Chick-fil-A Is Targeted Once Again

Chick-fil-A is back in the news once again.  One of the fastest growing fast-food chains has been "called-on-the-carpet" - not because of the quality of its food (I love their chicken soup and Oreo shakes) or because of its service, which ranks among the highest in the fast-food industry.  No, according to a piece written by Dan Piepenbring and published in The New Yorker magazine, Chick-fil-A is infiltrating New York with "pervasive Christian traditionalism."


Thomas Gallatin, an in article posted at The Patriot Post website - www.patriotpost.us/articles/55375-the-left-hates-chick-fil-a-because-of-christianity, exposes the hypocrisy of Dan Piepenbring.  "Piepenbring sees as problematic the fact that Chick-fil-A's Atlanta headquarters facility 'is adorned with Bible verses and a statue of Jesus washing a disciple's feet.' and that 'its stores close on Sundays.'  Piepenbring writes, 'There's something especially distasteful about Chick-fil-A, which has sought to portray itself as better than other fast food: cleaner, gentler, and more ethical, with its poultry slightly healthier than the mystery meat of burgers.'  He adds, 'Its politics, its décor, and its commercial-evangelical messaging are inflected with this suburban piety.'


"He wasn't done.  Piepenbring relates, 'The restaurant's corporate purpose still begins with the words "to glorify God," and that proselytism thrums below the surface of the Fulton Street restaurant, which has the ersatz homespun ambiance of a megachurch.'  Wow, so any company with traditional Christian beliefs that dares to apply its beliefs is 'an infiltration.'  How 'woke' of him to call out this consistent belief system.


"If any fast-food restaurant deserves praise not just for its quality food and service but also for its treatment of employees, community engagement and public generosity, it's Chick-fil-A.  There's a reason it's on course to becoming the third-largest fast food chain behind only McDonald's and Starbucks, and that's not in spite of founder S. Truett Cathy's 'Christian traditionalism' but because of it.  What is 'creepy' is the number of deeply insecure leftists who produce, promote and feed on this kind of intolerant and hypocritical groupthink.  Image if the fast-food chain in question was Muslim-owned - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio would be rolling out the red carpet for it instead of calling for a boycott.


"Piepenbring epitomizes the rapidly spreading bigotry of leftists, who are completely unwilling to offer the same tolerance and deference to opposing views and opinions that they demand from others.  Meanwhile, they hypocritically lay claim to the 'pro-diversity' moniker.  Specifically, the Left hates conservative Christianity because it refuses to bow to its 'new morality.'  So, no matter how well-made the product or how good the service, if the business's owner holds a traditional conservative and Christian worldview, then leftist dogma demands it be opposed and maligned." 


I don't know about you - but this makes me want to visit my nearest Chick-fil-A more often.  If this restaurant chain is in the cross-hairs of culture's line of fire, then there must be something worthy of that chain having my dining out business.  I appreciate a company who, although interested in making a profit, has not let that desire for profit deter it from the foundations upon which Chick-fil-A was created.  Would that more companies would return to those initial foundational principles.  So "Eat Mor Chiken."


On another cultural note, I read a powerful article this week, written by Avery Foley which was posted on the Answer in Genesis website.  You can reference this article at:
www.answersingenesis.org/sin/can-church-embrace-homosexual-behavior-in-name-of-love. The author of this article begins with a powerful statement: "Being a Christian is about 'living in the tension'" a reference to the tension between grace and truth.  The author continues, "That's what Christ did.  He loved people - loved them enough to die for his enemies (Romans 5:8)!  He was filled with grace and extended that grace toward sinners (including millions of other believers and me!)  But Scripture tells us he came filled with 'grace and truth' (John 1:14).  And that's the tension!  We love people, but that doesn't mean we wish them to live in their sin.  Instead, we're called to speak 'the truth in love' (Ephesians 4:15)."


The article concludes: "There's hope for everyone in the Cross of Jesus Christ, whether you are a liar, a thief, an adulterer, a homosexual, or a drunkard.  God's church is made up of people who've been redeemed from all kinds of sinful backgrounds and who have one thing in common: they've been given new life through the power of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). ... True hope and peace are not found in practicing, affirming, or celebrating sinful behaviors.  They're found in repentance and the new life that Christ can give."


This will be the final blog for a couple of weeks.  Marlys and I will be leading a tour to Israel, leaving on Friday.  We will be in Israel for nearly two weeks.  We have twenty-five in our group, most of whom will be visiting Israel for the very first time.  Oh the excitement just to walk where Jesus walked.  Oh the wonder of being on the Sea of Galilee.  And oh the mysteries that become unfolded as one visits the Old City.  We thank you for your prayers for us and our team while we are gone.  And, upon our return, I will write and let you know of how God worked in our lives. 


So, until then, keep looking up because your redemption is drawing near, and keep working because the fields are white unto harvest.