillips stood his ground and battled the government in court.

As the legal battle progressed, he eventually decided to simply stop making wedding cakes altogether.

“We decided that the way around it was not to create wedding cakes at all,” Phillips said. “We were doing probably 300 wedding cakes every year. But we had to give that up.”

Despite the chaotic problems that followed, Phillips has continued over the past decade to defend his decision. After years of seeing his case volley back and forth in the courts, the Supreme Court reversed Colorado’s punishment in 2018 and offered a victory of sorts.

Phillips still faces the fallout from a separate 2017 instance in which a customer contacted the bakery and asked for a cake to celebrate a gender transition — something Phillips declined. He has since been back in court to battle over that incident.

Despite all of the chaos, though, the baker made one thing clear: he believes God has sustained him throughout the ordeal.

“God’s provided everything we needed all the way through,” he said.

The Christian walk is not always easy. How were you encouraged by reading this article? Write down your thoughts and prayers in the comments below!

Used with permission. Read more at The Christian Post. Article written by Billy Hallowell. Photo by David Holifield/UnSplash)

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Bridget E.
June 12, 2021

Jack Phillips – you’re in my prayers nearly every day and so is Autumn Scardina. You’ve been prayed for ever since I read about the discrimination against your Christian beliefs. You will receive justice and you will see the day when Ms. Scardina’s discrimination against your beliefs will be overturned. That’s just the kind of God we serve!

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Ellen H
June 12, 2021

Oh Jesus, we need You more than ever. The double standard is very clear. We pray for our country in a way we haven’t felt moved to before. I have prayed for my country since 1984. It seems like we’ve been on a slippery slope of decline. We are actively seeing good called evil, and evil good. Fill your Church with the Holy Spirit to overflowing, that we would have compassion on the lost. Shake us out of our slumber. We are a spoiled nation and have no clue to the treasure we have, just by being born here. We are not grateful. We have followed the world with wanting more. We have fallen for the lies of the enemy – please wake us up!! I pray for this baker and others who are facing extreme trials for their faith. We have taken so much for granted. We are lazy and just like the Israel You chose! We, the church, have done such a poor job representing You. Help us to stand up, not be afraid of the consequences and to be lovers of people. Help us God, to be strong in You!! So many churches have fallen for “compassion” and have ended up serving the enemy. Make Your Word plain to us! It is not at all compassionate or loving to support sin. The father of lies seems to be winning many battles, but he does not have the final say! Thank you, God!

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Marsha Bashor
June 12, 2021

Thank you Mr. Phillips for being kind about it, and for standing your ground. Thank you Lord for your presence with Mr. Phillips.

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Karen Secrest
June 11, 2021

I have watched Jack and Debbie walk through hate actions I never thought possible. Every time I see an article about them I am reminded that ONLY GOD can give the kind of Strength needed to carry on.
AMEN

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DML
June 11, 2021

I don’t agree with the LGBTQ people. I defend my right to practice my religion and no one can take that right away from me. I am a women by birth and will forever be a women. I believe what Jesus said…. He created them make and female. And God said “ be fruitful and multiply”. That’s what I’m doing in obedience to God almighty. The LGBTQ people are acting like bullies on the playground. I won’t allow myself to be intimidated by them or any other group that tries to take away my right to live as I choose in a free society. The LGBTQ people can live anyway they choose but they cannot force me to accept or approve what I choose not to. And Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ.

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Judith
June 11, 2021

Thank You, Abba, for sustaining Jack to persevere and stand in the persecution for his in faith and obedience in Jesus Christ. You are Sovereign God. No one is able to separate Jack from Your love. Keep his eyes on You. I pray in the name of Jesus, amen

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