Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Agree to Disagree? As long as I agree that you're right!

I should probably start by apologizing for not writing in a while.  Pray with/for me that I will start contributing to this blog more frequently...like every few days.   The tough thing is that as much as I talk, I don't feel like I have a lot to say!  I know, crazy huh?


Last week Chick-Fil-A opened up a restaurant in our town.  It was very much to my pleasure to know that a place I loved to frequent when out of town was now going to be right down the road.  Furthermore, I have never once had a negative experience in a CFA and I love that fact!

So in my joy I decided to post on Facebook this......

"After visiting Chick-Fil-A today (which only took 11 minutes to get me from 4 cars away from the place where you place your order until I got my food) I am convinced of one very important fact that I have learned from every Chick-Fil-A I have ever been to. It doesn't matter where you hire employees from. It doesn't matter what race they are. It doesn't matter if they are male or female. What matters is that they either have a respect for the company they work for and that company has a respect for the customers and God, or that the employees have a relationship with Christ and are encouraged to live it out at their jobs.

Those who disagree have a right to disagree and some of them will with much passion. But when I leave a McDonald's, Hardee's or any other fast food restaurant (regardless of the city or town it is in) I'm unusually surprised if I have been made to feel special just for buying their food.

But when I leave a CFA, again regardless of the location, I receive a feeling that I have come to expect from them and appreciate more every day.

The lesson - When God is on His throne, amazing things will happen. People show love, appreciation and warmth that comes from his Heavenly throne. It should make us stop and think, if God does that from His throne at a fast food restaurant, what will he do if we put him back on his throne in our churches, homes and lives?

An excellent spicy chicken sandwich. An even more amazing lesson from the King of Kings!"

BIG MISTAKE!!!

Okay, it wasn't that big and in fact, I don't think it was mistake. Neither did the 118 "likes" I received.  But what happened was a few questions and comments about my opinion of Christ and "Christian Chicken" were raised, some of which questioned my motives and integrity.   As I played and replayed this conversation in which I defended my stance with love and scripture, I began to think "why has it become  wrong to exercise your first amendment rights as long as your comments are respectful on Facebook or anywhere for that matter."

It seems that in our country there are certain things that cannot be said without causing a storm of attacks.  But what amazes me is that when the opposite thing is said, no one says a thing.  Let me clarify what I am trying to say.

If I were to say "I LOVE hamburgers" and it wasn't politically correct to eat hamburgers I would receive a barrage of comments and criticisms of how I am trying to force hamburgers down people's throats.

Now if at the same time someone were to say that they wish all the hamburger eaters would develop cancer and die, it might raise a few eyebrows but very few of the "hamburger haters" would consider such a hateful statement wrong and simply hide behind that person's 1st amendment right.

So what are the hamburger lovers to do?  I say it's time they stop sitting in their holy huddles hidden away in dark rooms where no one can attack them eating their burgers.  They don't need to expect everyone else to enjoy hamburgers, but if someone asks what their favorite food is, they shouldn't be afraid to answer honestly.

Now that being said, if you don't agree, that's perfectly fine.  I have had so many people tell me, "don't be too honest on your blog, you have to remember your well known and that could cause problems for you down the road."

Um? Excuse me, but am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.  (Galatians 1:10)

Now.....let's go eat some chicken!



5 comments:

  1. God will promote you, even if men don't~

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  2. A point that I am starting to realize and almost feel that some of my hiding from truth should result in repentance.

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  3. we are bombarded with profanity in our shows, adult content in cartoons and ignorance on loud ringtones so if you are led to talk about CHRIST when supporting a Christian establishment or if current events spark a fresh revelatory sermon then cry loud and spare not. Besides you are a man of God and you view everything through the eyes of Christ and if someone cant get that.....then shake the dust off and keep moving

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  4. I agree with what your saying. Unfortunately, it appears that pastors/preachers/priest have to walk on egg shells to not say something that could be turned and questioned and flipped around in the attempt to get you in a corner. We saw that last year with Andy Stanley in Alpharetta.

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  5. Chester, I am glad that you view things through the eyes of Christ. We are HIS hands and feet, and should not be afraid to be HIS voice.
    I'm not putting you on a pedestal, but I have come to expect that your views reflect God's works/words in action (yes, I know you are only human and have flaws, we all do). I admire that you are bold in Christ. Keep on preaching in your teaching way my friend. It reaches people!

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