Traditional evangelicals have been concerned with some liberal trends at the National Association of Evangelicals, especially the recent controversy over its seemingly just discontinued contraceptive project.
But traditionalists will likely be pleased by a defense today of Chick-fil-A restaurant chain by NAE President Leith Anderson. He challenges Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in particular for threatening to keep the restaurant out of his city because of an owner’s defense of traditional marriage.
Below is the NAE news release:
The controversy over comments made by the Chick-fil-A president supporting the biblical definition of marriage as between a man and a woman ignited a social media frenzy, boycotts, and most recently, threats from mayors to ban Chick-fil-A restaurants in their cities. The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) calls the nation and its leaders to consider how such statements and actions directly work against religious freedom.
“Individuals have the right to decide whether or not to ‘eat mor chikin.’ But no government leader should restrict a business or organization from expanding to their district based on the personal or political views of the owners,” said NAE President Leith Anderson. “Such evident discrimination and attempts to marginalize those with religious values have no place in American democracy.”
Marriage is the predominant biblical icon of God’s relationship with his people. The NAE is committed to working against government attempts to interfere with the integrity of the family, and it opposes “innovations such as same-sex ‘marriage,'” as noted in the NAE’s guiding policy document, “For the Health of the Nation.” The NAE also affirms the principles of religious freedom and liberty of conscience, which are both historically and logically at the foundation of the American experiment.
Anderson said, “If Chick-fil-A is not welcome for embracing traditional marriage, then are Chicago Mayor Emanuel and others saying that evangelicals, Catholics and Mormons aren’t welcome either?”
Chick-fil-A has said its culture is to “treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender.”
The NAE calls on all Americans, including business and political leaders, to uphold the God-given dignity of all human beings, and to respect the religious freedom of both individuals and organizations.
Comment by Micah Qualls on July 30, 2012 at 7:31 pm
This is the size of the tear I cry for the “bullied” religious right -.
Comment by Dan Trabue on July 30, 2012 at 9:13 pm
What Emanuel actually said…
“Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values. They’re not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our family members. And if you’re gonna be part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values.”
And the clarification, to ease your mind…
“The Mayor simply said that Chick-fil-a’s CEO does not share Chicago’s values. He did not say that he would block or play any role in the company opening a new restaurant here,” mayoral press secretary Tarrah Cooper said the following day. “If they meet all the usual requirements, then they can open their restaurant, but he does not believe the CEO’s values are reflective of our city.”
Was it impolitic of Emanuel to make his statement with the words he did, which sounded like to some that the city would actually block Chick-fil-A from opening? Probably. But the point is, he didn’t say they couldn’t legally start a business there, just that the Chick-fil-A’s values don’t match Chicago’s. You know, like he might say if a racist organization wanted to start a business there.
Now that it’s clear that there isn’t a threat of censorship in Chicago, I would presume that conservatives would strongly support Emanuel’s right to express his distaste at what he perceives to be an immoral philosophy?
I’ll be watching for that…
Comment by Charles meaning on July 31, 2012 at 1:05 pm
From a constitutional and 1st amendment point of view, a conservative could support Emmanuel’s right to express anything he wants. However, from a biblical point of view, followers of Jesus Christ, like Dan Cathy, are told this from Philippians 4:8 – “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Following is just one example of many, taken from the Baptist Press interview of Dan Cathy, that demonstrate his love for the passage from Philippians – “In that spirit … [Christianity] is about a personal relationship. Companies are not lost or saved, but certainly individuals are,” Cathy added. “But as an organization we can operate on biblical principles. So that is what we claim to be. [We are] based on biblical principles, asking God and pleading with God to give us wisdom on decisions we make about people and the programs and partnerships we have. And He has blessed us.”
It is not only this kind of thinking, as expressed by Cathy, but also thinking inspired by Jesus’ words: “You cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4, Deut. 8:3), that followers of Jesus Christ hope for Emmanuel, and all who think on lines similar to his, to learn to embrace. The Baptist Press interview gives many more examples of Cathy’s graciousness toward his employees and toward all people.
All the above is based on the belief that while the constitution gives all Americans certain rights of belief and speech, the Bible teaches us how to live the way of life that is pleasing to God. Go to the Baptist Press and read for yourself how Cathy graciously acts out his Bible inspired beliefs concerning God’s way of life.
Comment by John Erthein on July 31, 2012 at 3:25 pm
I would think Chik fil-a would consider it a compliment to be told it does not share Chicago’s values, which include a soaring crime rate and notorious political corruption.
Comment by Paul Zesewitz on July 31, 2012 at 7:06 pm
If Mr. Cathy was really trying to impose his beliefs on others, you would probably see a Bible or two in each of his outlets. I have yet to see one, so what is the problem here? I couldn’t agree more with Leith Anderson. If you’re gonna ban Chick Fil-A from Chicago and other cities, then you might as well ban Mormons, Southern Baptists, Catholics, Pentecostals, and anybody affiliated with a Church whose theological views are conservative.
Imagine the kind of uproar that would create!!!!
Comment by David M. on July 31, 2012 at 8:44 pm
The Mayor of Chicago now has a spokesman to clarify his apparently unclear intentions. Nice! It is reported that Rahm supported Chicago alderman Joe Moreno in trying to ban Chick-fil-A from the city.
It is difficult to imagine that there are not a few folks in Chicago that agree with Chick-fil-A’s CEO, Dan Cathy, and would support Chick-fil-A. I mean, in a city of just under 5 million people, there must be some that understand the biblical stance on marriage and like chicken.
Rahm Emmauel would serve the citizens of Chicago better if he spoke out about the high rate of single parent families, especially among minorities. And the number of homicides has markedly increased, but I doubt if many, if any, of those “immoral” people who think that same-sex marriage is wrong are perpetrators.
These mayors (Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, etc.) are political hacks that cater to what they think their supporters want to hear. This is the real disgraceful, immoral, and destructive behavior. They pander to minorities to get votes and do little or nothing to address the root cause of poverty, crime and all the other miseries of the poor.
Comment by Donnie on August 1, 2012 at 2:37 pm
I’m thankful for Chick-fil-a. Good chicken and good morals! As a disgruntled UMC member, I only wish many of the pastors in this denomination were as Biblically literate as Mr. Cathy.