Tags
ammunition, Bible, chik-fil-a, christian, church, dan cathy, gays, grace, homosexuality, human-rights, jake kaufman, Jesus, kingdom, religion
If you haven’t heard by now, you should probably check your pulse to make sure you are actually alive.
Dan Cathy, the president of Chik-fil-A, thinks that dudes should fall in love with chicks and marry them. He thinks that it’s the good Christian thing to do, and believes in it so much that his entire business model is built around the concept of healthy families. His company donated over $2 million dollars to groups that work with families and counsel those who struggle with homosexuality.
What an evil, sadistic bastard.
Actually, he’s not really. He’s a good guy, with strong values that drive him forward. He’s guilty of believing in something and not bowing at the court of public opinion. Isn’t that what we’ve been asking for from our leaders in Washington? And yet, this man is being crucified for it.
What a heroic pioneer of the good Christian faith.
Actually, I wouldn’t go there either. I think that when we lift men up in moments like this for a stance they’ve taken, we construct massive walls and drive huge wedges between our Christian communities and those who are different from us. Our Christian army status updates aren’t helpful or constructive. It’s okay to agree with Dan. It’s not okay to tell other people they can’t disagree.
This is what worries and troubles me the most as we navigate these difficult waters: We, as followers of Jesus, are too quick to offer platitudes and quote Scriptures decrying things as evil. I wonder why we aren’t more quick to point to the Scriptures that speak of grace, planks in our eyes, and our sins laying on the bottom of ocean floors. The way we typically approach these circumstances is too arrogant; and lacking in the grace, mercy, and courage of the Savior we say we follow.
And that’s extraordinarily scary.
Myself and many others believe that the way the “church” handles this issue over the next ten years will define it for the next hundred. The reactions we are exhibiting now will determine how our grandkids view Jesus and the church. So far, we aren’t off to a good start. We are spending too much energy and time recoiling and defending, rather than engaging and constructing.
It’s not an easy issue. But faith never asks us to take the easy route.
I know gay people that love God. Loving God and being gay aren’t mutually exclusive, regardless of your stance of whether the lifestyle is a choice or genetic. It doesn’t help to tell people that they should just stop doing something that rattles the very core of their identity; as if their “problem” could be as easily solved as eating less oreos to shed a few pounds.
I’m not saying that you have to embrace the rainbow. I’m not saying that you have to agree to vote things into law that you don’t agree with. I’m not saying that you have to think that what I think is right.
But I am saying that it’s better to love gay people rather than stone them.
To be honest, I think that homosexuality is a sin. Just like my porn addiction is. Just like your overeating is. Just like the blind eye that we turn on the homeless and the ghettos is. I just don’t think that the right “stance” to take is to draw a line in the sand, point fingers, and use our Bibles as ammunition.
I hope that God doesn’t treat us like we treat the gays. What are your thoughts on Dan Cathy and the Chik-fil-A controversy?
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Here are a couple of helpful links if you missed the controversy:
Jared K said:
Great read – I just want people to love each other. Sometimes I am so discouraged with how “Christians” attack this topic. I am also discouraged by people who attack Christians because their beliefs are different. I want more than anything for people to know that grace wins, love wins….and we are just human. We have disagreements, that is OK, don’t let disagreements turn into hate! We need to show love!
Jake said:
agreed; it’s one thing to have a conversation, it’s another to attack. grace wins, always.
Abby said:
I think that there is probably someone in every corporation who shares the same belief as Mr. Cathy. I think chick-fil-a is getting a lot of grief over this, because of their Christian background. I agree with you, it’s a sin like every other. And that hating people over their sin is never the answer. No one would ever be reached if that’s how we treated every person who sins, which is all of us. That’s all I think! Haha
Jeremy said:
Great read….I am still in awe how people are so amazed at Dan Cathy’s stance on the subject. Seriously…his restaurants are closed on Sunday and they play Christian music. They are a conservative culture and it didn’t shock me one bit that they had that view. Next, people will be shocked that they have Chicken Sandwiches! lol
Abby said:
Exactly!!
Jake said:
great perspective, jeremy. everyone knows the “atmosphere” inside a chik-fil-a store.
Trent said:
I just think it’s all hate…from Dan Cathy’s side and the gay community’s side
The hate has always been there, from both sides, and I believe that it always will be
Some things just don’t change
Jake said:
trent, i don’t know if “hate” is the right word … but, maybe “fear.” we are afraid of our differences and don’t understand how to process them in healthy ways. (though, granted, there are plenty of hate-filled people on both sides of the debate). i think that it’s possible to lead a better way forward.
Nicole S. said:
I completely agree with you Jake. Although we may not agree with the stance that Chik-Fil-A has taken, that doesn’t mean we should crucify someone for their opinion. If someone doesn’t think that homosexuality is okay, then okay, that’s their opinion and they are entitled to it. We are all children of God and should treat others as such, different beliefs and feelings set aside. We are all sinners. Each of us has a vice (or many), and no one is perfect. We are an imperfect society and that’s what makes us great, but also what makes us each unique.
Ron said:
“I know gay people that love God. Loving God and being gay aren’t mutually exclusive,” True! But loving God and practicing homosexuality is not possible! Just as looking at porn or being in an adulterous affair and loving God is not possible!
Dot said:
How true….both at the same time are NOT possible. The scriptures are very clear on this….homosexuality is wrong. Kudos to Chik-Fil-A for taking a stand!
Matt said:
Jake, you need to read Romans 6:1. Your teachings on grace are not compatible with the Bibles teachings. Do we all sin, the answer unfortunately is yes. Thankfully God does extend grace to us and will forgive us if we repent. However as Romans 6:1 teaches that we should not continue to sin so that grace may abound.
People including myself who sin need to repent and turn from their sin not matter how much they love or enjoy the sin they are involved in. To willfully continue in a sin does not show love for God.
I had a friend who had a porn addiction and he decided to get rid of his internet so that he could avoid the sin. I am sure it was difficult for him to give up his internet, but he chose to do so in order that he might avoid sin instead of continuing to sin and assume that grace would abound.
Jake said:
thanks for reading, matt. it’s safe to say that we disagree, but to clarify; i’ve never advocated that someone do whatever they want, and allow grace to cover it.
but, i’ll never stop speaking often of grace and it’s heretical ways. it confronts us, accepts us, molds us, and changes us. i believe that grace, wins.
Jeff said:
Powerful stuff. Can’t agree with everything you say, but we could all use such an honest confrontation of secret sin instead of pretending to be perfect in our own righteousness.
Jake said:
thanks for reading, jeff!
Angel said:
Dan Cathy was asked a question and he answered honestly! Why is this such a problem to people? Many people today answer a question according to what they know the public wants to hear not what they truly believe. I am glad Mr. Cathy was honest.
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