Let me first preface this by stating this particular post is in no way meant to be incendiary, although I am aware and accept that I may catch flack from both sides of the argument. I respect and uphold your right to an opinion, even if it differs from mine.
Secondly, let me say to all my gay friends, of which I have many, that I love you. Most, if not all of you, know that I am a Christian, and as such, hold to biblical teaching of God’s design for intimate relationships. However, since you know that, I see no point in shoving my belief on you repetitiously, as if doing that would somehow magically change your opinion on the matter, nor does it change our friendship and my love for you. Most of you know and accept that and we agree to disagree and go right along loving one another.
This brings me to my actual comment on the matter. My friend, who is gay, posted on his blog his response to the Chik-Fil-A brouhaha. In summary, he was fine agreeing to disagree up until the mass “eat-in” taking place at Chik-Fil-A’s all over the country yesterday and seeing a photograph of it.
From his perspective, the message he saw was not one of Christian love, support and solidarity for a Christian brother voicing his 1st amendment rights. It was hatred for what he holds to be intrinsically him, and dangerous to young people wrestling with their feelings and orientation, not old enough to understand the whole picture. And he isn’t alone in that feeling. While it’s fine to voice your view and it’s fine for people to support that, on either side of the fence, the “eat-in” did not speak of the love we run around professing we hold as the main “fruit” of our belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Shame on us.
As Christians, we should be asking ourselves are we more concerned with the well being of the neighbor we are told to love and sharing the redeeming power of Christ’s love and forgiveness, or do we care more about being “right” and shouting that we will not tolerate other people voicing opinions against someone sharing their opposing belief simply because we happen to agree with one side and not the other?
The issue here is not eating at Chik-Fil-A. If you want to support a Christian establishment and agree with the views they hold and causes they support, whatever. I eat there. I don’t plan on changing that. I also, similarly, wouldn’t stop eating at an establishment simply because they contributed to LGBT causes. Or even non-Christian ones for that matter. Short of growing your own fruits and veggies and raising your own livestock, shearing your own sheep, making your own clothing and living TOTALLY off the grid, there is no way you can ensure that you are not supporting a cause on any front that you do not agree with. Period. So let’s not make that the issue.
The issue is when we make this “us vs. them.” It serves no purpose. It doesn’t teach people about God’s love or God’s grace. There’s no balance. When all you’re shouting at people is Law, there’s no hope.
Acting as though we are somehow less sinful, more righteous, we become the Pharisee in Luke 18:11,
“The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.”
Based on some of our actions, we may as well just insert “homosexual” into that list. Who came up with this “Top 10 Most Grievous Sins” list, anyhow? Last I remember, there’s a whole laundry list of people who God says “won’t inherit the kingdom of God
“Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God
It’s not an issue of repentance or non-repentance either, because as a “group,” are we boycotting establishments run by those having hetero sex outside of marriage? Or being openly hostile to those guilty of idol worship (Possessions? Celebrities? Career? Spouse? Children?), as they elevate something else to the status of God Almighty. Do we stage protests with picket signs on corners opposite of the corners being worked by hookers?
No. In those circumstances, we lovingly come alongside the person and try to counsel them, or help them out of the situation they find themselves in, while pointing them lovingly toward a gracious and forgiving Savior who desires to see them made whole. We offer to pray with and for them. And in the end, we can peaceably agree to disagree if we come to a stalemate on the issue.
Somehow all bets are off when it comes to being gay. It breaks my heart and it makes me sad. So often, Christians focus on the “cause” and forget the so-called "opposition" is made up of real people. People who are God’s children, the same as you or I. People who have hopes and dreams, love and feelings.
So, my closing thoughts are these. Believe as you will, financially support whom you will, but let truth AND love be your motivating factor in ALL you do. Not hopping on the band wagon. Not proving a point. Not being right. Once you’ve shared your belief, there’s no need for you to beat people about the head with it. Because if you say you believe that God is enthroned in glory, and God is in control, then why take it upon ourselves to do God’s work? Last I checked, neither one of us received notice we’d been promoted to the position of the Holy Spirit.
Just love them.
well said, bravo
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