Horray for Chick-fil-A!

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Pastor Dave

One of the hot news items of the past couple weeks, other than the Olympics in London, has been the uproar caused by a simple statement made by Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A to the Baptist Press that his family-owned company “operates on biblical principles,” and therefore “supports the traditional family.” He spoke out and now he and Chick-fil-A are paying the price. Many voices of the media and government are lashing out–and seeking to intimidate and bully Chick-fil-A and anyone who shares their views, to keep them to themselves. For example, an Alderman in Chicago is seeking to block Chick-fil-A from opening an already-planned restaurant in the city. He has declared that Chick-fil-A’s position is “bigoted” and “homophobic” and that the company discriminates against homosexuals, which is a crazy, baseless charge. But, the mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, is backing the Alderman, and told CBS, “Chick-fil-A’s values are into Chicago values…And if you’re going to be a part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values.”

     So, are all the churches, mosques, synagogues and all who hold to biblical principles for the sanctity of marriage being between one man and one woman supposed to pack up and leave town? The mayors of Boston, Washington D.C, and San Francisco made similar declarations to that of Chicago’s mayor. Wow, we have come to the place in our blessed nation with its Judeo-Christian roots that if you dare say you believe that marriage is between a man and a woman only, you run the real risk of being called a “homophobe,” a “bigot,” and a “hatemonger.” And, if you own a business and take such a stand, you may well be targeted.
     But I say, “Good for you, Dan Cathy. May your tribe increase!!”  Do you and I have the courage in our convictions to defend marriage, the sanctity of human life, to defend free speech, to defend freedom of religion? Do our freedoms and faith matter more to us than the opinions of others? Will we allow our reputations and our profits to suffer before we will allow our freedoms to erode? Chuck Colson once said “a  free society can remain free only so long as dissent is tolerated, only so long as opinions and ideas can be debated freely in the public square.”  Amen!  We have no choice but to speak out. Not to lash out, not to be hateful and contentious, but to speak out winsomely yet firmly, to “Speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).
     And, since when can the mayor decide for the whole city? Isn’t he to be the servant of the people of Chicago who elected him? How can a servant’s value rule the value of the whole city? Who gave him the authority of doing such? It’s time the people of Chicago told the mayor not to mess with the unauthorized ruling based on his personal view and to be the humble public servant he is supposed to be.  How about letting the people of Chicago decide if they want a Chick-fil-A or not. (If not, hey, we would love to have one built in our hometown!)
     The declarations of the mayors against Chick-fil-A caused quite an outrage from the public and last Wednesday was declared “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.”  Although there were big crowds, long drive-through lines and record sales at the chain’s stores, most news media ignored the positive response to the stand Dan Cathy took.  Interestingly, even a number of openly gay folks showed up as well to dine at Chick-fil-A in support of the owner’s freedom of speech (according to the first amendment) to express his personal values on marriage.  A group called “Grassfire Nation” collected nearly 100,000 signatures which they have presented to the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco as well as to the Chick-fil-A headquarters. 
     Interesting how liberal leaders preach “tolerance” and yet are very “intolerant” of those who speak up for biblical and Christian values.  Interesting, but not surprising. Jesus warned us that this would be the case. He said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you…If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (Jn. 15:18-20).  It is just sad that we see this happening in our own country, which for so long stood for biblical values. Now we see the expression of those values under attack. But, we must not withdraw and stop voicing our convictions. It is a time in which we desperately need to, as Dan Cathy, speak out for what we believe. Hooray for Chik-fil-A.  May we all have the boldness to do the same.
 
                                            Forever His,
                                                Pastor Dave
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About Pastor Dave

Until my retirement 2 years ago, I pastored an independent Bible church in Northwest Montana for nearly 38 years. During that time I also helped establish a Christian school, and a Bible Camp. I am married and have children and grandchildren. The Wisdom of the Week devotional is an outgrowth of my desire to share what God is doing in my life and in our world, and to challenge you to be a part.
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