tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4013061704828990246.post1711435895297590296..comments2023-06-04T08:57:15.376-05:00Comments on Christian Life with Michael: War with the WorldTulsaMJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15945834114006833482noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4013061704828990246.post-2139179159151268552012-08-05T22:57:11.417-05:002012-08-05T22:57:11.417-05:00Folks - I apologize that some of the comments sat ...Folks - I apologize that some of the comments sat in queue a few days. Last week was a busy one, and for some reason I did not get the normal email notification on some of the comments, and I didn't think to check. Sorry about that! I just kind of did a "post all" so now everyone has had their say.<br /><br />I will reiterate that my blog post was not primarily about whether or not the gay rights agenda is true or just or whether anyone's rights were violated, but about the Christian response to the whole thing, which I think was misguided. In fact, this morning an idea occurred to me that was positively shocking... and embarrassing. See <a href="http://blog.scripturemenu.com/2012/08/war-with-world-part-2.html" rel="nofollow">the next blog post</a> for details.TulsaMJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15945834114006833482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4013061704828990246.post-15281572678493726012012-08-05T10:00:43.322-05:002012-08-05T10:00:43.322-05:00Allthingshealth... I am saying that by making a su...Allthingshealth... I am saying that by making a super-big deal out of it, we ABSOLUTELY did "increase division." I personally think that by taking action in the way that Christians did, we made 100% sure that homosexuals know that we feel they have no right to speak up against something they see as an injustice. Talk about threatening someone's freedom of speech! The cause of Christ was damaged because gays now have yet another reason to believe (fairly or unfairly) that Christians do not accept them. The homosexuals lost out, too, if they become more alienated from the only God Who can help them. <br /><br />Ironically, the only group that won out was poor little Chick-fil-A, so mistreated, who made money hand-over-fist last Wednesday. And in fact, we were doing some back-to-school shopping at the mall Saturday, and the food court line at CFA was ENORMOUS. I don't think people are done yet reverse-picketing them yet. I suspect that the powers-that-be at Chick-fil-A are seeing this controversy as the best thing that ever happened to them. More free mentions of their name in the news media in one week than they've ever had before in their history. A record-breaking sales day on Wednesday. Christians everywhere now treating them like martyrs. I don't think the company planned the whole thing, of course, but it certainly has worked to their IMMENSE advantage. But not to the advantage of anyone else. Not gays, and not the church. (Well, it was also good for Mike Huckabee's image among religious conservatives, I suppose.)<br /><br />What should we Christians have done? Dropped it, that's what. Because in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't important. After all, that's what Chick-fil-A immediately tried to do: "Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena." Why didn't we take a cue from them and leave it alone?<br /><br />Christians did no good in this situation. Christians only did harm.TulsaMJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15945834114006833482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4013061704828990246.post-36630398228123261882012-08-04T13:41:46.261-05:002012-08-04T13:41:46.261-05:00I'm wondering what you are suggesting we shoul...I'm wondering what you are suggesting we should have done--instead of supporting Chick Fil A? 5 Ways the Church Failed (Matthew Paul Turner) said that we weren't showing love. And you are saying that by going to CFA we increased division. How should it have been handled differently, once the media attacked Cathy?<br /><br />I'm a bit confused, because as I see it, by not supporting CFA, and not posting anything on FB, we are just being apathetic Christians, and that is why our country is in the mess that it is in. I was so proud Wednesday to see people rise up out of their apathy--I just hope the polls indicate the same in November.<br /><br />I have a brother, cousin, and high school friend that live the "gay" lifestyle. I was very conscious of them whenever I posted on FB. I didn't post anything nasty or hateful, but rather posted that I love homosexuals, as does God. But as I see it, this was not a time to sit back and do nothing.<br /><br />I was also proud that CFA showed Christian love and gave drinks to their protesters.