“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.” - Abraham LincolnThe American Family Association boycott of McDonald's has shown the power that Christians have to hold corporate America accountable. In a recent e-mail to McDonald’s franchised owners, the company said, “It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association.” I'd call that a victory for values.
A friend asked me the other day, "Where do we draw the line when holding unbelievers accountable?" I thought it was a great question.
As Scripture shows, only through Christ do we have the power to overcome sin. To hold unbelievers to the same standard as believers is not wise, nor plausible. But does the same hold true for businesses and organizations?
No. In fact, I believe it falls within the duty of a Christ-follower to help these entities uphold moral values, not destroy them. We've seen a great example in the recent financial crisis of what happens when we turn a blind eye to moral degradation in corporations.
If every believer made a conscious effort to support only businesses that blessed our society, how many more of them would find it sensible to change their stance?
4 comments:
Great issue to take up and start a conversation about. Along these lines, I have often wondered what a Christian boycott of all gas stations here in Manhattan who place adult magazines in open view of children would accomplish. I am fairly confident that, if done full scale, things would change and those magazines would either find a new home or disappear altogether.
My struggle is this; does rebellious action against corrupt practices deal with the heart issue? While we as Christians may be able to force businesses to uphold our moral values, for the sake of profit, does it lead people towards Christ or make them resent the gospel and Jesus as a person? As the church we are the reflection of Christ. While the gospel is offensive "forcing" our values into business is not the gospel.
In the end, what is more important, sheltering ourselves from the effects of corrupt business practices or coming along side of those who conduct those practices and showing them Christ? After all, the greatest way to rid the business world of corruption would be to lead all those who work there to the Lord. The line is quite grey but I thought I would add another view. At this point in life, I am simply trying to figure how to spread the Gospel as effectively as possible and keep myself from getting in It's way.
*Sorry for the removal of my first post, had to make some corrections/additions.
Blessings brother, coming towards KS anytime soon?
Good thoughts Chris. I look at it like this:
There are certain issues of justice that are near and dear to the Lord's heart; for example, justice for the widow and the orphan, care for the foreigner, help for the poor. When businesses manipulate and exploit people, we should make an effort to stop that in order to care for the people God has created.
In your example, selling a porno magazine is definitely not good, but it doesn't constitute (in my mind) manipulating or exploiting people (as much as it disgusts me). However, if that gas station becomes part of an effort to pass legislation forcing every station to sell porno mags or begins giving their profits to a campaign promoting sexual indulgence, it crosses a different line.
You're absolutely right that we're not going to win hearts by winning arguments or boycotts. But if we can protect thousands of unsuspecting people from exploitation, I'm willing to upset a few greedy people to be as "shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves".
If we don't give consequences to these organizations for the mess they make, we'll wake up one day wondering how we got into the pig pen in the first place. Some might say we're already there.
Just my mind dump.
Good clarification. It does seem more aligned with God's heart when you place it in the context of sheltering others from being preyed upon vs. forcing values upon those who don't hold them as their own.
Thanks for the mind dump.
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