Now, I love Chick-fil-A’s service, hospitality and college scholarship program; the Spicy Chicken Deluxe and Chick-fil-A sauce are favorites; and I appreciate their mission–“To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A”–which includes keeping the sabbath and being closed on Sunday (as much as Sunday is the day I tend to most crave it!).
My thoughts, though, tend to be more on the ‘Christian response’ this past week. To borrow my friend Bryson’s Facebook status:
I wish the Church would mobilize around issues like inner-city education, health care disparities, the prison boom, and a host of other issues in the same manner that many are rallying around Chik-Fil-A. [sic]
Seriously. American Christians just helped the restaurant chain set a one-day sales record. Imagine what our country would look like if the almost-80% of Americans who identify as Christians actually did what Jesus told us to do:
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ (Matt. 25:34-40)
When Jesus said, “Feed the hungry,” I don’t think he was talking about ourselves …