Like many of the folks who'd glance at this humble blog, my family and I thoroughly enjoyed some delicious Chick-Fil-A food yesterday. This of course was in support of their founder's publically coming out FOR traditional family and biblical family values. Thankfully, many people all around the Nation did this too, and even today (according to my wife) our local Chick-Fil-A was packed. Well bless God! :)
But the whole thing caused an interesting question to arise in my mind, stirred by a tweet on Twitter from a pastor who apparently thought it was all much to do about nothing. He also questioned whether we as Christians were going to start scrutinizing companies we deal with for their values? (He of course asked the question sarcastically.)
But for me, the question hung there. You see, I spend my life trying to "love what He loves and hate what He hates" and love others biblically. The thought of fighting so hard in my pulpit, my personal life, and for my family only to voluntarily give my money (actually, God's money...a powerful tool) to people who use it to fight against God's Word is repugnant.
So I did a quick "Google" search and ran across this article (warning: from a secular site):
Yikes! I must be honest....I don't yet know what to make of this....I use most of these companies. I sat there at my computer (running Microsoft Windows) next to my Ipad...stunned.
Ok...now let me repeat: I don't know what to make of this just yet. I know the enemies of Christ have no problem calling for boycotts, picketting, etc. But us Christians? We usually preach a little bit and go back to business as usual. Plus, most of us are totally immersed here. Lord, what do you require here? Anything?
I'm sure this would be called a matter of "personal conscience" by most. And that is probably right. As Mike Huckabee said, " I buy the products not their politics."
But I don't know. I truly don't. I know this line of thinking can get interesting though...LOL. It seems like the devil has us coming and going. A weak, scared church afraid of the "hate" label; very little family discipelship in Christian homes; 85% of our children going to government schools; unbiblical evangelism that doesn't bring the knowledge of sin and call for repentance; and putting large sums of our money into organizations that support the darkness.
I'm probably way off here. Shucks...I hope I am! (A brutha loves his Ipad!) But what if there are Kingdom implications? I've drawn NO conclusions on this very difficult issue. But my wife and I are talking! (She refused to buy Cheerios today at the grocery store...LOL.) And I am thinking this through principally...and even the implications of the thought brings my spirit down. Am I that easy to trick?
In the search for principles, so far I'm come across:
- 2Ti 2:4 ESV No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
- 1Jn 2:15-16 ESV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.
- Mar 4:18-19 ESV And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, (19) but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
- 1Co 10:23 ESV "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
- Eph 5:11 ESV Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
- 1Co 10:25-26 ESV Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. (26) For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."
Although I'm just beginning to look at my personal stewardship from this angle, I can say I ordered two books today from Christianbook.com (I normally used Amazon) and I'm researching another email service (currently use Google). (Why is it that all the tech world seems to be on the LGBT bandwagon?) I also asked my wife to pick up a Shepherd's Guide the next time she's at the grocery store.
Like I wrote in the title...Yikes. :)
(NOTE: For those coming to this blog not to discuss giving up your Iphone (LOL...Noooooo!) but upset that God's Word declares homosexuality a sin, read here first...then here and here. We still love you.) :)
