Thursday, August 2, 2012

It's not really about freedom of speech!

The topic of Chick-Fil-A and their recent statements on marriage has caused an uproar in media and on social websites. Yesterday there were long lines at the restaurants here in Indy from people who felt a need to voice their support for the chain and its stance on what Dan Cathy calls traditional Biblical marriage. Tangent: Traditional Biblical marriage? I am sure he is referring to way that women were bought and sold from father to husband as depicted in Scriptures (Isaac, Jacob, Samson, and even Mary to Joseph). Women were viewed as property in this culture and had little or no rights. He can call it whatever he wants to call it, but this is not a model currently practiced by the majority of Americans or too many Christians. But in his defense, he does have a right to believe as he does and speak his mind. Even if what he says is misinformed or misconstrued. One can wonder about the shock of the American people when asking a known conservative Christian businessman about a topic such as this that he would provide a conservative Christian answer. What else could we expect? I would also point out that boycotting Chick-Fil-A for their homophobia is a little ironic in the sense that we buy oil daily from Arab nations that put known homosexuals to death. Want to boycott buying gasoline and all the other products derived from petroleum? However, and here is where I find the major crux of this issue, there is information that has come out about some of the organizations and their homophobic activities. http://www.glaad.org/cap/tony-perkins This is no longer about the right of an American businessman to voice his opinion on gay marriage. His business contributes to known anti-gay hate groups. Hate. What part of the Christian faith says its OK to hate a group of people with whom we disagree?
The issue is no longer one of personal opinion or our understanding and application of Scripture. It is one of hate and bigotry. The fact that Chick-Fil-A claims to operate under Christian principles and promote hate is why my family will discontinue our patronage. We refuse to contribute to any organization that will promote such values. As believers in a God of Love, can we in good conscience, continue to support hating people with whom we disagree? Is this the model Christ left for us with his death on the cross?

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I do agree with you. Supporting organizations that think it's ok to "deport gays" is not ok!

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