Chick-Fil-A Controversy

Several years ago, friends introduced me to Chick-Fil-A in our local mall food court. I loved it. Since then, my family often chooses the fast food franchise, not only because of its food, but because of the Founder’s desire to exhibit Godly Biblical principles. The fast food chain closes its doors on Sundays so that all of the Chick-Fil-A “family” enjoys the opportunity to attend church. In today’s world where the almighty dollar often trumps Christian responsibility and where people treat Sunday like any other day of the week, Chick-Fil-A sets a shining example that few others imitate. This week, the restaurant finds itself targeted by intolerant voices for holding fast to Biblical truth. Newspapers and online news organizations flooded the internet and print publications with the Chick-Fil-A controversy.

Last week, the Baptist Recorder published an interview with Chick-Fil-A president, Dan Cathy. In this interview he discussed the company policy on Sunday closures, contributions to conservative causes, and when asked about the topic of gay marriage he said,

“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit.”

The news of Mr. Cathy’s stance spread like wildfire, liberal blogs and news sources sounded the alarm, dubbing Chick-Fil-A and its ownership intolerant and homophobic.  The Chick-Fil-A controversy began in earnest.

The Boston Mayor pledged to block any efforts of Chick-Fil-A to come into the city and the Jim Henson Company stopped working with the franchise in developing kids meals. The Washington Post printed an opinion article, the writer suggesting that Chick-Fil-A preferred not to serve gay people and even divorcees…see the entire article here.

Enter Mike Huckabee.

To affirm Chick-Fil-A’s commitment to the traditional family unit, Mr. Huckabee posed a challenge. He called upon Americans to stand with Chick-Fil-A and support those who share

“the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1.”

Mr. Huckabee utilized Facebook to invite people to support the franchise with almost 121,000 RSVP’ing thus far for the event.

The Washington Post opinion writer fails to grasp the significance of the Huckabee challenge, chastising the former Governor of Arkansas by reporting that the customers stand to gain over 50,000 pounds on August 1st and

“Well done, governor. An obese nation thanks you.”

Sadly, many in our nation deem it more crucial to count calories than to model Christlikeness. Without apology, President Cathy expressed gratitude that he lives in a Country where a business owner reserves the right to operate his or her business founded upon Godly principles. His desire mirrors a quote of Michelle Bachmann during her bid for the Republican Presidential nomination. During a debate, Michelle Bachmann said, “biblical world-view shaped her life.” This philosophy mirrors the teaching of Scripture which states,

“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” (I John 2:6)

Chick-Fil-A strives to operate by that standard. When an individual or a company models their lives after Jesus, it’s only logical that at times people might disagree over moral viewpoints and categorizations of sin.

The word “sin” raises the hackles of those politically correct, but God dictates the rules, not man. Unfortunately, America’s desire to exercise political correctness derives from a ideology of moral relativism, a philosophy instituted in the days of the Old Testament. The last verse of the Book of Judges states,

“In those days there was no king in Israel.  Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Therein lies the problem in our world. Instead of honoring the Words of the King of kings, we’ve crafted together a menagerie of our own rules, in many cases personally legislating immorality to assuage our own consciences.

However, when our views contradict the Word of God, who’s right?