Chick-Fil-A

Chick-Fil-A, InForum, NDFA MTF, Ephesians 5

By now most of you know of Chick-Fil-A, even though the fast food chain does not have a store in North Dakota.  Chick-Fil-A’s owner voiced his support for traditional marriage in an interview, and as such, his lack of support for same-sex marriage.

Response to Dan Cathy’s statement went viral.  The gay community threatened protests.  Mayors of a number of major cities where Chick-Fil-A was planning to locate first time stores, including Boston, vowed to keep them out.  Gay rights activists planned ‘kiss-in’ demonstrations at Chick-Fil-A stores.

To show support for Cathy’s right to share his support for traditional marriage, Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day was organized by Mike Huckabee for Wednesday—asking supporters to show up at one of their 1600 plus locations.  Lines were long, waits in excess of two hours, and a single day sales record was set.

Some of you are aware of the Forum newspaper in Fargo changing its policy on posting wedding engagements.  A gay couple asked that their same-sex wedding engagement be printed in the Forum.  The Forum initially declined citing existing policy.  The couple challenged the policy.

Gay right’s activists started an online petition, letters to the editor began in mass, and the talk show airwaves were flooded.  The Forum changed its policy.

Some of you know of NDFA’s initiative to restore and preserve traditional marriage, the NDFA Marriage Task Force.   We had our 5th meeting on Thursday.  We heard a presentation on the merits of churches incorporating a marriage mentorship program.  We also had a general discussion on the overall merits of marriage, and especially for children.

Many of us are familiar with Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  In Ephesians 5:18, Paul exhorts them (us) to be filled with the Holy Spirit; giving thanks, singing hymns, worshipping, and submitting to one another in the fear of God.

And then Paul’s inspired words present the most powerful message on the commitment and duty of marriage.  Paul compels us: husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church, husbands love your wives as your own bodies, wives submit to your husband as to the Lord, and husbands give yourself for your wife just as Christ gave Himself for the church.

Christ the Bridegroom, the church His bride, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish—so too is the marriage between man and woman, husband and wife.  How awesomely powerful to know that God elevates the relationship of husband and wife to the level of Jesus’s relationship to His church.

How revealing, how clear, how awesomely convicting is the Word.

Just a few verses later in chapter 6, Paul informs the Ephesians (and us today) of trouble, trials, and
difficult times.  He implores them (us) to put on the full armor of God, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and spiritual enemies. 

Paul tells us to stand against evil, defending what is true.  He tells to use the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  We are exhorted to stand for truth.

Supporters of truth stood in line at Chick-Fil-A.  They did not angrily protest, but by their actions supported the right of a business owner to voice his belief.   They did not boycott.  They did not show disrespect or hatred for anyone.

When made aware of a LGBT ‘kiss in’ event at their stores, a Chick-Fil-A spokesman said, "we understand from news reports that Friday may present yet another opportunity for us to serve with genuine hospitality, superior service and great food,"

Chick-Fil-A stresses that its employees abide by a service tradition to "treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender."  That policy includes customers and fellow employees.

While Dan Cathy and Chick-Fil-A stood firm in its beliefs, the Forum of Fargo was quite different.  It cited any number of reasons for changing its policy, the greatest being the perceived sentiment of the public.  But one thing stood out in the Forum’s rationalization for it decision.  It stated there is much more to this issue than whether a newspaper prints a same-sex wedding announcement.  True.

Following the Forum’s policy change, same-sex activists agreed.  This is just the first step.  Legislatively pass measures to classify “sexual orientation and gender identity” in anti-discrimination law.  And then civil unions, and then same-sex marriage.  The strategy is simple: desensitize, normalize, and legitimize.

The Forum was correct in its assessment about the larger issue—it’s not about publishing an engagement announcement, or about homosexuality, or even about divorce, or cohabitation—it’s about promoting, restoring, and preserving the institution of marriage between one man  and one woman.  It is about understanding the foundational value of traditional marriage for all of society, and especially our children.

Traditional marriage has been the cornerstone of the family for thousands of years, as the family is the foundation of society.  As in past cultures, the survival of America rests on marriage and the family.

Will we stand for marriage, as those who stood in line at Chick-Fil-A?

Will we stand for life, or will we look the other way?

Will we stand for religious freedom, or will be put our finger to the wind and go with the prevailing wind?

Will we stand, taking action, for what is right, for what is truth?

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