a current news question?

I was reading a news article that spoke about how many of the larger food companies, banks, stores, ect are coming out in support of gay marriage. I have also heard that their are many christian groups that are calling for boycotts of these businesses. Some are not shopping at certain stores or buying certain brands of food because they feel the need to send a message and take a stand. I was wondering what others here might be thinking about this?

At this time I have not come to any conclusions of my own but I am praying about this. There are several businesses and products that I have used or gone to in the past that have come out supporting and even promoting gay marriage and lifestyles? Do you think we should boycott these companies and businesses? It does seem that there are more each day...I do not want to compromise on this but have not really felt the LORD leading me one way or other as of yet. I was wondering what others might be seeing from the LORD on this topic?

God Bless
mj

I was once in a restaurant, in Downtown Atlanta, that is run by Gay people. Though I believe with all my heart that they have to repent and they are leading a sinful life style, I did not get any conviction of eating a food served by them. Infact the food tasted good, but I personally did not go there again, because you see nasty things around you that gay couple do openly.

Jesus eat with tax collectors though some of them he eat with may not have repented from their sins. But it gave him an oppertunity to demonstrate to them the life that is according to God's will. We are in a world system where many are openly encouraging sinful life style like Drugs, Pornography etc. Even the same internet that you and I are using, also acts as the business market for Pornography. So should we stop using Internet?

I do not understand what you are trying to say with reference to this thread. Are you saying a Christian should not use the companies that encourage Gay marriage?

If you take this conduct to its ultimate conclusion, then we should not patronize any establishment run by Sinners, that is non-Christians.

What about the Car salesman that is Liar, or Doctor who is covetous, or Librarian that is a gossip? If we leave society and "flee to the mountains", what good is our salt?

We are in the world but not of it. We need to be around the lost as much as they need us around them. Think about that.

Pilgrim

I think some cynicism about how corporate branding works may serve us in this case. I'm confident that, in the case of larger businesses and corporations, statements made in support of any such issue has much more to do with branding, advertising, and appealing to a certain customer base than any actual representation of corporate values. Who, I wonder, is represented by such a statement? Are the stockholders? The executive? The employees? Rather than supporting homosexual marriage, it seems to me more a statement that they are willing to take money from anyone. The controversy that JC Penney summoned recently is more an acknowledgment of research that suggests that a certain demographic disposes of its income in a certain way, and that it, as a company, wants this money.

I'm not saying that this isn't a problem in need of critical thought, but I think it has more to do with the excesses and decadence of consumerism than the debate about homosexual rights.

We must be wise I believe in all cases and be open to God's leading. But definitely not use anything from a "Christian" owned company that supports gay marriage!

Personally I do not have light about treating a Christian owned company in a different way.
But I believe based on the verse that you have quoted in your intial post, the stand you take makes sense. I need to seek God's wisdom in this area to take a stand. Thanks a lot for clarifying.

Buying something from a company should not be equated as associating with them whether they be immoral or righteous.

Just like when the early church believers went out to the open air market to buy vegetables or meat. They would buy from sellers and I don't think they checked the sellers morality before they bought their food. How can purchasing from a seller be equated with associating with immoral persons?

Pal'ing around with immoral people is certainly associating with them. They are not strangers to you. Buying from an immoral person who is a stranger is not associating with them. Seldom do we know how righteous or immoral a Seller is, anyway.

Of course, in all things you must be led by God. We don't live by pre-planned rules or regulations.

