Really Delicious Chicken

Did you hear that the Chick-fil-A cows hate gay people?  They not only want to encourage the murder of countless chickens...they also want to prevent loving same-sex couples from enjoying the 'rights' of marriage!!!


So...maybe sarcasm isn't welcome in this subject, but it's pretty much how I roll...


If you haven't heard, in a recent interview, the president of Chick-fil-A discussed their WinShape program.  This program has several different facets, but one is directly focused at preparing for, strengthening or saving marriages.  During this discussion, Mr. Cathy mentioned that his company supports a traditional and Biblical view of marriage.  So obviously, the mascots hate gay people...


And many have determined that they must be stopped.  There have been articles and news stories bashing Chick-fil-A for their so-called 'family' values.  The Jim Henson Company has cut ties with them, and both Chicago and Boston are now attempting to block the opening of new Chick-fil-A restaurants in their cities.  The Boston mayor even said that having one of the franchises in town would be an "insult" to the city.  


So here's my question - Why does anybody care what Dan Cathy thinks?!?!  The man runs a company that sells chicken...really (seriously) delicious chicken!!!  He doesn't shape U.S. policy in ANY way!  And at what point did it become 'evil' or even 'socially unacceptable' for a person to have a belief or viewpoint different from someone else's?  Would anybody care if the situation was flipped...if the CEO of United Airlines came out and said they were in favor of a woman's right to choose and would be donating to Planned Parenthood?  Some people might freak out or boycott or whatever, but odds are, most people wouldn't care.  It's their company, they can do what they want with their money...and it makes sense that they'd donate in ways that fall in line with what they support as a company.


Here's the deal...the Bible is pretty clear about a bunch of stuff that's unpopular.  Yes, it teaches that homosexual behavior is wrong.  But it also says that ANY sex outside of marriage is wrong, and nobody is saying that Dan Cathy is a bigot because he doesn't want to 'support' swinging or premarital sexual relationships.  


And ultimately, do Christians really believe that the government gets to define marriage?  I don't...my union with Sara may be recognized by the government and I may enjoy some 'rights' associated with that, but our marriage has everything to do with our relationship in the eyes of God (NOT the state).


So to wrap this book up...develop your beliefs how you see fit.  If you want to use culture, or a holy book, or nature, or a weird mix of whatever, go nuts!  To quote my Dad, "we all have every right to be wrong."  And yes, every one of us believes some things that are probably completely off base.  But let's acknowledge that all of us have a right to hold fast to the beliefs dear to us even in the face of religious or societal crusades.


As for me, if you want my take on Magic Mike, dispensational theology, politics, or even gay marriage, I welcome pretty much any respectful discussion.  But I'd prefer to have that discussion while enjoying an amazing chicken sandwich, waffle fries and a sweet tea.