On Cathy, Chick-Fil-A, and Homosexuality

In continuation of my posts on the recent protests against Chik-fil-A...

A lot of people have quoted Dan Cathy, the head of Chick-Fil-A, as saying that we invite God's wrath when we shake our fists at him and refuse to listen to what the Bible says about things like homosexuality.

Advocates of gay marriage are using what Cathy said to point the finger at CFA as an anti-gay company. My quick thought on this: Cathy's words reflected what the Bible says about sin. He wasn't personally condemning homosexuals to hell. He was stating the Christian point of view. And what he said applies to any Christian's sin as much as it does to homosexuality.

Now, was it smart of Cathy to put such words out in the public forum, speaking not just for himself, but for CFA and its policies? Probably not in terms of public relations. But please, leave Cathy alone!

On the Rights of Chik-Fil-A as a Private Business

In continuation of my posts on the recent protests against Chik-fil-A...

It seems to me that the majority of gay rights advocates are exchanging one right for another based on what they agree with. They're denying Chick-Fil-A's rights as a private business by terming it a their protests a boycott and calling for change as apposed to just not spending money there because they don't agree with it. The business doesn't do anything illegal. It treats homosexual employees and customers equally. And as a private business, it has the right to stand up for what it believes in.

Obviously, we don't live under a theocracy and I don't ask that we strive toward that (although no one can make political decisions without some sort of religious or moral belief influencing them). If it were only my moral convictions as a Christian that led me to take my stance on gay marriage, I would be 100% for it.

But other things come into play, and when I consider that certain rights would be taken away in exchange for rights given to homosexuals, when I consider that the gay agenda does not just want tolerance and equality, but rather 100% acceptance equivalent to "brainwashing" (for lack of a better term) our children into believing homosexuality is good at an age when they shouldn't have to even think about what sex is (and such teaching would take away the Christian's right to speak up for what he believes in and to discuss that with his children) - when I consider all these things my position on gay marriage is not so solid and I cannot help but support CFA's rights as a private business and decisions as a Christian owned business.

Personally, I don’t think any business should be able to give proceeds to causes with more political inclinations like this. But if Oreo can stand up for gay rights, then CFA should be allowed to stand up for what it believes. As a private business, it’s their right. I know that the law puts certain restrictions on businesses, but this is not one of those cases, and to force CFA to change it’s policies is to take away its rights as a private business. I don’t ask that anyone who disagrees with them support them with their money, and I certainly see the negatives and positives of their decisions in terms of public relations, but when you go beyond just saying I’m not going to support these other causes with my money through CFA to the point where you’re protesting and trying to take away their rights as a private business, that’s where things get messy in my eyes.

And now we have the mayor of Boston threatening to ban Chick-fil-A from building new restaurants in the are because of its stance on gay marriage? 

When Gay Rights Advocates Become the Very Thing They Fight Against

In continuation of my posts on the recent protests against Chik-fil-A...

Strangely enough, some homosexuals with agendas for gay marriage often become the very bigotry, the very hatred that they so oppose, that they so claim to be fighting against.
 As my dad writes:

I find it hateful when people call pro-family groups "hateful." I find it intolerant when people call the same groups "intolerant." I threw away my crystal ball decades ago because it didn't work so well. But "tolerant" "liberals" sure seem to know what we're all thinking and are all motivated by, don't they?

I'm glad tolerance for gays has grown over the last generation. I oppose their political lobby, however, when it asks for superior rights. They have the right to marry the opposite sex. They want more. They want to marry the same sex. That's not equality; it's superiority.

Hatred usually results from abuse or from a cycle of poor upbringing. I was beat up by a Mexican gang in high school. I don't hate them; but IF I did, and I committed a crime against a Latino, I could be tried for a hate crime. Yesterday's "extenuating circumstances," as dictated by liberality, has become a "hate crime," as dictated by the same liberals. It appears to me that liberals don't base their positions on principle. They base their positions on whatever tugs their heart strings. Today, it just happens to be the G-string.

I've been judged as a bigot and worse before, and it hurts me deeply that people judge me solely on our differences and neglect to notice how much I care about and love the homosexual friends I do have.

Can a Christian Believe in Equality without Supporting Gay Rights?

In my discussion with others on the topic of gay marriage, especially in light of Chick-fil-A's stance on the issue and in light of Jim Henson Company severing its relationship with the Christian company, I've heard people say that you cannot believe in true equality for gays without supporting gay marriage. I have two things to say in response to that. The first I posted here. The second is this:

Every day someone disagrees with another person on something. Every day someone puts differences aside and loves and cares for another person despite disagreements. Such people do not hold grudges against those they disagree with. Those people do not hate others.

Yes, it is possible and entirely real that someone can love homosexuals, care about them, be friends with them and treat them with equality and respect, never once stop to think those homosexuals are beneath them, never once hold a grudge against them, and yet still be against gay marriage. Sure, that's not always the case, but it is possible and it is real.

A person can be against gay rights without believing homosexuals inferior. One of the tenets of Christianity is that everyone is flawed and imperfect and we have no right to put ourselves above others. The problem then becomes how you define rights and equality. While homosexuals fight for gay rights, there are other rights that CFA and the organizations they donate to are fighting for.

When I say that Christians believe all are equal and that we have no right to put ourselves above others, I mean we have no right to judge or mistreat others in a discriminatory, degrading, verbal, or violent way. But when it takes on the political and law-affecting issue of gay marriage, it becomes another thing entirely. Then it takes extra thinking and consideration beyond our everyday interactions. Then it becomes a matter of defining what equality is and what should be law.