Pilgrim

Great question Mary Jane! I am aware only of HP (Hewett-Packard) and recently JCP's use of Ellen Degenerate for their ads. I found myself in the same predicament as you, pondering how i should respond. While buying a printer one year, i refused to buy an HP product due to their support of homosex, and chose Lexmark instead. But after a year or 2 of Lexmark it seemed to have built-in obsolescence and so i had to buy a new one and Cannon was high priced and HP was the only other choice (I have vowed to never buy another Lexmark product per their bad support and poor product). So i was basically left, economically speaking, with only HP to choose from at the time and needed a printer. I have come to the conclusion that it is not my fault or my responsibility as to what any company --or government for that matter--does with my money (or taxes) after they have it. I have no control what they do with my money after they have it. I HAVE to pay taxes, but it is NOT my fault that the government uses some of it for overseas or domestic abortions against my wishes, etc.
I HAVE to buy various goods but i have no control over what every Tom and Joe is gonna do with my money after I pay them. Their sinful use of my money falls upon their own heads, same as if i go grocery shopping and maybe the store manager or owner uses part of his paycheck to snort it up his nose for all i know. Otherwise i could never spend a cent anywhere because sometime somewhere every one is gonna spend it on something less than holy, be it alcohol, or tobacco, or porn, or drugs, or financial support of some ungodly franchise or cause. That is just my take on things these day, maybe i am wrong. But if you refuse to give money to one because of their support for an ungodly cause, where does it end? Every business is secular and most of them support some sort of secular organization, institution, or activity. On the other hand, if you do have viable alternatives then i would say withhold support if at all possible.

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies you have all given me something to think and pray over. I have no answers myself and as I said I do not at this time feel convicted to take part in any of these boycotts but I do want to be in the LORDS will in all of this.

God Bless
mj

IMO, you would be supporting homosexuality at any place of business that allows homosexuals to knowingly work there. So my guess this day and age, you had better start growing your own food, and making your on clothes, and building your own cars and homes, and going to church at your home. Did I miss anything?:)

Brothertom I feel a bit embarrassed to say I don't understand what you are trying to share with me by your reply? You quoted my last post to this thread and then shared some truths but I am not understanding the connection. Please forgive me for not being as perceptive as I might, perhaps I am still a bit sleepy this morning but if you would explain your thoughts further I would be most grateful.:)

God bless
mj

Of all the scriptures in the Bible about getting drunk, Jesus didn’t judge the people at the wedding for getting drunk. No, he made more wine! I know He had His reasons but in the end... He still made the wine.

Why can’t we just purchase what we need, be thankful for it and go on? And minister in love as we are doing it?

It’s absolutely no wonder we are of no effect to the unbelievers, b/c by the sound of it some of you never go around them, your cutting yourself from them and living in your own little commune. Which by the way is a great way to shine your light - where there is no darkness. (last sentence is a tad bit sarcastic, in case you missed it!)

God bless,
Lisa

by Lysa on 2012/6/25 6:50:26

Of all the scriptures in the Bible about getting drunk, Jesus didn’t judge the people at the wedding for getting drunk. No, he made more wine! I know He had His reasons but in the end... He still made the wine.

Why can’t we just purchase what we need, be thankful for it and go on? And minister in love as we are doing it?

It’s absolutely no wonder we are of no effect to the unbelievers, b/c by the sound of it some of you never go around them, your cutting yourself from them and living in your own little commune. Which by the way is a great way to shine your light - where there is no darkness. (last sentence is a tad bit sarcastic, in case you missed it!)

God bless,
Lisa

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Lysa I am not sure if you were directing your post to me since I asked the question or if it was meant for some who have posted replies? I was not meaning to stir anyone to frustration or anger, if my post did so I do apologies. Since moving I have not been able to find a local body to meet with all the time(there are many RCC in this area) so from time to time I do look to those like yourself who come to the forum for counsel and what the LORD might show you. I value many of the brothers and sisters here and the heart they have for the LORD so I often look to what someone like you might be seeing on this matter. I put these things to prayer and ask the LORD what HE might have for me to glean and learn from it all. I am around people who are not saved most of the time, I do not cut myself off from them in anyway. If I am honest the sad truth is I find very little opportunity to be around those who call HIM LORD and live it.

From your reply I gather that you were upset, or offended by my thread so I personally ask for your forgiveness. IT was not my intention to cause you to stumble in anyway.

