I am not a fan of boycotts. So when some people decided to start a petition to support a boycott of Target because of its decision to allow transgender people to use their restroom of choice, I did not jump on that bandwagon. The reasons I did not sign on are both practical and biblical.
A company as large as Target probably employs some Christians in its workforce and a boycott could adversely affect them. One may say they should look for work elsewhere, but the vast majority of us, unless you are self-employed or own your own business, have worked for employers whose policies or practices we may have disagreed with for moral reasons. Besides, to leave would remove the Christian witness and influence of believers at Target.
Boycotts are generally ineffective. Recent estimates say over a million people have pledged not to shop at Target, in a nation of almost 323 million I do not think Target will be forced into receivership by such a boycott.
Forgive the pun but why target Target? There are many businesses and corporations that openly support special rights for the LGBT community. Isn’t it hypocritical to boycott one and not the others? And what about those companies that are secretly friendly to LGBT policies, how would one ferret out their private practices to boycott them also?
We know boycotts are one of the weapons of choice by LGBT activists to bully businesses to comply with their demands. I do not think God would have believers mimic their practices. Godly goals should be pursed by Godly means; otherwise we are no different than them. And outward compliance is not always a sign of inward change, and inward change is the Christian goal.
That is a practical perspective of boycotts here is the biblical perspective.
Billy Graham has said, “The central issues of our time aren’t economic, or political or social, as important as these are. The central issues of our time are spiritual and moral.” We are in a spiritual battle for the soul of our nation and that battle will not be won by boycotts and protests.
I can understand avoiding Target if you are concerned for the welfare of your children in the restroom. But I do not believe bullying Target with a boycott is either effective or good.
And Paul instructs us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good,” Romans 12:21. A boycott does not seem to be a good thing. It is a worldly way of trying to address a societal problem. More than that, it does not seem to be a practice that is in keeping with the words of Christ, who told us “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
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