In our recent trip to visit friends and family in the United States, we found ourselves neck-deep in a heated conversation about whether Christians should patronize businesses that support equal rights for gays and lesbians in the marketplace. Particular emphasis was placed on Wal-Mart’s decision to join the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce several years ago. My friends also refuse to purchase automobiles from Ford Motor Company and gasoline from Texaco because those companies have adopted policies that certain right-wing Christian organizations have deemed a threat to traditional Judeo-Christian family values. They receive irregular “Action Alerts” from the American Family Association (AFA), giving them advice on who to boycott and how to bring economic pressures to get such companies to change their ways.
One such alert was titled “General Motors Supports the Gay Agenda” based on GM’s decision to advertise Cadillac automobiles in publications aimed at a homosexual audience and their advertising sponsorship of a film on the gay television channel LOGO. Don Wildmon, Founder and Chairman of AFA, encouraged two things in his alert: (1) sign AFA’s online petition to be forwarded to General Motors, and (2) send AFA a donation “if you think our efforts are worthy.” It seems to me that the AFA might have a vested interest in the proliferation of these “alerts” if it’s putting money in their bank accounts.
I have never supported the concept of Christian boycotts and petitions. My reason centers primarily on Paul’s apostolic directives to the church in Corinth:
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:9–13, ESV)
Paul is clarifying his previous letter to these Corinthian believers. He had instructed them to shun those whose lifestyles could be described as “sexually immoral” but he was talking about fellow Christians, not those who make no claims to follow Jesus. Basically, if we refuse to associate with the sort of people he describes—sexually immoral, greedy, swindlers, idolaters—then we would have to leave this world! The apostle goes on to ask the rhetorical question, “For what have I to do with judging outsiders?” He’s not asking for information, but rather strongly stating the obvious; and then he boldly declares that God alone is judge of those outside our circle of Christian fellowship. We have no business judging them!
The Christian activist movement can only operate when an environment of fear can be created and maintained. We already look stupid enough without telling our non-Christian friends that we can’t meet them for coffee at Starbucks, or shop at Wal-Mart, or buy our gasoline at Texaco, or engage in free enterprise with dozens of other corporations on the hit list of some watchdog “ministry” that stands to gain from stirring up dirt on anyone they can. Don’t get sucked into the spiral of scare-mongering that will distract you from living the Christian life among those who don’t know Jesus Christ. Walk with Him and associate with sinners, just like He did.
hahahaha … that’s really funny. I never thought I’d be lumped in with the Christian Right by boycotting Wal-Mart. I’ve not shopped there for years … but it’s for entirely different reasons. I refuse to support their union busting business practices, and the way they treat their employees (as in like indentured servants or worse). I could care less about whether or not they join this or that chamber of commerce. I’m much more concerned with treating humans like fellow creations of the Divine.
Bill-
You nailed it. It’s about time more people hear this message.
Hey, Sonja! Maybe I should re-title this post, “Organized Christian Boycotts,” because that’s what I had in mind. Certainly, people have a right to shop wherever they want, as long as they don’t try to shove it down one another’s throats or look down their noses at brothers and sisters who see things differently. That’s my point.
Thanks, Micah! I searched Technorati to see if this subject has been addressed before and I couldn’t find anything.
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Thanks for tweeting about this post. I couldn’t agree more with you on this. I have long been frustrated with the attitude of the AFA, Focus on the Family, and others. This notion of beating unbelievers over the head for being unbelievers is a bit bizarre.
I hope more people read this even though it’s months old.
Bill,
Well said.
T
Funny how for years most of these companies have practiced lying, deceit, unfair business practices, etc. and now “christians” decide to take a stand on gay marriage…. please.
Jesse Akers
Thanks for everyone’s input!
Jesse: Perhaps that’s why the Apostle Paul wrote that we would have to “go out of the world” if we refused to associate (read “do business”) with those who live immoral lifestyles. Sadly, there’s a “herd mentality” in the right-wing evangelical movement, so whatever their gurus say they should boycott or write their congressman about, that’s what they do. And all the while they equate their efforts as “fighting the good fight” and “being salt and light,” so winning jewels for their heavenly crown or God’s good pleasure.
