Surprise! We're Christians

The most surprising part about the Chick-fil-A situation... is that it is so surprising to so many people.

 Here is the situation as I see it: There is a company, started and run by a Christian family with publicly expressed Christian values, built and run on biblical principles. The owner of this company has made biblical statements on a Christian broadcast about same-sex marriage. He stated that he supports the biblical definition of marriage and the family. He also said that he believes by contradicting and trying to redefine God's plan for marriage, as written in the Bible, our nation is calling judgment on itself.

 So a Christian believes the Bible and makes a statement expressing just that. And now the world is surprised and offended? I can't help but wonder... what did everyone expect? Are we so accustomed to people saying they are Christians but not living and promoting Christian values and beliefs? Is it so commonplace for a person to go to church on Sundays, pray before meals, and refrain from drinking all while having a permissive attitude about every other word God uttered in the Bible? Has the Western church become so watered-down, indistinct and conformed to this world that it is surprising to hear a well-known Christian reiterate the hard, unpopular truths in the Bible? Are there so many "Christians" that don't believe or hold to what the Bible says that make Mr. Cathy's statements seem radical and insensitive?

 Genesis chapter 2 details how God created man and woman, brought them together to be united in marriage with the command to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:28). After the fall of mankind in Genesis 3, we see many sins take place, from murder to drunkenness, to envy and sexual immorality. In Genesis 19, we see the judgment of the city of Sodom. Abraham cried out to the Lord to spare the city for 10 righteous men, but that number could not be found. Two angels of the Lord came to Sodom in the evening. Lot, Abraham's nephew, welcomed them into his house for the night, but the men of the town surrounded the house and demanded that the visitors come out so they could have sex with them. Lot offered his virgin daughters instead to appease the crowd and protect the visitors. The crowd's perversion was great and they began to break down the door. The angels struck the men with blindness and rescued Lot and his daughters before God destroyed the city with sulfur and fire from heaven. The grotesque sins of the town brought judgment on them.

 Likewise, in Noah's day, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." God responded with a flood that killed everyone and everything not protected in the ark - judgment for a refusal to live in ways that honored God. 

Romans 1 describes how the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. Because men have ignored the truth about God that is plain to them (v. 18-19), did not honor God or give thanks to Him (v.21) and worship created things rather than the Creator (v.25), verse 24 says, "God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves". God explains this further in verses 26 and 27:
 "For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error." 

 If Mr. Cathy, as a Christian, is aware of these passages and believes the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, his comments are not surprising at all. In fact, they should be expected from all Christians, those who believe and serve the God of the Bible and have been saved by grace through faith by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So why were we surprised?

The next issue under attack by the media and anyone with a Facebook and Twitter account is the amount of money given to "anti-gay" organizations, i.e. Christian organizations.

I felt I should do a little research to see what all the fuss was about. The list:
Marriage & Family Legacy Fund: A fund to "pool funds for a national marriage media campaign and provide start-up grants for local initiatives to promote stable, lasting marriages." See article.
Fellowship Of Christian Athletes: FCA mission - To present to athletes and coaches and all whom they influence the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church.
National Christian Foundation and New Mexico Christian Foundation: The largest Christian grant-making foundation in the world
Focus On The Family: "Focus on the Family is a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive. We provide help and resources for couples to build healthy marriages that reflect God’s design, and for parents to raise their children according to morals and values grounded in biblical principles." FOTF has a social justice arm that seeks to educate parents on how to address hot topics their children will come in contact with and protect their children from permissive ideologies. This includes links to government officials' contact information, talking points, and letters that enable parents to lobby for the right to shield their children from topics they do not want them exposed to. FOTF may supply money to specific lobbyists, but I did not see evidence of that.
Eagle Forum: "Eagle Forum's Mission is to enable conservative and pro-family men and women to participate in the process of self-government and public policy making so that America will continue to be a land of individual liberty, respect for family integrity, public and private virtue, and private enterprise." From my perspective, this is a very conservative organization that rallies like-minded individuals to participate in the legislative process - letter writing, phone calls, etc.
Exodus International: Mission - "Mobilizing the body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality." Their policy on the criminalization of homosexuals states:
"Exodus International believes that every human life, regardless of sexual orientation, is of inestimable and equal worth to God and that defending this principle is foundational in offering a Christian response to any issue. As such, Exodus International has not supported and will not support any legislation that deprives others of life and dignity based on their sexual orientation or the expression of such within the confines of a consensual adult relationship. We stand with all who are defending this basic, biblical tenet and remain committed to sharing the compassion, hope and life-giving grace and truth of Jesus Christ.
Finally, we stand with the LGBT community both in spirit, and when necessary, legally and physically, when violence rears it’s head in Uganda, Jamaica or anywhere else in the world."
Family Research Council: Mission - "Family Research Council (FRC) champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society. FRC shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family. Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society."

