Kim Davis, the elected clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky, said Tuesday that she is facing a “heaven or hell” decision on whether to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

Davis on Tuesday turned away at least four gay couples despite having exhausted all possible legal options.

(Related: KY clerk faces contempt hearing for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.)

In a statement issued through her lawyers, Davis reiterated that she was not about to resign her post.

“Some people have said I should resign, but I have done my job well,” she said. “This year we are on track to generate a surplus for the county of 1.5 million dollars.”

Davis said that she “surrendered” her life to Jesus Christ four years ago, fulfilling the dying wish of her godly mother-in-law, and insisted that not issuing the marriage licenses has “never been a gay or lesbian issue.”

“I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage,” Davis said. “To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s Word. It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Our history is filled with accommodations for people’s religious freedom and conscience. I want to continue to perform my duties, but I also am requesting what our Founders envisioned – that conscience and religious freedom would be protected. That is all I am asking. I never sought to be in this position, and I would much rather not have been placed in this position. I have received death threats from people who do not know me. I harbor nothing against them. I was elected by the people to serve as the County Clerk. I intend to continue to serve the people of Rowan County, but I cannot violate my conscience.”