Let me begin by including a meme from my friend Taylor’s
facebook page that I suspect describes how most people feel about reading
another blog, meme, or facebook comment about Chick-fil-A.
For this reason I’ve tried to be diligent about reading the
smorgasbord (thanks Mr. Rogers) of commentary offered on Chick-fil-A so I don’t
waste your time by repeating what has already been said.
After my undoubtedly narrow survey of internet ramblings
here are my winners:
Jan Hatmaker’s “in the basement”
The always thoughtful Rachel Held Evans “some words for Christians on both sides of the Chick-fil-A war”
In response to yesterdays outpouring of support for
Chick-fil-A, Matthew Paul Turner has written, “5 Reasons Why the Church Failed Yesterday.”
And for pragmatic commentary, Jonathan Merrit’s article in The
Atlantic.
I haven’t seen anything by the neo-reformers, but I trust
that this silence means what we all know … God is sovereign over CFA.
There is one reason why I’m glad that issues like this get a lot of attention and that is this because
it matters. But I probably don’t
mean what you think. It doesn’t
matter that Evangelicals showed up in masses to let people know what they think.
It matters that Evangelicals
showed up in masses to let people know what they think.
We need to talk about this. We need to be critical ourselves and we need to decide how
wise these choices were. If it
takes one blog, two blogs and an article, or whatever is necessary—the endless
critical analysis that we offer in cyberspace is well worth it. We need to think carefully about the
choices are making and why they matter.
In 1 Corinthians 5:12 Paul says, “What business is it of
mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”
When I watch the news and see the devastation that plagues
the world I’m heartbroken, but uncritical. This is what I expect from the world. When Christians devastate the world,
this is a disaster. People
get hurt, suspicions are confirmed and atheists are created. For this reason we better be sure as shit that when we do something in the name of Jesus, it’s what Jesus would do. I’m convinced there’s nothing more
demonic than Christians getting it wrong in the name of Jesus.
Speaking of the news, this was the best facebook post I saw
on the whole episode from my friend Emily.
Last night I watched the local news. An elderly lady, with convictions,
shared about why she had come to eat at CFA.
“I’ve come to support the Biblical definition of marriage.”
And then later
“God created Adam and Eve.”
Dear Lord help us ..
she’s not going to say it …
“Not Adam and Steve.”
As I ingested internet commentary instead of chicken yesterday
I was reminded of a sermon Kyle preached.
I don’t remember the whole sermon, the text, or even the context in
which Kyle delivered the words, but I do remember Kyle admonishing us to be
Christians who were “for” something and not be defined by what we were “against.” I did some research and found his
source.
In his chapter on being Post/Protestant in A Generous
Orthodoxy, Brian McLaren points out that protestants have gotten so used to
being against something they’ve forgotten how to be for something.
Indeed.
Christians are supposed to be “for” people. Yesterday as moderates were reminding conservatives on
facebook that Jesus cared about social justice my friend Victor, pastor of La Vega Community Church, was unable to join the digital discussion because he was
doing justice.
Victor’s church served 140 hungry people from his
community. My point is that,
yesterday, Victor spent his time being “for” something. And the great thing is that by him
being for something I know exactly what Victor is against. He is against people being hungry in
his community.
Some might object that they didn’t go to Chick-fil-A to be
against anything. Rather they went
to be “for Christian marriage” or “for free speech.”
Two points in response.
1. I can assure America, that free speech is not under
attack. If this country has
protected Westboro Baptist Church’s right to do what they do for this long … we
are a long way from anyone’s free speech being threatened.
2. I wonder if
Chick-fil-A lunches were really the best way to be for Christian
marriage? My friends Byron and
Carla are passionate about healthy marriage between a man and a woman. They’ve given their life to
building and protecting healthy marriages. Byron and Carla truly are “for” Christian marriage.
I haven’t heard a specific number, but as suspected CFA killed it yesterday with record sales.
The divorce rate in the US is 50%.
What Byron and Carla do takes money. What if yesterday all the Evangelicals
gave their $5-7 to Legacy to help families fight for marriages. That would be an awesome “for” marriage
day.
Or my friend Tara Livesay who with her family lives in
Haiti. Her and her husband Troy
work hard to help mothers keep their children so they don’t have to give them
up for adoptions. What an
incredible way to be “for” families.
What if we all sent them our $5-7.
Jesus said that to whom much is given much is expected. American’s have an unprecedented amount
of wealth. We have so much money
(and time) we have the luxury of making restaurant choices into political
choices. Holy schikies!
I don't doubt that Evangelicals went out by the millions with good intentions. I don't doubt that we are passionate people. I sometimes doubt we were effective. The Christian West has an incredible opportunity to affect change. I hope we get it right.
