Recently, Chick-fil-A the third largest fast food restaurant in America bowed to LGBT intolerance and announced it would no longer be making charitable donations to three Christian organizations that have stood for biblical marriage and sexuality; the Salvation Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Focus on the Family.
Chick-fil-A’s president and Chief Operating Officer Tim Tassopoulos offered this explanation, “As we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are.” Well Tim, as you “move into new markets” I think you should have given some consideration to the old markets you have left behind.
John Hirschauer writing for National Review said, “If anything, this type of equivocation makes it less clear what, exactly Chick-fil-A is. It certainly bears little resemblance to the business founded by Truett Cathy, who famously stated that he ‘was not so committed to financial success that’ he ‘was willing to abandon’ his ‘principles and priorities.’ That’s exactly what Chick-fil-A has done: It has abandoned their principles and betrayed the consumers who buoyed their rise from relative obscurity into a multibillion-dollar colossus that it is. Those consumers stood by the company as it faced furious opposition at colleges, municipal centers, and shopping malls around the country and helped make it the third-largest fast-food chain in the country.”
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee tweeted, “Chick-fil-A betrayed loyal customers for $$. I regret believing they would stay true to convictions of founder Truett Cathy. Sad.” Chick-fil-A may make a good chicken sandwich but their capitulation to those who hate what they stood for has left a bad taste in the mouths of their loyal customers.
GLAAD, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, was not appeased by the announcement. GLAAD spokesman Drew Anderson said Chick-fil-A needs to do more and “speak out against the anti-LGBTQ reputation their brand represents.” Looks like Chick-fil-A hasn’t made anyone happy trying to walk the tightrope between Christian convictions and a crazed culture.
Chick-fil-As everywhere are closed on Sundays. Truett Cathy said that the “decision to close on Sunday was our way of honoring God and of directing our attention to things that mattered more than business.” I suppose business matters more now. The fast food chain is learning the truth in Christ’s words, “No one can serve two masters … You cannot serve God and wealth,” Matthew 6:24.
There may be some zealots that call for a boycott, I hope not. I do not believe in boycotts. Besides, Chick-fil-A has a greater concern than the probability of a boycott it has wandered into the no man’s land of compromise.
I hope they heed the warning Jesus gave to the church at Laodicea, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth,” Revelation 3:15-16.
I cannot believe that Chick-Fill-A is caving in to political correctness and abandoning their Evangelical beliefs. They will loose most of their original customer base.
Thanks for the helpful and thoughtful analysis. I agree, this direction they seem to be headed in is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.