The dear, beloved John documented the words of Christ best: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Easy right? According to popular news feeds, it doesn’t look like it’s the case.
Today, August 1, 2012, is a day where I throw my hands up in the air and say, What is going on?! Whether it’s on my Facebook home page, Twitter news feed, or news website there are more and more incidents of confusing actions from Christians.
Today, on the main corner near my house, picketers held large, fluorescent signs condemning me to hell for my sinful, evil ways. The shouts and the slurs shamed me more than convicted me.
Today, thousands of retaliating Christians are lining up to Eat Mor Chiken at Chik-fil-a to support Dan Cathy’s comment about traditional marriage.
Today, a church in the South is figuring out how to respond to a couple who were denied the ability to be married in their church because of the color of their skin.
Today I’m asking, What is going on?!
If the return of Christ would occur today, August 1st, 2012, our legacy as Christians would be remembered for what we were against rather than what we were for. <—– And that? That right there? Is a crying shame.
I will not be purchasing a chicken sandwich today. Not because I disagree with what Dan Cathy stated, but because this further alienates me from a world that is crying out to be loved. I can’t bring salvation; Jesus did. I can’t bring conviction; the Holy Spirit does. I can’t bring judgement; God will. But I can love. And in a broken, hurting world it’s the least—and simultaneously the most—we can do.
The world will know we are Christians by our love. So before you close church doors to people who look different than you, before you eat a chicken sandwich or hold up a florescent sign, please exhibit the love of Christ.
In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.
Wow! I bought the sandwich!! Never thought of it like that. Thanks
Bianca,
I’ve been reading your blog on and off for years, and I think this is the first time I’ve been brought to comment. As a liberal Jew, I can’t say I agree with some of the outright anti-gay sentiments being expressed in support of Chik-fil-A these days. I want to say THANK YOU for addressing this topic that hurts my heart so much, and at the same time makes me proud to stand so strong in my beliefs! No matter what your opinion on the biblical definition of “family unit” is, thank you for preaching that love always wins.
Preach it sister!! 100% agree with you!
So wonderfully said! …”our legacy as Christians would be remembered for what we were against rather than what we were for. <—– And that? That right there? Is a crying shame."…Such a great perspective and I'll be sharing this!
yes. THIS. well said, bianca. may the Lord give us grace as we go about living our lives in this world…
Well stated… it doesn’t matter if they’re white, black, asian, caucasion, straight or gay….they’re people bottom line. We as the body of christ are first called to love the Lord God with all our heart, and second to love our neighbor as ourselves. We cant choose to not love somebody because they’re black or because they’re gay. No, we may not agree with that life style but God still loves them…Shouldn’t we?
Hi Bianca – I appreciate your post, but am someone who plans on having some mor chicken for dinner tonight. 🙂 In terms of being remembered for what we were against rather than what we were for – I would contend that it’s largely the media that has defined this as an “anti-gay” situation rather than a “pro-marriage” or “pro-Biblical principles” one. In other words, I am not anti-gay. I am for Biblical principles. If I’m characterized incorrectly, I can’t own that. Just like Jesus was characterized a heretic or a liar or a power-thirsty fraud; he did not own that.
Also, I quite frankly am getting tired of being told that standing up for Biblical principles and loving others are mutually exclusive. They so very much aren’t – in fact I’d even go as far as to say they are synonymous! When I try to speak truth into my culture, I believe I am loving all of us in a profound way. Because I truly believe that what God wants us to do is what’s best for us.
Lastly I just want to say that I think as we as a culture veer farther and farther from Biblical truth, our role as Christians in terms of standing up for truth becomes more necessary. It may seem like we’re becoming “louder” or more concerned with “protests” than ever before, but I think that’s an effect, not a cause.
I do agree that our main objective should be to love, and I also agree that we’re not that great at it – and I am the worst! If we’re eating chicken or protesting or doing whatever it is we’re doing out of ANGER, than we are wrong. But if we’re doing it to stand for truth or to show that God’s people won’t be silenced, I think we are blessed.
