Chick-Fil-A and "tolerance"

I decided to join literally hundreds of other people at Chick-Fil-A this morning in Bowling Green to buy a biscuit and show support for their company. As you likely know Dan Cathey, President of Chick-Fil-A and son of the founder Truett Cathey recently found himself in the middle of a firestorm. It seems that in a recent interview with the state Baptist paper of the North Carolina Baptist Convention Cathey was "guilty" of expressing the principles that drive him personally as well as the direction of the corporation. In the interview he clearly stated that they are not a "Christian business." To claim that he said would run counter to the claims of Christ. He pointed out that "Jesus died for individuals not a corporation ... companies are not lost or saved but individuals are." He goes on to say "But as an organization we can operate on biblical principles. So that is what we claim to be. [We are] based on biblical principles, asking God and pleading with God to give us wisdom on decisions we make about people and the programs and partnerships we have. And He has blessed us."

Cathey went on to explain that the company invests in Christian growth and ministry through its WinShape Foundation (WinShape.com). The name comes from the idea of shaping people to be winners. The foundation began as a college scholarship and expanded to a foster care program, an international ministry, and a conference and retreat center modeled after the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove. "That morphed into a marriage program in conjunction with national marriage ministries," Cathy added. Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position. "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. We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized. "We intend to stay the course," he said. "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

Cathy's comments ignited an outbreak of posturing centered on the choice: ban or boycott? The mayor of Boston playing to a portion of his constituents, basically said the values of Chick-Fil-A and their president did not reflect the values of Bostonians and Chick-Fil-A need not open any more stores in their city. Let's see, Boston has 67 strip clubs, 19 abortion clinics, 1000's of confirmed child abuse - neglect cases annually and yet there is no need to place an emphasis on "family values"? Are you kidding me? He was but one of many politicians posturing for cameras expressed similar sentiments. Meanwhile, calls for boycotts erupted on Facebook, Twitter and various other places where boycotts get organized these days.

On July 23, the Jim Henson Company, makers of children's shows such as "The Muppets," "Sid the Science Kid," "Dinosaur Train," and "Pajanimals" announced it would not partner with Chick-fil-A again in the future. The Jim Henson Company, at various times, has supplied the toys for the restaurant's kids' meals. Their statement said in part, "The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors," a statement read. "Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation]."

Here's the rub for me. The Henson Company, various politicians, and other organizations have all come out against Chick-Fil-A under the guise of "inclusiveness" and "diversity". Those who hold to a pro-family biblical-based position on the family are quickly branded as bigots. Correct me if I'm wrong here but it seems to me that if anyone could claim diversity and inclusiveness it would be Dan Cathey. Nowhere in the interview did he say that he would not hire or serve those who practiced lifestyles other than what he believed in. He simply espoused the Christian principles that his now $4 billion annual revenue business was formed on. Why is it that those who preach "tolerance" are only "tolerant" of those who hold to the same position they do? Those who disagreed with him, quickly branded Cathey a homophobe, bigot, and worse.

Fast forward to today. Former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee decided to ask Christians to support Chick-Fil-A and their pro-family position by going to their restaurants today and purchasing from them. My assistant simply put on her Facebook page this morning "Ready for breakfast at Chick-fil-A". That's it! Not a word about anyone's "agenda". She quickly was chastised on her page by someone she knows that is in a homosexual relationship and has several adopted children. She was told, "You know Chick-Fil-A donated over 5 million dollars to lobby for legislation that would prevent homosexuals from adopting children? My family thanks you for your support." When I called this individual's hand on this and pointed out that he likely bought brands like Levis and McDonalds specifically because they support homosexual rights, that my assistant, I, and others had a similar right to support companies that held values similar to ours. Her "friend" quickly said, "Giving money to a company that supports hate groups is supporting hate groups. Bigotry and discrimination wrapped in prayer and scripture is still bigotry and discrimination." So now an organization that gives college scholarships to employees and others, and has a foster-child program among many other benevolent programs is a "hate group"? And where is the discrimination? Again, Cathey never said he would not consider hiring or even feeding homosexuals. Maybe a better perspective of this situation might be that sinful behavior wrapped in the cloak of political correctness is still sinful behavior. Maybe I need to make some buttons that say "Right wing, non-politically correct Christian and proud of it" ... I'm just sayin'!