With all the recent hoop-lah over the Chick Fil A Appreciation Day, I can't help but have a heavy heart. Seems to me like a really passive agressive way to bully those who don't believe the way you do.
I have my beliefs and I am firm in them. However, I do not feel it is my duty to broadcast or beat them over the heads of those who may disagree. Who am I to act like I have all the answers? Just because I believe a certain way does not mean I'm right - even IF I'm in line with the Bible. The Bible is the source of my faith - yes - but how many times has it been transcribed or rewritten or most importantly interpreted in different ways? How can one person give his opinion and have so many people jump on his bandwagon?
I'm not even going to go into the issue of whether or not I believe gay marriage should be allowed. That is totally beside our purpose here on earth. Our purpose is to love as closely as possible to the way God loves us. God's love never fails - even when we do. Instead it intensifies for us when we fail because He knows how much we are hurting ourselves. Whether or not you believe gays are failing God - YOU are failing God.... in some area - rest assured! None of us are doing what God would truly have us do and ALL of us have some sort of issue that plagues us. We are all on this world together just trying to make sense of it all. Wouldn't it be nice if we quit pointing fingers at each other and just tried to get along?
It hurts me when my children bicker or try to out-do one another. This hurt God and sometimes it's things like this that make me almost ashamed to associate myself with groups that are represented here. Just as my previous blog stated - I am a fighter and I will fight the GOOD fight. But this right here - this is NOT a good fight. This is a very sad portrayal of the ways men try to out-do each other.
There is a time to stand up for what you believe but there are also times when our beliefs really don't matter in the face of eternity. Let God do His job. You do what He called you to do - love your neighbors as yourself. Think about how you might feel if the tables were turned and traditional marriage was under attack.
Matthew 7:1-5
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—
unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has
a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's
face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the
nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is
distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all
over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your
part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to
offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
I think it is interesting that thousands of people lined up to eat chicken in support of a an anit-gay marriage stance (which is in the bible as a sin and unhealthy lifestyle full of consequence) and the same thousands will also stand in line to see sexually explicit, violent and morally compromising movies (which are also in the bible as a sin and an unhealthy lifestyle full of consequence). I believe there is a word for that...it called hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteWe are all hypocrites though - in some way or another. It is interesting and I agree with you. I just wish that since we are all in the same boat we could be a little more open minded and put love first for a change.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand, a lott of people went to The restaurant to support our right of freedom of speech. Americans have the right to their own beliefs. If we don't agree with that person then we can exercise our right to eat somewhere else. I would stand up for a persons right to free speech even if I don't agree. With them. In my opinion, love is the answer and I get tired of people cherry picking the Bible in order to prove their beliefs. But, people have the right to do that, too.
ReplyDeleteI understand that and I think that sometimes when we fight for our rights, we don't consider the message it sends. To me, this sends a message of exclusivity which is opposite of love. In my opinion it screams YOU ARE WRONG and I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU - when actually its not our job to discern whether their lifestyle is wrong our right. Our sole responsibility is to love them. That's all. We are sacrificing the opportunity and blessing of God's love all in the name of our rights? It is a pompous and self righteous attitude to feel so entitled to even one's own opinion.
ReplyDeleteNow.... if I want to eat at Chick Fil A, I will go eat at Chick Fil A - but not because I am in support of my rights or their stance on marriage. I will go because I want nuggets! If I want Starbucks (known for their support of gay rights) I will go to Starbucks but not because of the groups they support but because I like their tea (I don't drink coffee, lol). One thing I know for sure though - If either one has a line of cars more than 5 cars long, I will go to another establishment altogether! It's crazy to waste so much time waiting for food just to show support of something that in my mind is pointless.