That Chick-Fil-A is opposed to same-sex marriage. That they support and help fund anti-gay movements. Then you have the other end of the spectrum where we are to hate them - boycott them and above all put them out of business.
Indubitably, the topic has arisen with our 12 year old wanting to know why all the controversy.
As a Christian family, more specifically a Pentacostal believing family, our views are pretty straight forward.
Yet, this is one that I am quite torn on. Not belief wise, but at how everyone is handling it. It seems that a lot has been taken out of context.
I have friends who are gay. While I, in no way shape or form condone that lifestyle. They have chosen their lifestyle. They are truly wonderful people and in fact I have been able to count on them more than others at times. I count them as blessings and I believe that the Lord allowed us to cross paths for a reason. Not for me to judge them or to tell them how to live. Because they have strong beliefs and they know Scripture as well if not better than I do. But for me to understand better how the Lord sees the hearts of people.
And while it is very clear what the Bible says about marriage and sin (and I mean ALL SIN), I believe that we answer to God and God alone. I believe that we have the right as Christians and American's to state what we believe and because we are given freedom to choose our walk in life, that we must also see that others have chosen theirs as well.
Why would I alienate the very ones who need to feel the love of Christ? What if I were to be alienated for my beliefs and choices, oh wait I have - and it caused a lot of hurt and pain. I could quote statistics and reasoning why we all are the way we are. But it boils down to acceptance. Especially in today's Society.
So my response to her was that we need to live Christ before everyone, and stand on our beliefs and the relationship we have with Christ. That we are all sinners and that we all will fall short without His redemptive blood.
We love Chick-Fil-A and we will continue to eat there. If people would take the time and read what the CEO actually said than maybe there would be much less mud slinging and more understanding. Because and to quote "We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that," by that I could easily find offense - due to the fact I am divorced and remarried. My husband is as well, so that makes me his second wife.
FYI we loved the Chick-Fil-A in Tulsa and they in fact had a gay man working for them. He was openly gay and he was treated with respect and no one ever questioned it. So that to me testifies to the companies response on their website:
Chick-fil-A is a family-owned and family-led company serving the communities in which it operates. From the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began applying biblically-based principles to managing his business. For example, we believe that closing on Sundays, operating debt-free and devoting a percentage of our profits back to our communities are what make us a stronger company and Chick-fil-A family.
The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our Restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect –regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 Restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.
Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.
The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our Restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect –regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 Restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.
Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.
Frankly there are a lot of other religious sects that could jump on what was said.
But, only one group found offense. So the question goes without saying.. Why them and not the others?
Just a thought?
