The 3 - December 31, 2017

In this week's edition of The 3, examining three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is good news out of Indonesia for thousands of Christians in prison who have had their sentences lessened.  Also, violence struck another church in Egypt, in the midst of a heightened effort to protect Coptic churches in that country.  And, the Oregon bakers who declined to provide a cake celebrating so-called "same-sex marriage" have received a negative court ruling.

3 - Thousands of imprisoned Christians in Indonesia receive shorter sentences

Over nine thousand Christians in the country of Indonesia received a reduction in their sentences on Christmas Day, according to an article on the ChristianHeadlines.com website, which stated that:

According to Jakarta Post, Indonesia’s Law and Human Rights Ministry cut down the sentences of 9,333 Christian prisoners.

“Of the total, 175 inmates were freed upon receiving remissions,” a Law and Human Rights Ministry official told reporters.

The changes in sentences came because of administration considerations and consideration for the type of crimes jailed for.

The Christian Headlines report, which included information from a Christian Post story, said that one of the Christians receiving a sentence reduction, albeit only 15 days, was former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, "who was sentenced to two years in prison after he was falsely accused of blasphemy in 2016."

2 - At least ten die in attack on Coptic Christian church in Egypt

Ten people lost their lives in a bombing at a Coptic Christian church in Egypt, according to CBN News.com, which reported that...

...the deadly terror attack on Cairo’s Coptic Church of Mar Mina could have been much worse. A senior government official confirmed one of the attackers wore “an explosive belt.” However, Egyptian police prevented the terrorist from detonating the suicide belt.

The article says that, "Two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire outside the church..."  At least eight were Coptic Christians, six of them worshippers, according to ChristianityToday.com, which reported that another victim was a Muslim police officer who stood guard at the church and who was "hailed as a martyr." The report says that:

One week earlier, Egypt’s Minister of Islamic Endowments declared the guarding of churches to be “a legitimate and national duty.” Those who die defending Christian houses of worship are to be considered martyrs.

That is according to Egypt Today.  The minister, Mokhtar Gomaa, stated, “In our war against terrorism...there’s no difference between Muslims and Christians.”

The Christianity Today article pointed out that:

Last month, 300 people were killed in a terrorist attack on a mosque in the Sinai, where Christians have fled violence.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised the police effort against the “vicious” attack, and urged heightened security. Two weeks ago, Egypt assigned more than 230,000 police to guard churches in advance of the Christmas holidays.

1 - Christian couple fined for not baking cake for gay wedding lose appeal

I have been following and reporting on the plight of Aaron and Melissa Klein, the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Oregon, a couple that had declined to provide a cake for a gay wedding ceremony.  They had been found to be discriminatory in their actions and fined $135,000.  They appealed this ruling to the state's Court of Appeals in March, and finally, a three-judge panel issued a ruling this past week, according to the legal advocacy group, First Liberty Institute.  The organization's website stated, "The court ruled against the Kleins, upholding a decision by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) that resulted in a $135,000 penalty and led to the closure of the family-run bakery."

Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty, stated, "Freedom of expression for ourselves should require freedom of expression for others. Today, the Oregon Court of Appeals decided that Aaron and Melissa Klein are not entitled to the Constitution’s promises of religious liberty and free speech,” adding, “In a diverse and pluralistic society, people of good will should be able to peacefully coexist with different beliefs. We are disappointed that the court ruled against the Kleins.”