The older I get in my Christian faith, the more convinced I am that what matters most is not what we believe, but rather the actions those beliefs encourage us to take or not take. Just over a week ago Christianity in America was literally reduced to a chicken sandwich as people on both sides of a very polarizing political issue stood up in arms over their disdain/support of Chik-Fil-A in the wake of their statements concerning “biblical marriage.”
I wrote about my thoughts and concerns, and the more I have pondered the events of that day, my heart has been broken concerning a certain group of people. I have really thought about the people who are on the fence; those who are contemplating jumping in with both feet to a life of following Christ. They have been searching for something real and meaningful that they can pour their life into and wrap their heart around. And for many of these people, I believe they thought a relationship with Jesus Christ and the church may have been that one thing for which their hearts were longing. And as these people were contemplating this life-altering decision, what was it that the Christian community did? Some posted hate videos on Youtube and other sites (and these were in response to the nature of statements made as well as anti-gay organizatins Chik-Fil-A admitted to supporting), and called for a boycott. One I saw suggested people go into Chik-Fil-A and only order a glass of water which they are legally required to give, therefore they would be detracting employee time and a little bit of corporate revenue from the chicken sandwich franchise. Others on the flip side followed Mike Huckabee’s marching orders and flooded Chik-Fil-A with support on August 1. People waited in line for hours, lines were backed up around the block, and customers were parking hundreds of yards away, to stand in 100+ degree heat to buy a $7.00 sandwich value meal, complete with waffle fries and lemonade. Then they posted pictures of their chicken sandwich meals on social networking sites, telling everyone of their support of God, country, and chicken.
I know many people believe the incident was not about gay marriage, but about Dan Cathy’s freedom of speech. And I do believe we should be free to speak what we believe. But what if all Christ followers sought to live out their beliefs in such a way that people on the outside of Christianity looking in would say, “I want what they have,” rather than saying, “Wow, this is ridiculous!”
There will always be disagreement on this issue. I am very firm in my beliefs on this issue, yet I haven’t met a person yet on the other side who has been “won over” by belligerent rhetoric. If you believe gays should not be allowed to marry and you have biblical basis for saying so, that is well and good. But how we live out that conviction before the world and how we treat those who believe otherwise says more about who we are than our view on this issue. Likewise, if you are one who believes gays should be allowed to marry, how you go about living that out says more about who you are than your stance on the issue. Actions speak louder than words, and on August 1, people didn’t see Christ. They saw chicken.
To me the CFA event was incredible. To see that many people supporting a business that stands for the values it does… in our culture… I’m just glad that there is a remnant out there. Did it rub people wrong? Yes. Did Jesus rub people wrong? YES! (You can see that he did, he was crucified.) I think that these things are just part of being a follower of Jesus. As Christians we have a job to stand up for the things God stands for – through the easy issues and through the tough issues. Sometimes the liberal media makes it really hard for Christ followers to do things without demonizing it – or making it seem “Wow, this is ridiculous!” Were there some who went over board? Probably. Were those the people the liberal media focused on? Probably. But for the rest of us, who used social media to show our support for “traditional marriage” (assuming there is another form of marriage) and a business man who had the wits to stand up for what he believed, we were making a point. It isn’t just about condemning the gays – but they do need to know they are WRONG! It was about standing for what we believed in. Did I support CFA? Yes sir. Do I love gay people? Yes. But their lifestyle is WRONG and they need to KNOW it. If Christ-followers don’t tell them who will? I’m pretty sure Jesus would be straight forward.
I don’t disagree with you entirely. I see where you’re coming from. However, when I think of Jesus standing up for what is right, I think of the woman caught in adultery. I think of the woman at the well in John 4 who had already had 5 husbands. I think of the sinner on the cross who received salvation. These weren’t the people who crucified Jesus. These were the sinners who received grace and compassion (as well as an admonishment to leave their lives of sin-even the thief on the cross). If believers truly believe that gay marriage is a sin, then there has to be a better way of addressing that issue in our culture and in the church rather than politicizing the issue and getting this right wing vs. left wing war started where nothing is done for the good of the church or the people on either side. At the end of the day, each side is wanting to cry “victory” when it’s not about victory, it’s about reconciliation and repentance. This is not a battle to be won. It is the single most polarizing issue in our culture and in our church and if we can’t have dialogue about it then we are dead where we stand. Is there a possibility that the LGBT community that calls themselves followers of Christ could be delivered/healed (insert Christianese term here)? Absolutely, but that’s never going to happen if they are continually attacked by the right wing who flexes its muscles by standing hours in triple digit heat for a chicken sandwich.
To use your logic about Jesus standing up for what is right, he should have had nothing to do with the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery because they were godless people and what was culturally “right” would have been to not speak. So how is their sin different from what we call the sin of being homosexual? It’s not. Yet because we don’t understand it, we put an asterisk by it and somehow feel the need to treat it differently than all the other types of sin in which people could be involved. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, and for engaging in a little good-spirited debate. Blessings to you.