That Chicken Is No Chicken!

Unless you have been on a media fast or just returned from an intergalactic vacation, you are no doubt aware of the firestorm Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-Fil-A caused by simply stating that the company’s business philosophy is based on biblical principles. In his interview with Baptist Press (full article link: Guilty As Charged) Cathy said that Chick-Fil-A is not a Christian business because Christ didn’t die for businesses but He did die for people. However he continues, “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.”

One of the guiding biblical principles is the restaurant’s founder S. Truett Cathy’s 66-year old tradition of closing on Sundays. It’s a time given to employees to spend quality time together worshiping with their family at church. As far as I’m aware, there hasn’t been one single protest or boycott until the restaurant changes that policy… that’s not to say I didn’t wish for a quick fix of spicy chicken sandwich pulling into their parking lot on my way home from church, forgetting they’re closed. There are no radical groups or city officials demanding that they force their franchisees to open the doors on Sundays or else.

Another guiding principle for the chain is their outstanding customer service, or “second-mile” service as Cathy refers to it, which is based on Matthew 5:41 where Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” Again, I don’t ever recall seeing a customer yelling at their employees to stop being so nice and demanding to be treated like dirt.

From its successes the restaurant chain formed the Winshape Foundation (WinShape.org) to provide support from foster care programs to children’s summer camps to college scholarships to marriage ministries in an effort to build and strengthen the family. Once again, there were no media firestorms demanding Chick-Fil-A to dismantle its many programs and ministries… until recently when Dan Cathy affirmed their commitment to support and strengthen families, the biblical definition of the family unit. At one point one journalist (I’ll give him the benefit of doubt) even stated that their biblical definition of marriage is equivalent to spewing hate-filled racial slurs, justifying that just because it’s protected speech it shouldn’t be said in the first place.

Boston’s mayor, Tom Menino was the first to step up to the batter’s box by telling the media he wants to keep the restaurant chain out of Boston because of its support of traditional marriages. I think the mayor has forgotten that it is akin to discrimination based on race, creed, sex, or religious beliefs. Menino later backtracked his rant.

Of course Rahm Emanuel, the mayor of Chicago also jumped on the anti-chicken wagon by stating that, “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values. They’re not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our family members. And if you’re gonna be part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values.” So, Mayor Emanuel not only speaks for the entire city of Chicago on the issue of same-sex marriage but he also is making a moral judgment, meaning he is imposing his own moral view on all Chicago residents. Furthermore Chicago Alderman Moreno has publicly announced that she has blocked Chick-Fil-A’s expansion into the Logan Square neighborhood. I’ve been to Chicago many a times and driving through its streets (all of it before the streets of Chicago looking almost like warlords filled Mogadishu) I have seen many storefronts that I hope do not reflect the “Chicago values,” specifically the adult entertainment shops, strip clubs, and off-track betting… or may be that’s Rahm Emanuel’s vision of the future Chicago?

There is a cultural war going on in America. While it’s nothing new, there is a movement of doing-whatever-is-right-in-their-eyes where decisions and judgments all come down to how one feels. Of course this is the very anti-thesis of living by a set of moral guiding principles such as what Dan Cathy and millions of authentic Christians are living by every single day. It take courage where people falsely accuses you of being hateful or intolerant when you reject the redefinition of what makes a marriage because we know that marriage is more than just a piece of paper or even a commitment as long as you feel or receive love. The biblical definition of marriage is a covenant made between a man, a woman, and the God who blesses the union. All those who violate it (divorces and gay-marriages) will face the consequences of breaking of the covenant (the opposite of God’s blessing)… and the consequences can affect second and third generations afterwards.

I close by reminding all those who are like-minded Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

It takes great courage to stand against the current of public opinions, but it is necessary to do so, with grace and respect because when you walk in the Light sometimes you get in the scrutiny of the spotlight. However, when standing firmly on the immutable Word of God, standing under the spotlight becomes bearable. Dan Cathy certainly has proved that and he remains committed by saying, “We intend to stay the course.”

We need more cultural warriors like Cathy… we need more soldiers of the Cross to fight on humanistic and relativistic ideologies, all the while keeping in mind that, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:11-13).

All I can say is, “That Chicken is no chicken!” Now go forth and eat mor chikin!