Let me just start by saying I love me some Chick-Fil-A. Their food is better than any other fast food chain in my opinion, and their employees are most often pleasant and helpful. Good food – good service – so they get my money. The fact that they are a Christian owned and operated company honestly has little to nothing to do with it.

I applaud their values as a company and will stand behind them, but all this ado is about nothing in my opinion.

You see, as a Christian I have no issue purchasing products or services from companies that are not “Christian.” Just because a company issues a statement supporting the rights of homosexuals doesn’t mean I will pull all my support from them as a company. I don’t play that game. I don’t draw those lines. Because as soon as you start drawing a line, where do you stop?

For instance, if you don’t want to support Disney because of their support of gay rights, then you can’t watch ESPN. You can’t eat McDonald’s, drink Starbucks, or fly Southwest. That is a ridiculous game to play. It has no end.

And Jesus didn’t play that game. Jesus was not a line drawer. In fact, Jesus was a line destroyer. Sorry, but I have a hard time thinking that a first century Jewish man who ate with tax collectors, conversed with Roman soldiers, drank with Samaritans, and befriended prostitutes would then turn around and want us to boycott Disney.

That being said, I am saddened by the backlash Chick-Fil-A has received from the secular community. Not shocked, just saddened. Because just as I think it is ridiculous when Christians boycott companies based on their beliefs and not their products, so it is just as ridiculous when the secular community does the same.

If a person, Christian or not, feels so strongly about their beliefs that they are unwilling to support any company that differs with their views, that person will have a hard time in this society.

So how do I try to let my faith inform my consumption?

  1. Does the company turn out a high-quality, fairly priced product that meets my needs?
  2. Does the company place the customer’s interests above it’s own?
  3. Are the employees well treated?
  4. Are the employees kind, helpful, competent, and customer-oriented?
  5. Does the company knowingly exploit the poor anywhere along the way?
  6. Would my refusal to do business with a company possibly hinder my ability to share Jesus with someone?
There are more ways that faith can guide consumption, but I think these are some good first steps to becoming a belief-driven consumer.
Now let’s all get some waffle fries and a milkshake, chill out, and focus on the more important things in life!