Have you had your Chick-fil-A today? Unfortunately we do not have one close by in our part of Minnesota, but if we did, I told Marlys we would have been there for lunch and dinner tonight. I am sure you have been following the story of Chick-fil-A and the courageous and biblical stance of its president, Dan Cathy, regarding the issue of gay marriage. In a radio interview a few weeks ago, Cathy made this statement: "We're inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage. And I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude that thinks we have the audacity to redefine what marriage is all about." That statement has created a firestorm of controversy.
Immediately the mayors of Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, and San Francisco said that Chick-fil-A was not welcomed in their cities. Left-wing groups have enacted a boycott and protest at Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide. Philadelphia City Councilman Jim Kenney even introduced a resolution condemning Chick-fil-A and Dan Cathy: "This particular individual is rabidly homophobic and wants to deny Americans civil rights that are enjoyed by every other American."
In response to this protest, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee initiated today as being a day to support Chick-fil-A. This is an organization that was founded upon biblical principles. They are one of a few restaurants that remain closed on Sundays. And they believe strongly in the teachings of the Bible regarding marriage as being between one man and one woman.
In another response to the protest, Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, stated: "Individuals have the right to decide whether or not to 'eat mor chikin.' But no government leader should restrict a business or organization from expanding to their district based on the personal or political views of the owners. Such evident discrimination and attempts to marginalize those with religious values have no place in American democracy."
Friends, what is happening? We are seeing the growing assault upon the values upon which our nation was founded. I know that not all our Founding Fathers were believers, but each one did have a high view of Scripture and of Providence. One can hardly read those treasured documents - now encased at the National Archives in Washington DC - without understanding that each signer understood that a strong moral foundation based upon the teachings of the Bible was absolutely necessary if their young nation was to succeed and become that "city on the hill." A Civil War was fought because many recognized that the slavery of one to another was a violation of those moral and biblical principles. And at the heart of those moral principles was the definition of family and marriage - a definition that has stood the tests of time, culture, and civilizations. Dan Cathy is right when he stated that we now have "a prideful, arrogant attitude that thinks we have the audacity to redefine what marriage is all about." The oldest definition of marriage is that found in Genesis 2:24, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." If that is not clear enough, then consider these words of Jesus: "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female.' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one." (Matthew 19:4-6). Both God Himself and His Son clearly defined marriage as between one man and one woman. But today we seem to know more than God does! We know what is better for us than God does! We understand our culture better than God does! How arrogant of us! We have swallowed the lie that Satan shared with Eve in the Garden of Eden so long ago - "you will be as God." We have now reached that point where we have replaced God with ourselves. Did that thought work for Lucifer? Read Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19. If we persist, great will be the fall of our nation as well.
I close with a quote from an editorial written yesterday that can be found at www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/07/31/boycott-about-so-much-more-than-chicken-sandwich. It was written by Todd Starnes of Fox News Radio. He quotes from Pastor Charles Lyons, pastor of Armitage Baptist Church in Chicago, in a response to Chicago Mayor Rahn Emanuel's threat to keep Chick-fil-A out of Chicago. Pastor Lyons said, "Mr. Mayor, do not dismiss us. Do not disrespect us. We too, are Logan Square. We too, are Chicago. If the thought police come to Armitage Baptist Church, we will meet them at the door, respectfully, unflinchingly, willing to die on this hill holding a copy of the sacred Scriptures in one hand and a copy of the U.S. Constitution in the other." Starnes then concludes with these thoughts: "Pay attention, people of faith. Dark clouds are gathering. The winds of intolerance are blowing. There's a great storm approaching. The days of persecution are upon us."
Would some one of you go to Chick-fil-A today and have a bowl of their delicious chicken soup and a peach shake on my behalf? And then pray that God will give us more backbone as we fight for what is right in a world where right and wrong are so confused.
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4 comments:
Max - Kathy G and I are heading to Chik -fil -A at the U of M today - we'll have a chikin sandwich for you! Dianne B
Hey Pastor Max . . . I think there is a Chick-fil-A on the UM campus ... at least there was a few years ago.
Thanks for addressing this in your blog.
Now it appears that another city in CA has essentially blocked the construction on a new Chick-fil-A. As you say, does anyone really understand what this means? A baptist business owner says he supports man/woman marriage....WHY DOES THAT SURPRISE ANYBODY?? I get the feeling that the flood has started.
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