Maria, I LOVE your comment. And I LOVE your convictions. What I didn’t clarify in my [short] post was that I completely support those who are choosing to eat at Chik-fil-a! I love that the Church is rising up in support of Dan. I also agree with you in preaching the Truth unabashedly and I hope I didn’t come off ecumenical or watered-down.
Your comment showed a well-stated other side.
Enjoy your chicken sandwich! 🙂
Hi Maria,
You are awesome you said everything that I have been feeling!!
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35
I agree with everything you said about the ‘mad’ ways to share the gospel BUTTTTTT
What St. Francis of Assisi said has been taken by christians as an excuse to “preach with your testimony” and never articulating a word about salvation.
I think we can share the Gospel with Love, thats the whole point! But we must AT ALL times preach with words as well.
Is just funny how those who are supporting the Chik-fil-a thing are the same one who DO NOT share the gospel in their daily basis.
I agree with you Bianca, we must let the world know about Christ with love not condemnation.
There are loving ways to talk about sin and hell with love, after all evangelism is “LOVE FOR OTHERS”
Perfectly put Bianca 🙂
This is amazing and EXACTLY what so many Christians needed to read today. Puts it into perspective.
Love Maria’s comment. It is necessary to take a stand lest we be silenced forever. But yes – love is needed as well.
Nice one couz…..Love conquers all
Hey Bianca
Here in Canada we tend to have the mentality of “Oh, that’s and American problem” NOT. It’s a world-wide Christian problem.
We get so wrapped up in proving we’re Biblically correct that we forget to love.
Thanks for the reminder…
“Most of all, love each other as if you life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.” 1 Peter 4:8 MSG
P.S. Meeting went “ok” with Women’s Ministry Leader. I tried to stick to your advice and let her lead and me follow….very hard to do!! lol
So much I’d like to say and ask, but not here….sigh
C
Thank you for sharing. Powerful. God bless you, your ministry, and your family.
I must say, how can we expect those that don’t know our Savior to want to know Him when we are spitting vitriol. Name calling will not show them God’s love, but drive people the other direction.
so true.
Thank you, this was so very beautiful. I didn’t buy a sandwich today and for the very same reason {plus I’m vegetarian 🙂 }.
What exactly DO you stand for? I’m very confused. I went to Chick-fil-a today to show my support for a company that is unashamed of standing on Biblical truths and principles, unashamed of taking a public stand for GOD’S design and idea of marriage and the family. Why are we unloving if we take a stand for righteousness? Why is it considered unloving if we show support for a man/company embracing Biblical values? I don’t understand. I think it is “a crying shame” that you, as someone who is considered a Christian influence, would be against that. I’m sorry, but if you are not willing to take a stand for God’s truth, what “love” are you really offering? We are called to love AND we are calling to pursue holiness. They go hand in hand. A huge reason why America is in the state it’s in is because so many “Christians” are too busy being consumed with entertainment, pop culture, and being politically and socially correct while the media and liberals attack our faith left and right. Keeping the truth from people is not love.
I’m sorry for butting in, Kristy, but I can’t see the part in the post where Bianca says she is against it? From what I can see, she merely says she isn’t taking part.
I’m not in America, I don’t understand the whole thing that is going on, nor can I speak for Bianca, but I think the issue that many Christian’s have with yesterday’s action was the way it seems to be confirming the belief that Christian’s are judgemental and against the sinner. It could so easily be misinterpretted by as another way for Christian’s to display their own self-righteousness and protest against something else.
Same-sex relationships/marriages are a huge pressure point right now, and of course Christian’s don’t agree with it. But there’s no Biblical reference to buying chicken, there are many to love others. To love the sinner but not the sin.
I don’t think Bianca is condemning anyone’s actions in this post, she is merely suggesting another view point and another way to get the Biblical message across.
That’s silly. We all know the Bible doesn’t command us to buy chicken. The point I was trying to make is that supporting the cause is not “unloving”… I didn’t see anyone being “unloving” towards gays yesterday at Chick-fil-a. We were all there buying food to support their business. I don’t understand how Bianca and several others on here see that as alienating ourselves from the world…? Yes, we are called to love the lost… but we are also called to take a stand for God’s Word. They are not exclusive.
Yes!!
