I put this on facebook last week but have not had time to bring it to the blog until today.
The Chik-fil-A controversy has led me to some reflection over the last few days. First, I want to admit that I was caught up in the hype. Personally, the only thing that upset me was the boycott of the chain based on their beliefs. We live in a capitalistic country, which means we have always based our economy on FREE ENTERPRISE, and we have based our purchasing on the highest quality products at the best prices. Period. I think it would be hypocritical for me to boycott CFA because of their stance on marriage and then go down the street and buy food from an Italian Catholic , or to buy produce from an Amish farmer, or to buy falafel from a Muslim, who all believe the same thing (I just don't know it because I have not asked). Are we going to develop an economy that is totally pro-gay marriage and one that is not? Our country simply could not function that way, and I personally do not have the time to ask every owner of every establishment what they believe and what causes they support. And I know no one who does. No one.
I also became deeply disturbed as I saw all the lines at CFA yesterday in support of the chain's stance on gay marriage. It made me sick really, and I will admit that I cried. I cried because God's people were not acting like God's people. God's people act out of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control, not out of PRIDE. That's right - pride - I did not say hate. I do not think all those people hate gays, but I also do not think they were acting in love. They were acting out of the desire to be right - which is pride, and which is the opposite of love as defined in 1 Cor. 13.:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Cor. 13: 4-7
Regardless of our feelings, we Christians need to begin to respond out of a spirit of love and compassion. We need to stop being so quick to get on the band wagon before we have all the facts, and above all we need to spend time praying and seeking God so that we know and understand HIS heart. I wonder how many people actually stopped and prayed and asked God if they should go to Chik-fil-A yesterday? Only by seeking God and asking Him to reveal Himself and His character to us will we be transformed to live and to be like Christ in this world. I saw thousands of people yesterday, and I don't think they were acting very much like Christ, who went to the Cross and died for the whole world and NEVER opened His mouth. He was the example of true holiness and humility as the Lamb of God, and we are to be like Him. Like I mentioned in my status, I was also disgusted, because I hold prayer meetings all the time, and usually I can only get 5-6 people to show up, but yet yesterday thousands turned out for this. What? You will support a fast food chain and wait in line for hours, but you will not take time to pray ONCE A MONTH FOR ONE HOUR? Seriously? It makes me sick. I am being real here. The church needs to wake up and start focusing on God and not the world. We need to seek Him and stop getting so caught up in worldly politics. The church fights its battles on its knees. The reason the church does not pray is because it does not want God - it wants to be right (there's that pride again rearing its ugly head) - and because people lack the faith to believe that God really IS all-powerful and all-good and REALLY WILL answer prayers prayed in HIS WILL. We need faith, church. It is time to WAKE UP!
I also want to say this about Christians being involved in politics and about America as a "Christian country." As far back as I can tell from the Bible, God has always given people choices: to love Him or to hate Him, to follow Him or to walk away, to accept Him or to deny Him. God has always given this choice and will continue to do so until the final judgement. The Church, as the Body of Christ, DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE THIS CHOICE AWAY FROM PEOPLE. Only God will have the final say. He even gave this choice to the Israelites, His chosen people and treasured possession: “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19
We have a choice to love and follow God or not. God makes it clear that He is a Jealous God, and that to love Him means we will obey Him. Some people have chosen another path. That is their right. We live in a secular country that guarantees freedom of religion. Thus, we do not have the right to impose our beliefs on others, whether they are gay, straight, Muslim, Wiccan, Pagan, Atheist, Buddhist, or Hindu. Last time I checked, our government was "by the people, for the people," and that means that the majority will pass the laws they want. Sometimes we will not like it. Previously the federal government out-lawed gay marriage. We may not like it, or we may like it, but our chosen form of government has decreed it, and we must follow that legislation whether we agree with it or not. Along with this, I think the Church needs to understand that it IS SEPARATE from the government. Jesus did not change the world using politics, He changed the world by loving one person at a time and by dying on the Cross and rising from the dead. Jesus did not tell us to go out and form our own country, He told us to go out and tell the world about Him and His love and His death and resurrection. How many of those people yesterday at Chik-fil-A have shared their faith this month or fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and those in prison? Jesus did not tell us to protest, but He did tell us to do all those other things. I don't know how much CFA made yesterday, but wouldn't it be wonderful if they donated that money to an organization that fights to end poverty? That brings clean water and sanitation to the 2-3 BILLION people in the world that need it? What if all those people used their cash to help save an orphan in Africa instead of pridefully saying to the gay community, "We do not accept you. You are not welcome?" Yes, I know people will say that was not the intent, but that was indeed the message that was sent to the gay community. They heard "We hate you." Even now, I am starting to cry just thinking about how hurt and wounded my gay friends are because of yesterday.
Lastly, I want to say this to the Church. Our battle is NOT against FLESH AND BLOOD. It is against the ONE enemy of us all - Satan - and his forces of darkness. Instead of attacking the masses of hurting humanity, we should be on our knees praying against Satan and his forces and interceding for the world that God loves. The church has been majoring in the minors. We need to pray and confront the Enemy, not other people, and we need to spend more time seeking God and seeking to know and understand His heart. He is a holy God who is perfect and beautiful and good and loving, and He longs to spend eternity with EVERY person He has created. As His followers, we are to tell others about this great God and His love and holiness, but we cannot do that accurately or correctly unless we are praying, interceding, and studying the word of God and are filled with His Holy Spirit. The CHURCH needs revival, not the nation. Revivals are always for the Church. God wants us to want HIM and to know Him, and from that place of abiding in Him, to allow Christ to manifest Himself to the world through us. We need to stop wasting time focusing on politics and start spending our time on our knees and loving others.
To my gay friends and relatives: I am sorry about yesterday. I am sorry you have been hurt by the church. Please know that God loves you and has a plan for you, that Jesus died FOR YOU, just as you are, and He longs for relationship with you. Please do not judge Jesus by His followers. We are sinners, too. We are filled with pride, contempt, envy, and lust, too. We are not perfect and we often get it wrong. Yesterday was an epic FAIL for the church. May Jesus bless you abundantly and may you know His love, kindness, and compassion.
