The Gospel Of The Chick-Fil-A Mess
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you have heard about the Chick-Fil-A brouhaha over the past several days. This entire situation has elicited strong feelings on both sides. I’ve made a few comments in a few places, some I wish I hadn’t, but I’ve tried to step back and think of what this whole deal is really all about.
Many people are supporting Chick-Fil-A’s stance on supporting traditional marriage. They consider them a Christian company because they close on Sundays and try to run their company by Christian values. Chick-Fil-A has become the poster child of businesses for many of us who call ourselves Christian.
What we hear is the gospel of Chick-Fil-A. Christian values and Christian principles with some chicken and waffle fries thrown in to boot.
On the other side, we have people, many who claim Christ as Savior, who are supporting the boycotts against Chick-Fil-A. These folks promote equality. They promote progressive thought and change. They stand for those they consider the underdog.
What we hear is the gospel of civil rights. Fairness and equality, with societal change tossed in.
After stepping back and thinking, listening, reading and keeping my mouth shut (but maybe not as much as I should) I’ve come to my definitive thought on this entire situation.
I have not heard the Gospel in any of it from either side.
Yes, I’ve heard values. Yes, I’ve heard principles. I’ve heard fairness. I’ve heard equality.
I’ve not heard any good news. I’ve not heard THE good news.
I’ve not heard Christ promoted yet.
I’ve not heard of His death, burial and resurrection.
I’ve not heard of him appearing before Peter and the other disciples.
I’ve not heard about him appearing to five hundred others.
I’ve not heard about him appearing to Paul
That is good news. That is THE Gospel.
All of us, on each side, get so side-tracked. Christ left us here to make disciples. The means of doing that is to proclaim the gospel.
We don’t make disciples of Christ by promoting marriage or chicken shacks.
We don’t make disciples of Christ by promoting equality, fairness or civil rights.
We make disciples by going, teaching and baptizing.
We need to get back to what we should be doing.
We need to proclaim the Gospel.
Are you proclaiming the gospel of Chick-Fil-A, Civil Rights or Jesus Christ?
Well said Larry. While I have my definite thoughts on the whole mess, I have chosen to stay silent. There is enough noise going on without me adding one more bit of pollution to it. I am staying out of this for the same reason I am staying out of the whole political garbage-that is not my calling. My calling is to present the Gospel (as you have stated it). And with that I will close before I state how I feel about the CFA mess.
Thanks Bill. I appreciate everything you do and your encouragement, my friend.
Preach.
Rob, I appreciate that word.
Amen! It should not make any difference one way or the other how the owner of the chicken place feels about marriage. It has turned into a media debacle for both sides and has improved the sales at his business. Maybe that was his goal.
Our job, as Christians, is to spread the Word and Good News to others bringing them to Christ and I don’t believe I have to eat at Chic-fi-la to do that – though it might be a good place to start.
Walk daily with God at your side!
Ed
Ps: I have never been to one.
Ed, I love Chik-Fil-A. I love the Gospel more.
I love the Gospel, have never been to a Chik-Fil-A! Maybe I should find one and try their food. I think there is one in Longview, about 40 miles from here.
I wouldn’t drive 40 miles just for them…but if I was in the area
Had my 1st Chick-Fil-A the other day.
I like them. I’ll buy more.
While I was there, I had a chance to speak to someone about Christ. It was a good day.
Thanks.
Thanks Steve. Somehow I don’t think you play banjo, sing King Tut or were ever The Jerk.
I don’t really care about the current brouhaha, but I like what you made me think about – am I proclaiming the gospel of Jesus or simply touting whatever it is that I’m endorsing at the moment?
Ricky, I am as guilty as anyone. This whole thing may have been an “Aha” moment for me. Glad you liked.
Reblogged this on Resting in His Grace and commented:
…and another take on what should be an interesting day.
Thanks for reblogging this. I appreciate the support.
VERY well said, as always.
Thanks Rhonda!!! Always appreciate your support!!!
There are lots of lesser truths, but only one who is “Faithful and True,” riding on the white horse and coming for His pure bride.
Yes, lots of lesser truths, but He is the Truth!!!
