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The San Antonio City Council recently voted 6–4 to prevent Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant at the city’s airport.
The statement added, “In fact, we have welcomed everyone in San Antonio into our 32 local stores for more than 40 years.”
“Everyone has a place here”
This is not the first time the Cathy family’s commitment to biblical morality has cost them business.
However, the San Antonio City Council’s action takes discrimination against the restaurant to a new low.
Councilman Trevino declared: “Everyone has a place here, and everyone should feel welcome when they walk through our airport.”
Everyone, apparently, except those who affirm biblical morality.
The canary in the cultural mine
Chick-fil-A
has become the proverbial canary in the cultural mine. Because the
Cathy family has been consistent in their support for biblical marriage,
their business has come under escalating pressure from those who stand
to profit politically by doing so.
To
be clear: These attacks have nothing to do with the company’s actual
business. My internet search could not find a single instance when an
LGBTQ customer or employee alleged discrimination against the
restaurant.
But
we now live in a day when business owners can face discrimination for
their personal commitment to biblical morality, even if their customers
make no allegations against them. Private charitable contributions that
are completely unrelated to your company will be used against you, as
the Cathys have found.
The
city of Phoenix has forbidden two artists from refusing to create
artwork celebrating same-sex marriage and also forbids them to express
publicly the Christian beliefs that prevent them from doing so.
And
the state of New York is attempting to force a Christian adoption
provider to place children in same-sex households or close its adoption
services.
“The only metric of success that really matters”
One of the ways God redeems discrimination against Christian morality is by using it to draw Christians closer to each other.
After
Peter and John were threatened for preaching the gospel, “they went to
their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had
said to them” ( Acts 4:23).
In the face of escalating persecution, those in their faith community
“were of one heart and soul” (v. 32). As a result, “with great power the
apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus, and great grace was upon them all” (v. 33).
She
begins with the memorial service for her deceased brother, where she
was greatly moved by the depth of community he and his family had built.
She admits: “Before Robbie got sick, if you had asked me if community
mattered, I would have said yes. But I wouldn’t have thought about it
much. Nor would I have spent much time working out what it meant.”
After
her brother died, she says, “I wanted to do less and be more. And what I
wanted to be was more connected—not only to my family and close
friends, but to the people around me.”
Anderson
cites compelling evidence that strong social ties are directly
correlated to longer, happier living. After making intentional decisions
to forge closer relationships with neighbors and friends, she
concludes: “I used to think that community was as simple as having
friends who bring a lasagna when things fall apart and champagne when
things go well. Who pick up your kids from school when you can’t. But I
think community is also an insurance policy against life’s cruelty; a
kind of immunity against loss and disappointment and rage. My community
will be here for my family if I cannot be. And if I die, my kids will be
surrounded by people who know and love them, quirks and warts and
oddities and all.”
“They went to their friends”
As
the 2020 election cycle escalates, we should expect those who profit
politically by discriminating against Christians to escalate such
mistreatment. But we should also remember that those who obey the word
of God stand with the God of the word. He promises to reward all who
suffer persecution for his sake ( Matthew 5:11).
One
way our Lord rewards us is by leading us into community with others who
are also defending biblical truth. It is easier to stand for Jesus when
we know we are not standing alone. The closer we draw to God’s people,
the closer we draw to God.
Note the phrase that began our Acts 4 text: “They went to their friends.”
Who are your friends today?
Who considers you theirs?
NOTE: Easter is coming, and I would love to send you a copy of Journey to the Resurrection, an Easter devotional I've recently written. This new, fifteen-day guide will help prepare your heart for the season.
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