Much has been said lately regarding the comments made by Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy in regards to gay marriage. In a recent interview, for example, Cathy expressed his personal support for traditional marriage and was suddenly caught in a firestorm of controversy. Chick-Fil-A, a Christian-based company that closes every Sunday so employees and customers alike can attend religious services of their choice, should not surprise many when they take a stand on the side of traditional marriage. Cathy invoked his thoughts regarding marriage with the following: “We are very much supportive of the family—the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that…We know that it might not popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”
Cathy and Chick-Fil-A was instantly targeted by far left liberals on this controversial issue. "How backward and ignorant ... how sad," CNN reader Joe Brown said. "No more Chick-fil-A for me. I am not in the stone-casting business as a Christian." "There is no place for this type of hate in our great City of Brotherly and Sisterly Affection," said James Kenney, City Councilman in Philadelphia. Thomas Menino, the Democratic mayor of Boston, expressed his frustration with Chick-Fil-A’s position. "I don't want an individual who will continue to advocate against people's rights. That's who I am and that's what Boston's all about," he said.
For what it’s worth, I am a big fan of Chick-Fil-A. Life just doesn’t quite feel right without a good chicken sandwich, waffle fries dipped in barbeque sauce, and a large sweet tea that never fails to quench my thirst.
Sadly, many liberals are missing a vital point here. Being against gay marriage does not insinuate that one is anti-gay. For the record, I am personally against same-sex marriage. It does not coincide with my belief that God made man for the woman and woman for the man. I view marriage as a holy and sacred union between God, man and woman. This is my moral conviction and I will always abide by this belief. That being said, I am not against homosexuals. In consistence with my faith in God, I believe in showing love towards everybody without discrimination.
However, in today’s society, standing on principle is being misconstrued as being intolerant. The liberal logic of the left is the belief that your religious convictions are outdated, irrelevant and are an expression of cynicism and hatred. It is the secular and mainstream perception in this socio-cultural paradigm shift in society that is recommending Christians turn a blind eye and deaf ear to their God-given principles in order to accommodate what is deemed socially acceptable.
I strongly salute Chick-Fil-A and many other faith-driven individuals who stand for traditional marriage and also withhold discrimination from those who think differently from them. The last time I checked, I don’t recall Chick-Fil-A expressing their desire for gays not to eat at their locations or to seek employment with them. The assault on their religious belief is beyond asinine and absurd.
The moment we become tolerant for the sake of being culturally relevant and forsake our moral principles, we lose not only our influence, but our God-given identity. I refuse to be a token of tolerance if I must betray my principles for temporary satisfaction or popularity.
Ironically, many of the folks that preach tolerance neglect to practice that very principle. The following is an excerpt from a statement that was posted on my Facebook page from a liberal named Khayree Billingslea who decided to share with me his perception of me:
“You are a sickening presence in my newsfeed. When I reflect on the strange permutations of mankind that manifest themselves in the world and have the audacity to speak, I am confronted with thoughts of you as the most glaring example of that.”
What is my response to Khayree’s insulting and provocative remark? I think I’ll respond with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: “ I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to care.”
Tolerance is the ability to love and to remain grounded in one’s convictions and beliefs. This has been and will continue to be my stance.