My Soapbox

This is my blog.  I have the ability to write what I want.  If you don’t like what I’m writing, simply stop reading.  Don’t ask me to not write it.  This is my disclaimer before I get on soapbox…

So.  Yesterday was August 1, 2012.  Chick-fil-a Appreciation Day.  Did I support Chick-fil-A yesterday?  Yes, I absolutely did.  So did my husband and many of my friends and co-workers.  Are we bad people because we support a “hate” group?  No.  And in fact, Chick-fil-a is about as far from a hate group as you can get.  Lines of people were flowing out of the doors of the store on Highway 150, onto the parking lot and cars were flowing into the highway, causing TONS of traffic.  Media were covering numerous stores all over the country.  Such mass amounts of attention is being brought to this controversial issue. 

Now for my two “rants” on this issue:

First, I think attention is being brought to the WRONG issue.  The issue shouldn’t be about whether or not gay marriage should be allowed.  It’s about freedom of speech.  Dan Cathy was ASKED (he did NOT seek out a reporter to tell the world his views….he was asked) what his stance on gay marriage was and he answered, truthfully.  Due to this, hundreds of thousands of people are apparently “boycotting” the restaurant because they believe he should never have said that.  Seriously???  We’re getting mad because someone doesn’t agree with us? 

I personally agree with Dan Cathy’s stance on marriage.  I believe it should be between a man and a woman and regardless what some of the opposition to this issue are saying, there are NUMEROUS places in the Bible where God says that marriage is for a MAN and a WOMAN and that homosexuality (though never called that in the Bible) is an “abomination” and “a detestable thing”.  I know this because I started reading my Bible front to finish and am about to start the book of  Judges.  I’ve seen this statement several times.  I’ve seen some people say on Facebook that because these statements come from the Old Testament that they are null and void because Jesus changed everything.  Really?  Null and Void?  Does that mean the Ten Commandments are null and void because they’re from the Old Testament?  Pretty sure Jesus was upholding God’s laws.  Just saying.

But the point is, my opinion DOESN’T MATTER to anyone but me.  It’s my opinion.  I’m allowed to put it on this blog.  Does that mean that if you disagree with my opinion that you will boycott blogspot for allowing such blogging?  Surely not.  For the people boycotting the establishment: if you refuse to eat at the restaurant because the CEO disagrees with homosexuality, will you also boycott gas stations selling gasoline where the profits go to countries where homosexuality is punishable by death and/or imprisonment?  There are currently 5 countries that still punish homosexuality with the death penalty.  Two of them are Saudi Arabia and Sudan, two rather large profiteers from oil.  Will you also stop purchasing gasoline?  My guess is no.  So instead of trying to “punish” a government that takes it in their own hands to end a life because of homosexuality, by not buying gasoline, people are trying to “punish” a corporation where the head of that corporation simply stated that he believes marriage should be between a man and woman, by  not buying a friggin sandwich????  I’m baffled.

Secondly, I’ve seen people put up status’ saying that Christians aren’t being Christians because we should be loving everyone like Jesus did.  No one is saying that Dan Cathy doesn’t love everyone!!!  He isn’t judging homosexuals!  He has many of them working in his restaurants!  The man made one statement.  Answered one question.  What should he have done?  Said nothing?  Told the reporter that he had “no comment”?  To me, that kind of resembles what Peter did during the crucifixion when he stated three times that he didn’t know Jesus.  Should Dan Cathy have run from the question?  We, as Christians, are called to spread the Word of God.  He was doing his duty as a Christian. 

Now here’s the big one.  I’ve seen people make statements that Christians aren’t “loving everyone” because they went out to support Chick-fil-a yesterday and all that caused was an “us versus them” mentality and that instead of proving the opposing side wrong, we need to be loving and supporting.  I can’t speak for the hundreds of thousands that ate at chick-fil-a yesterday, but I can speak for myself.  I DID NOT eat at that restaurant yesterday to “stick it to the homosexuals”.  I ate at that restaurant yesterday because I believe in free speech and believe that Dan Cathy had a right to say what he did.  I ate there yesterday to support Dan Cathy at a time when he’s being slandered and bashed.  And as far as loving and supporting others, I have gay friends!!!  And I love them.  It is NOT my place to judge them, it’s God’s.  And trust me, I’ll leave that to him.  Only He knows the millions of things I’ve done and said in my lifetime that need to be judged.  I am so not even close to perfect, therefore, I have no right to pass judgment on anyone.  My eating at Chick-fil-a yesterday was not about disagreeing with the gay and lesbian lifestyle (even though I do).  It was about supporting Dan Cathy’s rights as an American Citizen. 

We live in a country where we can no longer say “under God” and can no longer pray at sporting events and can now, apparently, no longer state our biblical views.  What is this world coming to??  We are so concerned with not offending anyone that we’re letting our religion, our existence, our reason for living slip away.  Before you know it, we’re not even going to be allowed to have Church or mention God’s name because it offends someone.  Sound familiar?  It should…it’s called the Hitler and the Holocaust. 

I’m sorry for that huge rant.  But this is an issue I am VERY passionate about.  I love my God and His word deserves Praise and Glory.  I believe that Christians everywhere should be standing up for this issue.  The Dan Cathy controversy will come and go like a fad, but the true issue will always remain.  We MUST stand up for our beliefs, otherwise they will be taken from us.  I want my son to grow up being able to go to church and being able to say he believes in God and being able TO PRAY in public.  AND I WILL ABSOLUTELY FIGHT FOR HIS RIGHT TO DO THAT!!!!