Christian couple say they declined making gay wedding cake 'out of love for God'

A Christian couple from the UK, who were fined in 2015 for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex couple's wedding, have insisted that they do not hate gay people, but refused to make the cake "out of love for God."

In a video posted on Youtube by The Christian Institute, Daniel and Amy McArthur of Ashers Baking Company stressed that they do not hate and do not want to discriminate anyone including gay people, but had declined to bake the cake featuring characters Bert and Ernie from "Sesame Street" with a pro-same-sex marriage watchword because of their Christian beliefs about marriage between a man and a woman. They did it out of love for God and obedience to Him.

The couple stated that they have no regrets about their decision, and will remain firm in their beliefs despite the guilty verdict. Daniel added that Christians facing pressure at work should not be afraid to take a stand because God is with them and gives the grace to stand against challenges and trials such as theirs.

Meanwhile, Amy said that God had used the experience to strengthen their marriage and relationship with Him. She considered it a "blessing" that they had to trust Him to answer their prayers.

District Judge Isobel Brownlie argued in 2015 that the law in U.K. states that for-profit businesses must serve everyone, and that the defendants were not a religious organization and conducted business for profit, thus they must provide service to everyone. 

The couple continues to appeal against the ruling. The Christian Institute is supporting the Ashers Baking Company and is collecting donations for the cost of legal action and campaign related work.

Meanwhile in the United States a woman was fined for refusing to work as a florist for a same-sex wedding earlier this month, and a New York couple lost the case for refusing to coordinate a same-sex marriage.