On the Grudges We Hold Against Christians and Homosexuals

In my discussion with others on the topic of gay marriage, especially in light of Chick-fil-A's stance on the issue and in light of Jim Henson Company severing its relationship with the Christian company, I've heard people say that you cannot believe in true equality for gays without supporting gay marriage. I have two things to say in response to that. The first is this:

If you say that a Christian or someone else can have a hidden, but all too real, grudge against gay equality, evidenced by his opposition to gay marriage, even with their in-person treatment of homosexuals seeming to indicate a belief in equal treatment and tolerance, then it could also be said that homosexuals who say they really love each other and just want the rights that come with marriage are actually hiding a grudge against anyone who disagrees with them - are actually hiding a desire to smite out the ability to stand up for what the Bible says is right. In a way, homosexuality can become a religion in itself when it attempts to assert itself and its opinions as right and to force all those who disagree with them to accept their opinions as right.

Chick-Fil-A Refuses to Support Gay Rights - Protesters Retaliate

This begins the first in many posts inspired by the recent negative press Chick-Fil-A has gotten for financially supporting organizations that are against gay marriage. CFA head Dan Cathy admitted the company's stance on marriage equality, and now the whole world seems out to get CFA, including GLAAD.

I'm going to break my thoughts on this issue into several posts for the sake of easy reading and time to think. I'm still thinking about the issue, myself, so many of these comments will be happening as I go along in my thought process and may develop or change. But they give rise to discussion. Please, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I also want to add that, while I created this blog to discuss salvation and my former porn addiction, right now it is taking on things that are more current on my mind as I deal with what it means to be a Christian in the workplace, especially in a workplace that generally supports gay rights.

What do you think of CFA's stance on gay marriage?

Consider this your open forum before I start writing about my thoughts on the issue. 

I'll post links to my other posts below as I write them:

On the Grudges We Hold Against Christians and Homosexuals

Can a Christian Believe in Equality without Supporting Gay Rights?

When Gay Rights Advocates Become the Very Thing They Fight Against

On the Rights of Chik-Fil-A as a Private Business

Do Christians Fear Homosexuals and Gay Rights?

Esau was a Food Addict

OK, so maybe the title of this post was a bit off, but it cuts right to the point of what I want to say.
In Genesis 25-26 we meet Esau and Jacob, sons of Isaac. We learn that when Esau came home hungry one day, he sold his birthright to Jacob in exchange for a warm meal. He must have been really hungry, or at least thought he was!

I know that's one of my major problems as a food addict. I don't go through an entire bag of m&ms in one sitting, but I sure do snack a lot. And I quickly fall into depress when I realize just how much I've eaten in a day and just how unlikely an improvement in my health is if I continue this way.

I'm just like Esau, giving up the better life for the satisfaction of the moment. And this doesn't just apply to food.

How often do we put aside God's better plans for our own?

Are you ready for a purity ring? Things to consider when buying a purity ring.

Are you ready to commit? 

I thought about buying a purity ring several times before I finally bought one, and I'm glad I waited. It was not until a desperate moment in which God changed my heart forever that I knew I needed to change directions, empty my Amazon.com basket, and buy a purity ring. When I got the ring in the mail, it came with a small card for me to sign as a commitment to living a pure life. Do not sign that card, do not put that ring on, unless you are ready to commit. Otherwise, nothing will change,  you'll kick yourself every time you fail, and the ring will lose its meaning to you and likely become a reminder of your failures rather than of God's transforming grace.

Does the verse on it mean something to you?

There are a lot of options out there that just have symbols on them, and that's perfectly fine. But I chose a simple ring with a verse on it because of the reminder I knew it would provide me beyond just having something solid on my finger. My ring says "Create in me a pure heart oh Lord." It reminds me of an old worship song I once sang as a child. "And renew a right spirit within me." This is the prayer of my heart. Having it next to me 24/7 creates an amazing reminder of that prayer when I am tempted.

Do you have a purity ring? How has it helped you?

What are your questions as you consider buying a purity ring?

After the Addiction: Dreams and Nightmares

I think it's about time I got real on this blog. I've been posting a lot of intellectual, doctrine-focused posts because that's what my heart is after, and I'll continue to post on those things, but I started this blog as a resource for those dealing with addictions, and it's about time I got real and talked a bit more in detail about my personal stories (more to come).

Last night I had a nightmare. Not like the kind you have when you're a child and wake in the night to screaming - to yelling for your parents. No, mine scare me far more than that, but they keep me silent. Far worse than those back to school nightmares I so often have, the nightmares I really hate, the dreams I had last night, involve sex. My past, although dealt with, is so much a part of me today that I just can't seem to get away from it completely. My parents have told me that our temptations never go away all together, even with a changed heart, and we just have to learn to deal with it and say no to the sin. After all, it's not a sin to be tempted - just to act on temptation.

Originally, back when I was still dealing with my pornography addiction, my sexual dreams just peeked my interest and drew me back in. Ever since I made a solid commitment with my purity ring, those dreams have changed slightly. They're still sexual, but it's almost as if Satan knows he has lost and thus has opted to put aside tempting me in exchange for reminding me of my past and taunting me for my inability to control my dreams.

Let me stop you right here if you're having similar dreams. You have no control over your dreams. If you dream about sex, you are not sinning in your sleep, no matter how real it seems. Satan is attacking you, and you need to guard your mind. The best we can do is turn to God before and after we go to bed, making sure we always have His word on our minds when we fall asleep.

I had one of those terrible dreams last night. It always seems so real. In the dream, I'm myself thinking about sex and dreaming about sex, and I look at my purity ring and tell myself I've failed and then go on with thinking things I hate. Last night, in particular, felt more real than usual. I woke up feeling torn, like a failure. I had to remind myself that it was only a dream and that I cannot let Satan win. I must push on, as must you. 

Have you ever had any similar dreams? Are you sinning in your sleep? What steps do you take to clear your mind and keep from dwelling on something that is not real?