Wow, did your fb newsfeed, twitter account and blogroll BLOW UP over the Chick-fil-A story? Evidently the owner of a privately held company is not allowed to have a personal belief and not allowed to have his personal belief affect the way he runs his privately owned company. Huh?
We get it, Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A, doesn't think gay marriage is biblical. And he said so. This is not illegal, nor a surprise. Another non-surprise is that Cathy is a christian. He even believes his employees ought not work on Sundays and in response, his stores are not open on Sundays. Non-Surprise!
The gay-rights activists had a field day. Gee, more stuff for them to complain about. The liberal christians (almost all mainstream christian churches now-a-days) had a field day with this "news" story, as well.
Cathy didn't say he wouldn't serve gay people. He didn't even say he wouldn't hire gay people. And he REALLY didn't say he didn't like gay people. He said he didn't believe that gay marriage was biblical.
For my two cents (and I'm sure it's not even worth that much) I agree with him. I would never say I don't like gay people, but I will say I don't like their political agenda, I never have. I don't like the way they've twisted the idea that gays cannot be christians. This has never been the case. It's always been about living in unrepentant sin and being in leadership in the church. Now, if you want to make the issue that gay sex isn't sin (and they won't, 'cause nobody wants to talk about gay sex) then that is another story.
It's too bad we cannot focus on love outside of the context of sex. Sex is optional. Love is essential. I believe we do not celebrate singleness and celibacy enough, especially in the church. I think it's a shame the rate of divorce in marriage is the same for confessing christians as it is for those that do not confess Christ. It is heart-breaking to listen to fellow christians bash each other, instead of support each other, when one's faith is being held up to ridicule.
Even though I'm not a big chicken consumer, I'm going to be shopping at Chick-fil-A more often.
464. Laid a friend to rest and I have confidence he is with Jesus
465. Coverage of the olympic games
466. Slightly cooler weather
467. A clean and organized freezer
468. Peach and blueberry pie (I know, I said I'd make a cobbler, but it ended up being pie)
469. Food bloggers and their delicious recipes
470. More watermelon
We get it, Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A, doesn't think gay marriage is biblical. And he said so. This is not illegal, nor a surprise. Another non-surprise is that Cathy is a christian. He even believes his employees ought not work on Sundays and in response, his stores are not open on Sundays. Non-Surprise!
The gay-rights activists had a field day. Gee, more stuff for them to complain about. The liberal christians (almost all mainstream christian churches now-a-days) had a field day with this "news" story, as well.
Cathy didn't say he wouldn't serve gay people. He didn't even say he wouldn't hire gay people. And he REALLY didn't say he didn't like gay people. He said he didn't believe that gay marriage was biblical.
For my two cents (and I'm sure it's not even worth that much) I agree with him. I would never say I don't like gay people, but I will say I don't like their political agenda, I never have. I don't like the way they've twisted the idea that gays cannot be christians. This has never been the case. It's always been about living in unrepentant sin and being in leadership in the church. Now, if you want to make the issue that gay sex isn't sin (and they won't, 'cause nobody wants to talk about gay sex) then that is another story.
It's too bad we cannot focus on love outside of the context of sex. Sex is optional. Love is essential. I believe we do not celebrate singleness and celibacy enough, especially in the church. I think it's a shame the rate of divorce in marriage is the same for confessing christians as it is for those that do not confess Christ. It is heart-breaking to listen to fellow christians bash each other, instead of support each other, when one's faith is being held up to ridicule.
Even though I'm not a big chicken consumer, I'm going to be shopping at Chick-fil-A more often.
464. Laid a friend to rest and I have confidence he is with Jesus
465. Coverage of the olympic games
466. Slightly cooler weather
467. A clean and organized freezer
468. Peach and blueberry pie (I know, I said I'd make a cobbler, but it ended up being pie)
469. Food bloggers and their delicious recipes
470. More watermelon
I'm surprised how many "big name" Christian's are acting like Chick Fil A is the one at fault, the one being devisive. They aren't the ones that made this a big, public, news issue.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sure there are many other large Christian owned business whose owners feel the same way. Good grief. Why is ok for liberal business owners to make their beliefs public?
eh, i dont think the gays were the ones to make it hard for gays to be christians....
ReplyDeletebut i think there is some ridiculousness going on...and having municipal bans on private business just leads us down the road further to 1984...but it sure gets the attention off important things like presidential candidates posturing toward IRAN and running us into another stupid war....
Agreed. I do not think a private business owner should have the likes of the mayors of Boston and Chicago saying they're going to try and keep his business out over his personal beliefs. That's pretty much fascism right there. I am pleased that there are some on the liberal side who are saying the same thing. As a conservative, I believe that you have the right to your opinion, even if I don't like your opinion. I wish more felt that way.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the whole thing makes my head hurt.
It's heartbreaking, really. What I find most offensive about the situation is the obnoxious behavior on both sides of the argument.
ReplyDeleteHappy Girl--this is truly one of the wisest posts I have read on this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTruett Cathy should be able to say how he feels. Yes - this got way too blown up. My house cleaning guy is gay and a Christian - he is the church organist. I'll ask him what he thinks when I see him next.
ReplyDeleteDisclosure: My politics lean to the left of Rachel Maddow, but . . .
ReplyDeleteDan Cathy was speaking to the Baptist Press. He was generally speaking about the company's WinShape Foundation which (among other things) offers resources, conferences, retreats, etc. to strengthen marriages. From the interview:
. . . Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position."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."We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized. . . .
No one said anything about "gay." This is a totally manufactured controversy.
Thanks for this MZ. It's amazing the spin that can come as a reaction to a statement of faith. Polarizing.
ReplyDeleteThis may end up being a very good conversation. :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed
ReplyDeleteI think this gets it right, just as you did MZ.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.getreligion.org/2012/07/wheres-the-beef-what-the-chick-fil-a-boss-really-said/
You go girl. Speak truth! It's outrageous that we are supposed to all be tolerant and celebrate diversity and yet we can't state what we believe without being "hated" for it. Strange twist.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. The gay agenda is so quick to pounce. I'm glad to see the actual remarks and attached (below) link. Thank you for writing this.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this blog post had some good thoughts--http://www.owldolatrous.com/?p=288
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I am tired of the whole Chick thing. I think that both "sides" have become polarized and if anything more divisiveness has been created. Meanwhile, Cathy is laughing all the way to the bank.
http://www.owldolatrous.com/?p=288
ReplyDelete