Five of these organizations and funds on the list are explicitly Christian organizations that share the same beliefs on same-sex marriage as the Chick-fil-A owner. Only two of these organizations explicitly work to lobby for specific legislation surrounding sexuality. I find it very interesting that the company gave only $5000 to the Eagle Forum in 2009 and $2000 to the Family Research Council over 2 years. So $7000 over 2 years out of the "Nearly $2 Million" headline being thrown around. $7000 is what one store probably makes in a day. Despite the trivial amount of money, why are we surprised that a Christian, conservative family would give to Christian organizations and funds with their own profits?

And what makes the initiatives "anti-gay"? People are now believing Chick-fil-A is supporting discriminatory practices and laws against the LGBT community because they have donated to Christian organizations that share their values and beliefs. People argue tolerance, freedom and fair treatment, but only when it is in their best interest. Is it "tolerant" to support behaviors and laws that permit and condone acts I believe are morally wrong? No. That is denying what I believe and refusing to act on what I profess. True tolerance is maintaining my beliefs while still loving and respecting people regardless of if they share them or not. I don't have to accept sin and call it righteousness to be tolerant. I don't have to tolerate sin to be tolerant and accepting of people. I believe that is what the Cathys are communicating. They have beliefs - ones that should not really surprise us - and they are standing for them and supporting groups that promote them. They have not been discriminatory, unkind or unloving.

In a Baptist Press profile quoted on the NOM blog, Mr. Cathy said: "We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

...as the boycotts begin.

No Control

This is a note I posted on Facebook February 22, 2010.


To everyone who's hurting
To those who've had enough
To all the undeserving
That should cover all of us...
- Mercy Me


This past Friday, God taught or should I say re-taught a lesson to me. It was a regular Friday morning. I was greeting my kids, finishing some last minute details, and eating an apple when my new student came in. He had not been there for the past 3 days.


Now, this student has recently moved to the U.S. from another country and speaks no English. I can tell he is scared. He has no idea what we are talking about and what school is like here. Prior to this day, he had been to school about 2 full days over the course of a week and a half. And of course, he is still not used to it.


So this morning, as his uncle tries to leave, he runs out the room after him. The uncle brings him back in and I assure the uncle that the boy has to stay. He will never get acclimated if they keep letting him leave or stay home. So as the uncle leaves, I close the door and block it.


At this point, the student begins to completely break down, trying to push me, hit me, bite me all while he is crying and screaming. Two teachers nearby come to my aid. One tries to hold him with me while the other takes the rest of my students out of the classroom. As I am calling the office, the student, getting my class out, etc., the student manages to bite the other teacher that was holding him. We get him back in my now empty room and he proceeds to kick chairs and knock things over. He even goes as far as running out the back door outside. I and another teacher run after him and pick him up. In the process, he pinches her lip, causing it to be red for hours. We get him back to her room to calm him down as she rocks him like a baby.


As I go back to get the shoes he has kicked off somewhere, I look around my room, which now looks as if a tornado has passed through. I feel utterly helpless. I couldn't even find one shoe for a minute. I wanted to cry, but I felt like I couldn't then or maybe shouldn't.


After he was calmed down, I brought him back in the room and got the rest of my class. And fighting back tears, explained to my class that he was still scared so we had to be quiet as we learned.


That night, a devotional led me to read Exodus 13:20-22. "And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people." italics Chapter 16 then starts the Israelites' complaining, which the Lord answered by providing bread from Heaven.


As I read this, it struck me how ever-present God is. Just that morning I had felt about as helpless as I ever have, knowing I needed to act but not sure what to do. And God was there. Not only was He there, but he was controlling everything, from the support He put around me to my children obeying quickly and completely. God is holding me, just like he is holding my terrified new student. What I am realizing now is that it's so much better not to be in control. It doesn't have to be scary when you have a mighty God to trust.


Interestingly enough, the next day, my grandfather passed away. Despite the fact that I expected it, I gain even more peace knowing that God is in control, knowing that God is going before me by day and by night. And no matter how unfaithful I may be or how much I may grumble, He does not leave. Even more, he continues to provide.


The pastor preached this Sunday about God's eagerness to accept and love on us, despite how we turn our backs on Him. He loves repentance and surrender and reacts to it with compassion (Luke 15:11-32). But even without our "right" actions, He still loves and provides (Exodus 16:1-5). I am extremely encouraged and convicted by His compassion for me and excited about my complete lack of control.