Jesus, love of enemy, and "crappy fast food chicken sandwiches"
by Dean Mike Kinman of Christ Church Cathedral in the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
“It's sad that the level of debate in this country has sunk to the point where the ‘Conversation’ about what the sacrament of marriage should be is happening on the level of ‘Do I or do I not buy this crappy fast food chicken sandwich.’”
After I posted this Facebook status yesterday, I received several comments – both public and private – saying that I had missed the point and was trivializing the power of boycott. That is a legitimate response and worth examining. I have not been persuaded that I did “miss the point,” and my opinion is based on taking the power of boycott very seriously. In fact, what troubles me is that the boycott/counter-demonstration of Chick-Fil-A seems reactive rather than reflective and in many ways counter to the role and purposes of boycott in our Christian tradition.
Let’s start with what Jesus has to say on the subject:
“’You have heard that is was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44).
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Posted on
Thu, August 2, 2012
by Thea Mangels
filed under