Chick-fil-A Ramblings

Chik-fil-A is a restaurant owned and founded by a Christian Baptist. The restaurant does not open on Sunday, so their employees can go to church. Dan Cathy, the chief executive of Chick-fil-A recently took a stand against gay rights and it has been a hotly debated and discussed topic since. Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was on Wednesday all over America. FaceBook has also exploded with people's opinions whether or not to support his restaurant.

There is not a Chick-fil-A where I live (though I did eat at it once when I was in another state!) so I couldn't go to one for the appreciation day, but after seeing some of the posts on FaceBook, I did kind of want to share my thoughts and answers to some of what I've read. Read on at your own peril. :p

Ok, I'm going to paraphrase some portions of the FaceBook statuses I've seen.

"Isn't supporting Chick-fil-A JUST because of their beliefs just as shallow as condemning them?"
To that, my answer is: Do you read good books? Is that the same as abstaining from reading bad (i.e. poorly written or immoral) books?

"I don't care if they support gay rights or not, a company will only receive my business if I need their product."
The Bible does stand very strongly against gay rights (more about that in a few paragraphs), even in an increasingly pro-homosexual society, because the Bible doesn't change. Should we change our beliefs to fit the society? Last I remembered, we were told not to conform to the world. Gay marriage is a HUGE topic in today's society. Most people are afraid to stand against the flow. So I do think think it's good to support people when they stand on what the Bible says.

"If you are a believer, don't judge others whether or not they choose to go to Chick-fil-A."
I agree, I've been working on trying not to judge others...

After all, it is a country where free speech is allowed. Right?

We have the freedom to support and the freedom to boycott, but there is an increasing opposition against those who stand on the Bible. Mr. Dan Cathy should be free to share his opinions gay marriage without being attacked in the media. I almost think the whole support / boycott wouldn't be happening if people's beliefs were really respected. If people were really tolerant of Christians, we could politely debate about a subject and discuss things civilly. The world ells Christians to be tolerant, but few are tolerant to us! (and for the record, Jesus wasn't very tolerant either.) I think the hatred in response to Mr. Cathy's comment is very disturbing. (For one example amongst many, I read here that gay-rights supporters are planning a kissing protest against Chick-fil-A).

Yes, God IS love. He loves us. But He doesn't love our sin and He does not tolerate it. Through the blood of Jesus He forgives, but He is still the Judge. Our loving God today is the same God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness (check out Genesis 19!). God is the Judge. You can't take the "love" part of God and say, "It's okay, you can sin! You can do whatever you want! Don't worry, God loves you!" God is a God of Love and a Judge but He loved us so much that He provided a way for our sins to be forgiven, and that way was Jesus' perfect blood shed for us. And after we have been cleansed and forgiven, should we keep on sinning? No! "How shall we who died to sin live any longer to it?" - Romans 6:2 (check out Romans 6:1-3!) Although God loves us, He does not accept our sin. He provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him, but there is only ONE WAY.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Jesus is the One Way. Jesus is the truth. And that's why the world hates us so much (though the world hated Jesus first - John 15:18). Satan doesn't want people to accept Jesus. He doesn't want people to turn from their wicked ways and be cleansed in the blood of the Lamb. He wants them to keep on sinning, and continue putting their faith in their own version of God...a loving God who accepts and does not condemn. However, that's not our God. Humans cannot change God because one of His attributes makes them uncomfortable.

While the thoughts / responses concerning Chick-fil-A may be my own, the following words are not.

Romans 1:26-27, 32...

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;[...]Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Well, I guess that's all for today.
"Klarabelle"

By the way, I announced the winners of the giveaway! Check it out here. :)


All scripture portions taken from NKJV unless otherwise noted.