“I’ve tried to step back and think of what this whole deal is really all about.” That was the hook that kept me reading, my friend, as thoughts tumbled through my head. I am delighted by the candor with which you state your observations. This is about anything and everything BUT the Gospel. I have my thoughts as to what it’s really about, and who some of the players are here in NC…the people who helped balloon the issue of our neighbor’s “sins” (which are always oh so much bigger than our own–end sarcasm) out of proportion to the real challenges “we the people” (which includes “they the people” who don’t all think like “we” do) face as a nation. And as for those of us who follow Christ…all this is not about the Gospel at all. I appreciate the courage and authenticity you’ve shown, here.
Thank you, Leah. Stop by again.
Thanks for reminding us of our purpose as Christians, to share His story and His only.
Keep the Faith!
Thank you, Karin
To be honest the whole thing is torturous for me. Regardless which side of the “issue” I fall it has been a constant reminder that there isn’t one within 5000 miles of here. BOOOO. It the divisive issue of the day. Who knows what it will be tomorrow?
Amen Ken….praying the they enter Paraguay just for you…..I would overnight some, but I’m not sure the waffle fries would hold up.
Well said Larry. It often is easy just to comment on something instead of trying to think it through and consider what is being said and what is not.
I tried to make some comments, but my thoughts kept evolving. Not sure, though, if I can use that word.
The Lord’s Army rallying around Chick-Fil-A is much like the rallying around Tim Tebow….No one in my circle of friends (I am from the deep South) is allowed to be neutral. And you better be ADAMANTLY IN FAVOR of both.
i think the publicity is great for Chick-fil-A and find it funny that Chicken Sandwiches are an issue in the Presidential election (by association).
And if you run into a football fan who thinks Tim Tebow is not the best quarterback since Joe Montana, IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY HATE GOD AND ARE PRO-CHOICE!!!! (sorry, that was aimed at my in-laws, not you!)
I think Tebow is a great guy, but you can guess my other feelings for him by the Power T on my hat.
Georgia Bulldog fan here.
I was born in Savannah. I like Mark Richt. Our coaches dad was your head coach. I’m down with the Dawgs except for once a year.
We are heading out to eat at Chick-Fil-A since with all the news about it we just found out there was one close to us, southern Ca. We moved from the south (KY) to Ca a few months ago and it will be interesting to see what the Chick-Fil-A look like today. I know what it would look like in Kentucky.
By the way great post, really well said and needed said. I am going to share this on my fb.
Thank you. Good luck in Cali.
I think you hit it on the head. It is Christ Jesus that we should promote and proclaim. If the world, and those who call themselves His truly lived in Him then questioning the values of a company for the way they conduct their business, and the way our society views it would be a moot point. Very good and appropriate word, brother.
I believe we should always promote Christ.
I also believe that in America we have the right to speak our opinions.
Men and women have died for that right.
It seems as though Christians may have lost that right.
Mr. Cathy never said he would not serve anyone.
He simply stated his opinion on traditional marriage
This is why some of us CHOSE to stand in lines on Wednesday.
Not because we hate, but because we get to make that choice.
This is still America isn’t it?
Absolutely. I agree with everything that you said. I happen to think that too often we believers get caught up in so many things like this and our focus isn’t Christ, but causes. I believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Unfortunately, what ends ups happening is that traditional marriage or pro-life or even freedom becomes our message and our cause.
What if Mr. Cathy had stated that Chick-Fil-A and the Cathy family tried to run the company so that Christ was glorified and that they tried to so the same in their families? Christ would have been magnified and glorified rather than the cause of traditional marriage. Proclaiming traditional marriage or pro-life doesn’t win those against those things to Christ. It’s only by proclaiming Christ that people are won and real change happens.
That’s fair.
Great stuff. Very true. Let’s proclaim Christ. Thanks for sharing!
Yes. Amen.
Those people who flooded the local Chick-Fil-A joints were showing their love and support of Dan Cathy. NOT Jesus, who told us to love radically, boldly, and with HIM as our guidepost.
Yes, freedom of speech is an American right. But it is NOT a godly directive. God doesn’t want Christians to speak freely. He calls us to a higher standard, to speak with grace, compassion, significance and, most of all, love.
Hey JButt, thanks for stopping by. I like what you said there. I’m toying with the idea of us submitting our American rights beneath our identity in Christ. I may have to write a first draft for it to make sense.
Larry, I haven’t said much about this. I’m afraid of offending or isolating anyone. But I’m not afraid to offend over standing up for Christ. This is something that I can’t be quiet about. I am called to spread the good news. This is a fantastic post. Honored to call you a friend.
Jim, there are good, well-meaning people in both sides. I just think we (being believers) are called to something greater. Thanks for your support.