Personal View
I'm going to say this to get it out: Everyone is a sinner and I try not to put hate upon someone because of what they choose (the sin) to do in their life (I am currently writing a forgiveness series based on this idea and will try to post the rest soon). I try to not judge someone (Matthew 7:1-5) but I do work on discerning whether his or her lifestyle is deemed right or wrong based on the Bible and this therefore does not mean that I agree with what that choice is. If a person is willing to question and perhaps alter his or her lifestyle, that is where the Holy Spirit comes in through me to help in the change as it softens the heart. I am currently reading Matthew and am in chapter 21 and am extremely humbled by how Jesus acts to the sick, prostitutes, ect. Jesus shows love and expects us to follow him through that in every part of our life style (Matthew 5:43-48)! (Also see Philemon, noting that Paul was asking him to forgive for something that was not part of a slave master's lifestyle--this I will be mentioning later). This is where I stand concerning not only the idea of homosexuality, but also other areas of "sexual immorality" (adultery), "impurity, lust, evil desires and greed...anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language" (Colossians 3:5,8) and much more that the Bible lists.Real Life
Dan Cathy was interview by the Baptist Press (key word being "Baptist", a denomination of some of the Christian churches in case some of you were unaware), and after reading the article, "Guilty as Charged", I noticed Christian attributes are throughout the entire article, attributes that Jesus asked us to put into our lives, not just at church. At one point Cathy was specifically questioned about the traditional family--the one that God established, between one man and one woman. He answered it. My point is that why does this answer, one that correlates with the God's word, suddenly offend people? I would think that this statement should also be included:"All throughout the New Testament there is an evangelism strategy related to our performance in the workplace. ... Our work should be an act of worship. Our work should be our mission field. As long as we are stateside, let's don't think we have to go on mission trips by getting a passport. ... If you're obedient to God you are going to be evangelistic in the quality of the work you do, using that as a portal to share [Christ],"(Click here for full article: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38271 )
If I were against the values that Christians should be following...or against Christians "in general" then this statement would slap me in the face! How dare Christian workers think they can try to evangelize to me when I order food?
The Application
Although that is the ironic part; one specific way we as Christians should evangelize is by simply being nice to others, by showing the love of Christ (Be treated the way you want to be treated, Matthew 22:39). Everyone likes for someone to be nice to them, right? As believers in Christ we need to live and show that our lives really have been changed, not just at church, but everywhere, including the workplace. Otherwise others, even non-Christians would deem us as not truly following what we believe and being "fake Christians."
So we need to live our lives showing--proving--that we believe in this Jesus Christ that everyone has hated and obviously continues to hate. We need to remember that Jesus said that persecution will come, even in the beginning he said this:
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. John 15:18-21
But that there is also hope if we stand firm (Mark 13:13, Matthew 5:11-12, and Ephesians 1:7-10).
I therefore applaud Dan Cathy for being honest about what he believes in (Freedom of Speech) and being courageous enough (Matthew 10:26,32-33) to put Biblical principles into the work place through how customers should be treated (Love, joy, peace...; Galatians 5:22-23). Some people might disagree with what his opinion, but that's too bad because he is allowed to have one. Just as long as it does not disrupt the workplace--and don't get your panties in a wad, there are laws against that. Something like "a business is not allowed to discriminate based on gender, race, religion, sex..." Oh hey look! If a Christian did that, they would not be showing the love of Christ! Funny how that works out :)
