Thursday, August 2
Read: Romans 12
Eating chicken is very normal for most of us. But yesterday on August 1, here in this country, eating chicken was a very symbolic action done by many Americans. Yesterday was the Chick Fil
A
Appreciation day, where people flocked to the chain restaurant Chick
Fil A , not only to buy chicken sandwich but also to lend support to the
concept of traditional family and to support Chick Fil A Appreciation
day. Chick Fil A has over 1, 500 restaurants in over 40 states The whole
issue arose and was blown out of proportion and also became a political
and social issue, when the CEO of Chick Fil, Dan Cathy, affirmed that
the biblical view of marriage should be upheld. Moreover Chick Fil A
company claims that this company runs on Biblical principles. The
restaurant does not open on Sunday, so that the employees who work
there can attend church services. Chick Fil are having a huge pressure
from the malls, and other business houses to keep open the restaurant on
Sunday’s, but the Cathy family has firmly resolved not to do that. Now
this family and the restaurant have been bitterly criticized not only
for their stand on the concept of traditional family but also for their
opposition on gay rights. They have also been criticized because they
have been funding pro life and pro family organizations rather than pro
gay rights. I don't know whether the true intention of Chick Fil A in
supporting the traditional concept of family is based on faith or
whether there are any other motives behind these voicing of opinions,
but one thing that the Cathy family has shown to the world, through the
way they do their business is that they have certain ethics in
business and are also ready to affirm their views and faith in public
even if it affects their business. It is this affirmation of ones faith
in public and ones ethics that makes all the difference not only for
Chick Fil A but also for all the Christians.
We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Romans 12. This is one of the most powerful passages in Paul’s letter that emphasizes on how a Christian should live and witness in the world. He emphasizes on what sort of life style that a believer should show in the world. There are a few aspects that Paul emphasizes. One of the aspect that he emphasizes is that every believer should see to it that we should not be confirmed to the patterns of the world, on the contrary should be transformed. It is only when we do not confirm to the patterns of the world and are transformed that we will be able to discern God’s will in our life. Here is a wonderful truth. Everyone wants to know what God’s will and purpose for ones life is but the word of God is very affirmative in saying that one can understand God’s will only if we are ready to oppose the patterns of the world and be a channel of transformation. One of the thing that Christians tend to do today is that they want to get the best of both the world. Hence we do not like to express our faith, nor are willing to stand up for ones belief and ethics in public. This is because when we do that we will loose something. We will stand up for our faith and our ethics only at times when we are sure that what we are going to loose is not costly. When we know that the price for standing up for our faith and ethics is going to be costly, we are smart enough to maintain silence or be neutral. Chick Fil A company is showing the world that they have certain ethics and faith, let us also as believers be willing to tell the world that we also have some ethics and faith on which we live and build our life.
We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living”. The portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Romans 12. This is one of the most powerful passages in Paul’s letter that emphasizes on how a Christian should live and witness in the world. He emphasizes on what sort of life style that a believer should show in the world. There are a few aspects that Paul emphasizes. One of the aspect that he emphasizes is that every believer should see to it that we should not be confirmed to the patterns of the world, on the contrary should be transformed. It is only when we do not confirm to the patterns of the world and are transformed that we will be able to discern God’s will in our life. Here is a wonderful truth. Everyone wants to know what God’s will and purpose for ones life is but the word of God is very affirmative in saying that one can understand God’s will only if we are ready to oppose the patterns of the world and be a channel of transformation. One of the thing that Christians tend to do today is that they want to get the best of both the world. Hence we do not like to express our faith, nor are willing to stand up for ones belief and ethics in public. This is because when we do that we will loose something. We will stand up for our faith and our ethics only at times when we are sure that what we are going to loose is not costly. When we know that the price for standing up for our faith and ethics is going to be costly, we are smart enough to maintain silence or be neutral. Chick Fil A company is showing the world that they have certain ethics and faith, let us also as believers be willing to tell the world that we also have some ethics and faith on which we live and build our life.
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