<br /><br />Am very interested to hear your thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4013061704828990246.post-92157451727002985592012-08-04T07:58:06.587-05:002012-08-04T07:58:06.587-05:00Claus, I think you just proved my point! Actually,...Claus, I think you just proved my point! Actually, you've illustrated how divisive hot-button political issues can be, even separating you from a longtime friend. The problem is not being involved in political issues; Christians have ever right to do that. The problem is linking political issues to Christ. It's one thing for a cause to separate two people because their opinions differ; it's another thing for someone to reject God because of the political opinions of someone who connects those opinions to Jesus, creating a barrier between the sinner and Christ that need not be there. Christ accepts us as we are, sin and all.TulsaMJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15945834114006833482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4013061704828990246.post-6757144688469215652012-08-03T18:30:52.319-05:002012-08-03T18:30:52.319-05:00I highly recommend everyone read The Marketing of ...I highly recommend everyone read The Marketing of Evil by David Kupelian. The first chapter is all about the "gay rights" agenda. They are trying to salve their conscience, or outright sear it, and will react that we are hating them if we don't agree with them. We must show love, but even sometimes when we do show love, they will perceive it as hate. But perception is not truth.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13646189341778071251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4013061704828990246.post-38431723366684252712012-08-03T16:56:23.060-05:002012-08-03T16:56:23.060-05:00I always knew you were a smart guy. Although I don...I always knew you were a smart guy. Although I don't share all of your beliefs, I think you made an excellent point. Jesus always chose love over hate. In fact that is the premise to most religions. Someone is more likely to hear your arguement if it comes from a place of love. They may not agree, but at least it opens the door to discussion.Dena Chenault Fossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4013061704828990246.post-59621371417578151472012-08-03T16:54:56.024-05:002012-08-03T16:54:56.024-05:00While I like the gist of your post for the most pa...While I like the gist of your post for the most part (disagreeing at a few spots), and I applaud the sentiment behind wanting to be fair to both sides, let's not let that sentiment blind us to the truth:<br /><br />When you say Dan Cathy has not denied anybody's right to get married, that may be true in a technical sense as he doesn't have that kind of power to take away rights in general, but he has worked and donated money to others who have worked to deny people the right to get married. Worse, he has donated money to organizations who have used it to help prop up the "Kill the Homos" bill Uganda passed a few years ago, including lobbying congress to not to condemn them for it.<br /><br />If you strip this story to its bare essence, you're left with a guy who uses his money to deny other people rights and to help protect a country in selective genocide. I think that's a person worth fighting against. I would hope most other people would agree. I would also help even when the gay was added back in, most other people would agree.<br /><br />And Claus, at the end of the day, Dan Cathy, you, and I have the right to love who we want; give them power of attorney over our affairs; let them have spousal rights for visitation in hospitals. We're full citizens of this country. A group of people who pay the same taxes, feel the same pride in the country, and would fight for you if your rights were encroached on are denied an equal place. If there is a non-religious reason to deny them these rights, I'd love to hear it because denying rights based on a set of religious beliefs is the opposite of what this country was founded on.TlalocWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03791316424950464784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4013061704828990246.post-55557093286813792052012-08-03T16:39:58.893-05:002012-08-03T16:39:58.893-05:00Good argument. I would add however that many on th...Good argument. I would add however that many on the other side of the divide are vehemently opposed to a Christian's right to believe and take a stance against gay marriage. I made a comment on FaceBook indicating that while I opposed the redefinition of the word marriage to include a gay union, I was not opposed to civil unions before the law for gay couples. For this I was unfriended by one of my high school classmates, who proceeded to compare me to the Nazis who refused to acknowledge the Jews as people, and after a reasoned response and an appeal to him via private email to allow us to "agree to disagree" and remain friends, he labeled me a bigot and compared me to those in the south who prevented Rosa Parks from sitting in the front of the bus, due to her skin color. It is distressing to me that those who spout on and on about tolerance cannot bear to tolerate any view but their own.Claus Hofmannnoreply@blogger.com