this post is from my hubby!
so excited to have his thoughts to share.
[We in NO way are judging those who did or did not attend the appreciation day. These are just some thoughts from his heart to my readers.
I also have a post scheduled for tomorrow on the same topic.]
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Back in July, Chick-fil-A’s (CFA) CEO, Dan Cathy, spoke out against same sex marriage and how he believes marriage is between one man and one woman. What a great statement! Though unfortunately, in this day and age, attacks are sure to come when you speak out against something that the left agrees with. The CEO never mentioned he hated the LGBT lifestyle participants, he just spoke out against their lifestyle. Here are some of the comments that have come under high scrutiny:
We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.
Yesterday marked a wonderful day of out pouring of support, to local CFA’s around the country; and though I did not personally participate, I know of many good people and Christians who did.
That was yesterday, August 1st, 2012.
But how about the other 364 days out of the year?
How about last year? How about this century?
The fact of the matter is, most, I would venture to say 80-90%, of those who waited in line to order their tasty sandwich have never opened their mouths to voice their “freedom of speech” in the form of a letter to a Congressman. Sure, they may have tagged along on some internet form letter, but how many of us have actually taken an individual step to voice our concern on the issue of same sex marriages and unions?There are several problems with the appreciation event at local CFA’s yesterday that truly concern me:
1-Although people lined up for this cause, many of these same people have literally done nothing to reverse the many LGBT lifestyle agendas that have been put in place. Sure they may have voted against a proposition in their state, but that is not really going above and beyond, that is a status quo option. (above and beyond: writing/calling Congressmen, State Congressmen, shown an activist role in defeating this “lifestyle agenda”, etc. etc.)
2-It appeared that, to many, eating a chicken sandwich yesterday somehow made them feel, dare I say it, more spiritual? What a sad state of affairs that is. Whole states have been lost to the GLBT agenda, 6 to be exact, because, to be honest, people think that eating a chicken sandwich is truly accomplishing something. It does nothing to change the laws in those 6 states or the 13 other states that now allow same-sex unions.
3-Many went to support the comments of CFA’s CEO. That is a noble thing to do. But preachers proclaim the truth of God’s Word week after week, and sometimes people attack the man of God. True, it might not always be something like homosexuality. It might just so happen to be the pastor dared preach against our “pet” sin, and thus we resort to attack what he says even though it is the truth of God’s Word, just as much truth as what CEO Dan Cathy stated in his interview.
4-Why does the homosexual community even feel the way they do towards Christians? I would say a large part of it has to do with the way some Christians have treated them. I know some people who live the homosexual lifestyle, and I praise the Lord that every single one of them has said something like this to me before, “you aren’t like the others (Christians), you accept me for who I am and treat me right.” They knew I did not like their lifestyle; but you know what, they also knew I cared for THEM, that I loved as a person. I praise the Lord that not only has He helped me to be able to feel that way, but they were able to see it as well. We must accept people where they are, and then HELP THEM (not BEAT THEM) become what God wants them to become.
5-Our bottom line through all of this should not be to support a man, or worse, to eat a good chicken sandwich. Our bottom line should be to be the witness we ought to be to reach this segment of the population. One amazing thing about Christ and His ministry on earth is that He would see multitudes of people, and He would even see their sin, and yet He still had compassion on them. He saw the woman at the well, and instantly knew everything about this woman, how she was living in sin many times over. And what did He do? He had compassion on her soul. He sought her out on an individual basis so she could live in heaven forever.
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| share the gospel! |
6-Similarly to #5, many in local churches give to support missions and missionaries through their local church. But unfortunately, that is where it ends for many Christians. They seem to justify in their mind that giving to missions is doing their part in reaching the world for Christ. Although this is needy, God says it is necessary for EACH Christian to open their mouth and proclaim Christ. Just living for God will never reach anyone. It might make them curious, but if you never share the Gospel nothing has been accomplished for Christ. Jesus reached people by speaking to them and sharing the Gospel with them. Think of it this way, if there was anyone who could have reached more through lifestyle evangelism, it would have been the perfect man of Jesus Christ, and yet He still spoke to people about how to be saved.
Many used yesterday to make a statement, and I do not fault them for this. But we must not let it END there. This can be the beginning of something new.
Get involved- spiritually, politically, and personally.
We can all pray for the Lord of the harvest to work amongst us to see more saved. That is truly where victory in life lies, it is not in Washington. It is not even at the state or local political level. It is how we allow God to work in and through us each day that will truly last forever.
My challenge is simple. Many spent 60+ minutes to order food to make a statement, or support freedom of speech, or whatever their reason was. Today you can spend less time than that to reach out and write a letter to your Congressman.
Just think, if just half of those who went through the chicken doors yesterday were to write a letter today stating their support of marriage between one man and one woman, Congress would be inundated with letters; and I believe they would seriously need to look at legislation that could change the course of our nation.
To help you out, here is a link to write to your Congressman:
