I have never been Black, Asian, Hispanic, Gay or a Woman. I have never been rich or lived in utter poverty. I have never been Jewish or Hindu or Muslim. And guess what. I am not going to apologize for that! However, I am a growing minority! I am a White Anglo-Saxon American Male Christian.
The news this past week has been crazy. With all the problems with the economy, violence in our communities and other suffering in the world, Chick-Fil-A is under attack because it's president, Dan Cathy had the gall to answer a question honestly.
"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit," he said. "We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."
So what is wrong with that? Can anyone actually say that they are surprised by this statement? Afterall, Chick-fi-A is closed on Sundays because of their strong Christian beliefs. Where is the hate that so many are claiming? Nowhere do I see in this statement anything that condemns any people or group. Is the man not due the privilege of free speech. And no, this is NOT hate-speech.
I am divorced. Should I be offended by Cathy's remark..."we are married to our first wives."? That would be silly. It is just another example of how polarized we have become as a society. It is the "we" vs. "them" mentality...and I hate it!
The company later released the following statement: "The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender." That IS Christianity!
Being Christian is not an exclusive club where only certain people are allowed in. If anything, we all qualify for inclusion because we share a common characteristic...we are all sinners. One of the greatest hindrances to true Christianity is the "holier than thou" mentality of judgement that some Christians feel they are entitled. " I may do this...but I would never do that" scale of sin is a disservice and an affront to God.
To a totally and completely Holy God...any sin is offensive.
So, Jeff, are you saying that gay-marriage is a sin? I am saying that there is strong scriptural evidence of what God's plan is: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24 ESV)
"For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. 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." (Romans 1:26-27 ESV)
I also believe that there is strong scientific evidence that some people, male or female, are predisposed to not be attracted to the opposite sex. I don't have the answer for everyone. I only have the answer as I apply it to my life. This is just another of those times where I am happy I am not God. I am content to let Him take this one.
And consider this. In the scope or eternity and salvation does it really matter? "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (Matthew 22:30 ESV) "For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
(Mark 12:25 ESV)
I do not mean to take the scripture out of context; because Paul is not condoning homosexuality when he wrote: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28 ESV)...but, as Christians we have to leave room in our hearts that everyone has sacred worth. I see nothing in Mr. Cathy's comments that contradicts that.
Boycott if you want, however, I will continue to support Chick-fil-A because, as far as I can see, they actually do practice what they preach. And just because I eat a waffle fry doesn't make me a hate-monger either! Please choose your battles carefully! What are you really willing to fight for? (another future blog)
MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS...OR SO I THOUGHT
As I was working in my classroom this morning registration is taking place just outside in the hallway. An African-American woman came into my room and ask if I was the broadcasting teacher. When I said I was, she wanted to know why I didn't have a poster displaying African-American broadcasters on my bulletin board outside my room. What?
I am not artsy-fartsy when it comes to decorating bulletin boards. (or anything else for that matter) On the bulletin board outside my room I have my name, the schedule for the use of this room and a poster from the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. This is not meant to be a social, political or philosophical agenda. It was a gift from a former student and it fills the void of an empty bulletin board AND it relates to what I teach. I didn't draw it and I never saw it as being controversial or offensive in any manner.
The poster has drawings of people who have had or made an impact on broadcasting in Chicago. It includes, Steve Allen, Jack Benny, Jack Brickhouse, Harry Carey and Kula, Fran and Ollie; just to mention a few. Unfortunately, none of the people drawn on this poster is African-American.
There have been numerous African-Americans who have played huge role in broadcasting. I quickly brought to the conversation the names of Ed Bradley, Bill Whitaker (both of CBS News) Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby. I later added Bernard Shaw, the longtime anchor/reporter for CNN to my list.
Just because none of those individuals had a picture on the wall or on the bulletin board does not scream my lack of racial sensitivity. Not everything has a motive or an agenda. Not everything is politically or racially motivated. Does the fact that I think of Oprah as a broadcaster rather than a Black/African American broadcaster speak positively on how far we have come in this country or how far we still need to go? Does the fact I don't have a picture of Ed Bradley scream a lack of racial diversity? Is it not enough that I acknowledge Barrack Obama as President of the United States or does he need to the Black President?
Wouldn't a better way to approach me have been to say. "If I brought some pictures of prominent African-American broadcasters would you mind putting them up?" The mere phrasing of this woman's question implied a deliberate exclusion on my part. "Why are there no African-Americans on your bulletin board?' I was immediately put on the defensive and I resented it.
As I said at the top, I have never been black. I have not had to view the world as a "person of color". There is enough injustice in the world without having to search for it. There is enough hatred in the world without having to vilify someone about his biblical family values. This country is so polarized that we are choking ourselves to death. Our government can't work effectively because rather than compromise for the common good we would rather divide and conquer. We are more concerned with "winning"....and somehow when that happens we all lose.
Love one another. "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19 ESV) Everything kind of falls into place after that!
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
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