God bless you
mj

Hey sister MJ I thought I would add something that I believe many missed in your article. I also agree with what Krispy and some others said also.

I believe your main concern was about the boycotting of businesses; and should we participate in not buying from those who are promoting ungodly lifestyles and unchristian ethics.

I use to get and read emails about what this company was doing and how we need to boycott them because they are doing this or that. I hardly pay much attention to emails like that anymore. There are also ungodly groups boycotting also if companies don’t do what they want them to do.

I don’t believe we should follow the ways of the world; and I don’t believe that Jesus would want us to necessarily be involved in boycotts trying to force companies to do things. I believe we are to pray for all people and live a Christian life- letting our light shine to others. Whatever we do in word or deed, we are told to do all in the name of Jesus. We are also told to do all in faith. I don’t worry anymore about what everybody else is doing or not doing. I pray and strive to walk in the light everyday to be a witness to all and I buy or deal with people in a Christian way and manner. I believe in treating everybody the same, and if they have goods that I or my family needs, that are a good product with a reasonable price, then I purchase things without asking are they sinning or promoting sin. Now if I was about to purchase something and they told me that they were going to use the money to kill someone or some horrendous crime or sin, then I would have to go without their product. I would only say- just pray about everything and do and treat others the way you would have them to treat you.

Anyway be blessed MJ!

Mary Jane,

At the end of the day it will be you who will have to deal with your conscience. Since this bothers you, I suggest you have the LORD show you what you need to do and go from there. It is obedience to the Holy Spirit, whether it makes sense or not, that is required of you. This is what is called faith - the scriptures give us little clues to our questions sometimes so we have to fall back on what the Holy Spirit would have us do. It is faithfulness in the little things where growth occurs. Being faithful there will lead to bigger things.

And, yes, I understand your dilemma perfectly.

God bless.

ginnyrose

Mary Jane,

After posting my answer to your question, my mind took a trip down memory lane...

Many years ago I acquired a cookbook compiled for people who embrace Buddhism. Where on earth I got it or why I got it has been lost in the recesses of my memory...

Anyhow, this book had pics in of restaurants who serve their food, pics of their idols that are served a sample of it. Also in the book there a was a pic of a shim: I have no idea whether it was a male or female. Others who looked at it had the same problem in discerning the person's gender.

So, in time I felt it was wrong for me to even have this book in my possession. The end result was I had a bonfire and burned it. Now I knew I did the right thing and have never longed for it since nor regretted it.

Just thought I would share this testimony...

Have a good day!

ginnyrose

Krispy,

I remember well looking through this cookbook and thinking this food looks good, delicious. I also remember thinking I would not mind eating at one of the restaurants that serve this kind of food. But there was that "BUT".

One thing - I did not need the food for survival - to go there to eat it would have been for fun. That is it. And the other thing, I suspect they would have given their god the glory for their sales that day if I patronized it. I had fears and suspicions that by me patronizing it would in some way make them feel as though I would be approving of their religion and that is one risk I refused to take.

At Farmer's Market there is a Muslim lady that sells Greek foods. And it is good - the reason I know is because we have purchased some of it and ate it. We never felt in our spirit that we should refuse to buy anything from her. She is friendly, I like her - and the feelings seem to be mutual. Now figure that out, if you can! lol

Anyhow, my thoughts at the moment for whatever it is worth...

Pretty simple here, hate the sin, love the sinner, just like God does for all of us everyday, unless of course your not a sinner.

Brothertom thank you for coming back and taking of your time to help me better understand. I feel like my head has been in a bit of a fog today :) I do understand better now what you were sharing.

Ginnyrose thank you also for taking the time to share your experience with me here concerning the cook book and the farmers market. I guess it is all about allowing the LORD to lead us in every situation.

God Bless
maryjane

QUOTE:
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I guess it is all about allowing the LORD to lead us in every situation.
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Mary Jane, that is what it is all about. I think the LORD allows these kinds of situations to come into our lives to teach us something about his leading us in everyday affairs.

God bless.