“We already look stupid enough without telling our non-Christian friends that we can’t meet them for coffee at Starbucks…”
I’m sorry, but I didn’t realize how stupid it is to be a Christian. I’d rather look stupid to the world than look stupid to God. I’m not necessarily in support of boycotts, but if you feel convicted, for example when shopping at Wal-Mart, then you probably shouldn’t be shopping there.
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God. 1 John 3:19-21 (ESV)
Keith, I have no problems with Christians making decisions based on their own Spirit-led convictions or matters of conscience. Where I DO have a problem is the psychological manipulation (using guilt and condemnation) of believers by Christian pundits who have co-opted the work of the Holy Spirit. We don’t need right-wing evangelical parachurch CEO’s telling us where to spend our money, just because they have the money and power and TV/radio presence to do so. I doubt that God thinks we’re stupid because we like Caramel Frappuccinos from Starbucks. No, that designation belongs to those who, like the ancient Judaizers of Galatia, insist upon heaping additional requirements upon believers before they can enjoy God’s favor.
Hello Bill,
Thank you for expressing your concerns. I think you made some valid points (particularly the one that sheds light on the possible ulterior motives of some “watch-dog” organizations). I will certainly take those thoughts into serious consideration.
I am wondering though, if you see a distinction between the act of boycotting an establishment because it is operated by unbelievers, and the act of boycotting an establishment because it – the establishment itself – is either encouraging its consumers to sin or is mistreating its employees.
In other words, are you distinguishing between the act of refusing to do business with an establishment that is run by people “who make no claims to follow Jesus” and the act of refusing to do business with an establishment that is run by people “who make no claims to follow Jesus” and are enslaving child laborers who are forced to make either (1) perverted products or (2) products which the establishment will then perversely advertise?
Simeon,
Thanks taking the time to post your thoughts here!
In response to your question, I don’t think Christians are called to separate “the wheat from the chaff” in terms of business establishments because nearly ALL of them encourage consumers to sin, in one way or the other, and many of them mistreat their employees. For example, which national grocery store chain, retail pharmacy, or gas station refuses to sell harmful products like alcohol, tobacco products, lottery tickets, and even pornography? Also, many companies work people just under the legal limit for “full-time hours” so they don’t have to provide health benefits?
I guess my point is that conservative Christians are not responsible for judging the ethics of American businesses. God alone is judge and I’m not sure why some Christian leaders feel the necessity to step into that role.
Hello Bill,
Thank you for your prompt response.
I think I may need some more clarification of the exact practices which are bothering you. You see, whenever you use the word “judge,” I am inclined to agree with you, because of the meanings which the word denotes in the Bible.
I think the two of the – at least – three different meanings that are most pertinent to the conversation would be the two that we observe toward the end of the passage which you cited earlier. There is the disciplinary act of excommunicating, the act which Paul is urging the Corinthians to do in 1 Corinthians 5:12, and then there is the act of condemning someone to hell, the act which I think Paul is referring to in 1 Corinthians 5:13, as he does elsewhere (Romans 2:1; Romans 14:4; Colossians 2:16) and, of course, this is the kind of judging which Jesus says we must not do toward anyone (Matthew 7:1).
Thus, the reason why I’d be surprised if the leaders at Focus on Family think that they are “judging” a corporation when they avoid any business with them is that the first form of judging is a matter of church discipline, carried out within a church, and the other is a matter of eternal condemnation, carried out by God alone.
When we refuse to shop at a store that is offering its customers soft pornography or advertising the lottery, I don’t think we think of our stance as a means by which we can “judge” them. We just know we should not be financing their evil work (especially, when (1) we’re preaching and exhorting against their work and (2) they tell the public that their services are “only made possible because of viewers (or in this case, shoppers) like you.”)
Before I go on to respond to your question about alternatives, would you explain what you mean when you say we are not to be “judging the ethics of American Businesses?”