This is exactly what I have been trying to convey all day, but I felt so overwhelmed with sadness and emotion at what was happening, that there is NO WAY I could have worded it so eloquently!!
The lack of love present today has really hurt my heart – I feel like God would be so upset with us all today. This is not our place to be doing such things, we should just be loving!!!
Thank you for writing this.
Candice, I do not think God would be upset with supporting his design for marriage. In Nehemiah, he gave the charge to fight for our families! We are not to just stand by while our society tries to destroy the sanctity of a marriage between a man and a woman. It seems so many here on this blog think it is impossible to love abs strive for holiness at the same time… but God Himself commands us to. Do not pick and choose what sounds good from the Bible… and do not just go with the flow of whatever people tell you… make sure what you believe aligns itself with GOD’S WORD.
Love God, love others. Great post, Bianca 🙂
Only in America we have our voice, opinions, blogs, art, literature protected by rights that have been established since the inception of this country. In moments we have deferred to the feelings of others. As believers, we deferred to others in the public arena to maintain relationship. History is our Teacher & from what I’ve seen thru time many paid a huge price for deference; Italy during The Dark Ages, America in WWII, Russia(earlier Soviet Union), Slave Trade to the Americas, etc. When a couple speaks their opinion & intimidated to keep quiet or change their stance, that to me hearkens the voices of time long ago.
I, too, ate a sandwich:) I just can’t afford a cruise ticket to another unexplored country on this planet and begin anew with laws that first established America. I like my home here…
It’s nice to see someone who is believes in God to be spreading around the true message of love and tolerance. Keep preaching, and on a side note why do you and Jasmine Star look so much alike?
Amazing, christians being criticized on a christian blog for supporting a brother who has the guts to stand up for biblical truth
Who’s criticizing him? I’m not. And just to clarify, I eat at Chik-fil-a!
http://thegospelcoalition.org/mobile/article/tgc/factchecker-misquoting-francis-of-assisi
Thank you for your post. Just a suggestion from a long time follower and historian…I find its best to throughly understand the context and background of historical quotes before using them. When in doubt, use the truth you know is true. The Word of God. Happy Weekend.
Oy vey…
I think what Bianca was trying to say is that while she supports what Chik-fil-a said, she wasn’t going to eat there because it alienates us from the people we are trying to reach. There are people, hurting people, who are trying to find love in the wrong places and when they see Christians stand up like this, they might view it as a denial of attaining that “love”. People already have the view God is cruel so they might see Him as condemning by our actions as Christians. Am I making sense? Now, we have to remember that we have different convictions in our walk with the Lord too. I would have most certainly ate at Chik-fil-a if there was one around here because I believe God wants me to stand up for what I believe. BUT if God directed me not to, because He knew I would cause someone who is struggling with how they view Him to stumble, I would have to obey Him and not eat there. I believe, Biaca felt led to not eat there that day because she wanted to exhibit the love of Christ. Thats great! God called her to do that. This is such a touchy issue yall. Just remember Who you serve and do what He has called you to do. We are not all called to do the same things. Stick to God’s Word at all times…and follow His lead.
I didn’t get to eat chicken that day, but I wanted to. Not to thumb my nose at homosexuals, but stand with a man who said nothing of hate, only what he stood for. My gay colleagues (whom I’m friends with) know that I care about them, but that I will always stand up for what is right (and always in a way that my intentions are of love).
That supposed quote of St. Francis is anti-biblical:
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
(Romans 10:14-17 ESV)
Also, assisting sinners in achieving a comfortable ride to hell without being offended by the reality that their sin will result in eternal damnation, unless they repent and place their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, is not love but may be cowardly avoidance of confrontation.
Cowards will not inherit the kingdom of God
So I used St. Francis’ quote one time when leading a study. Then got called out by some “scholar” and was told that it’s actually proven that he didn’t say that, and began to explain that it’s not even a good quote…. It was super irrelevant and bad timing. haha. Got shot down. Whether he’s right or not, I never looked into it, because simply, I don’t care!
good quote. whoever said it.
Ezekiel 3:18
New King James Version (NKJV)
18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Mark 8:38
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes….”