Christianity proves expendable for Chick-fil-A

Published 6:26 pm Friday, November 29, 2019

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Michael Shannon

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

– John 12:42-43

Maybe the timid, cultural Christians in corporate Chick-fil-A know something regarding Mayor Pete’s presidential campaign that’s escaped the rest of us. This week the corporation jettisoned its last connection with any Christian charities that believe in the Bible lock, stock and marriage.

Both the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes have been weighed in the corporate balance and found wanting.

When asked about this obvious rejection of biblically sound charities, Chick-fil-A did what any secular corporation would do: It lied. A corporate SpokesPharisee told the Christian Post, “Beginning in 2020 the Chick-fil-A Foundation will introduce a more focused-giving approach, donating to a smaller number of organizations working exclusively in the areas of hunger, homelessness and education.”

Or as Matt Walsh put it, “will stop donating to charities that help with education, homelessness and hunger, in order to focus more on education, homelessness and hunger.”

This is the final act in a drama that began in 2012. CEO Dan Cathy told an obscure Baptist newspaper, “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,’ and I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about.”

Grievance archeologists discovered the quote and faux marriage supporters to ginned up a faux crisis. Cathy proved to be a conscientious objector in the resulting culture fight. He cancelled his public appearances for the rest of the year.

Christians failed to take the hint.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee didn’t examine the chicken entrails either. He organized Chick-fil-A Appreciation day. Hundreds of thousands of Christians, overjoyed that a corporation finally agreed with them on a social issue, stood in line under a hot August sun to show their gratitude.

Pastor Rick Warren said the company set a sales record with seven hours left in the retail day.

While Christians were celebrating, the company was quietly “growing” in its interpretation of the Bible. It severed all connections with any Christian charities in 2012 except for the Salvation Army, FCA and the Paul Anderson Youth Home.

Now it’s done with those three, too.

The Salvation Army deserves credit for not quietly slinking away. “We’re saddened to learn that a corporate partner has felt it necessary to divert funding to other hunger, education and homelessness organizations — areas in which The Salvation Army, as the largest social services provider in the world, is already fully committed.”

How does insulting every Christian who stood in line during Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, in order to curry favor with Consonant Crusaders, pay off in the long run? Chick-fil-A has grown from a $4.6 billion corporation in The Year of Controversy, to a $10.5 billion corporation today.

In every one of those years sexual orientation totalitarians did their best to damage the corporation. And nothing worked.

Now that Chick-fil-A is the third-largest fast food company, it appears to be treating Christianity like Turkish Premier Erdogan’s Democracy Streetcar, “When you come to your stop, you get off.” How does Chick-fil-A intend to continue growth after showing its Christian base that they’re expendable in favor of an obsessed sexual minority whose activists hate everything associated with Christianity?

Chick-fil-A could start grilling Christians along with chicken and it still wouldn’t land the concession contract at a Buttigieg inauguration. The Gaystapo doesn’t just demand acceptance. It requires positive public affirmation and approval. Is Chick-fil-A ready to go that extra mile?

The Chick-fil-A surrender sends a crushing message to small business and run-of-the-congregation Christians. If a $10 billion corporation doesn’t have the willpower to defend biblical truth, there’s no hope for a mom-and-pop operation that runs afoul of the Tolerance Police.

Individuals had best be content to practice religion in the privacy of their own home, maybe in a closet. As long as it’s “safe religion” and the kids aren’t exposed, lest it be reported and social workers take the children for deprogramming.

COO Tim Tassopoulos tried to justify his craven pandering to BisNow, “…as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are.”

Which is evidently just another money-grubbing corporation that worships Mammon.

One surprising lesson from this abject surrender. Judas Iscariot was a better businessman than Chick-fil-A. He got his 30 pieces of silver up front, before he betrayed Christ.

MICHAEL SHANNON is a commentator and public relations consultant, and is the author of “A Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times.” He can be reached at mandate.mmpr@gmail.com.