An Open Letter to Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy

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An Open Letter to Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy

Posted Jul 21 2012 by Bert Montgomery with 110 Comments

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NOTE: This was written a day prior Chic-Fil-A made the public statement that their tradition “is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender.” What a wonderful statement! However, I still believe this letter is appropriate and the invitation given at the end remains open…

Dear Mr. Cathy,

I love Chick-Fil-A. I truly do. And, I have great respect for your values and your decision to be closed on Sundays and Christian holidays.

I also love my gay friends. I really do. And, I am convinced that loving Chick-Fil-A and loving my gay friends do NOT have to be mutually exclusive.

I read recently that you have acknowledged your company’s financial support of “traditional family” organizations which actively oppose the protection of rights of our gay neighbors. Understandably, the LGBT community is very upset.

However, I will not be forced to choose between my favorite fast-food and my beloved life-long friends who happen to be gay.

I was raised, and am still, a Baptist. You too, I understand, were raised Baptist. Several of my gay Christian friends (yes, Christian AND gay) were also raised as Baptists (two of whom attended a prominent Baptist college; and one of them served as student president of the Baptist Student Union). So, as a Baptist minister, I’m going to reach out to both sides in this squabble and appeal to yours and my friends’ Baptist commonalities and, more importantly, to the honest desire you share to follow Jesus.

First, Mr. Cathy: Let’s get this out of the way – we all know that Chick-Fil-A frequently serves and even employs (though perhaps unknowingly) LGBT individuals. So, even while with one hand the company publicly supports anti-gay organizations, at the same time it enjoys profits from the patronage of gay customers (and quietly from the labor of some gay employees). Hopefully, Chick-Fil-A will never start asking “are you gay?” before serving a customer. Because once you refuse to serve gay patrons, will you then begin to ask questions about sexual habits of your straight customers? Of course you won’t. Not only is that bad business, it’s also not Christian. Therefore, if Chick-Fil-A is willing to accept money from customers who may or may not be gay (because you don’t ask), why not also allow these same folks to be your friends even if you disagree with their decisions?

Second, to my many friends calling for protests and boycotts of Chick-fil-A: we all know that the employees we encounter are good, local people who are working hard to make ends meet. Most of them couldn’t care less if they are handing a chicken sandwich to a straight or gay customer. While wanting to get the attention of the folks up in corporate headquarters, let’s not take our attention away from our neighbors preparing the food and taking our cash and providing for their families.

Many of my gay friends and allies have been burned severely by the Christian community and have no interest in the Christian faith. My plea from faith carries no weight for them. I understand that.

But to my Christian gay friends and allies, instead of boycotting and fighting Chick-fil-A, let’s practice the Golden Rule – we will do unto others as we would have others do unto us if the tables were reversed. Let’s overwhelm Chick-Fil-A with increased business and support.

For my Chick-Fil-A corporate neighbors who believe our LGBT neighbors are the enemies of Christianity, I’d like to remind you of the first part of Romans 12:20: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.” And I share the second part of the same verse with my LGBT neighbors that by increasing our business with Chick-Fil-A, we’ll be heaping “burning coals of shame on their heads.” In seeking to out-love and out-serve each other, we’ll all share in the shame and we can begin learning to trust each other.

Mr. Cathy, I’d love nothing more that to sit with you and a few of your colleagues at a Chick-Fil-A table in Atlanta and introduce you to three or four of my Christian friends and ministers – who just also happen to be gay. Together we can go around the table and profess our Christian faith and begin to break down the walls that separate us as societal enemies and strangers; together we can be challenged and blessed by each other in a way that surpasses our understanding – as brothers and sisters in Christ. Together we can break bread (er…. chicken) together, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, be united as one in the bond of love.

And, by the grace of God, may our actions bear witness to the world of the reconciling work of Jesus our Lord.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m feeling the need for some waffle fries. I think I’ll invite a gay friend to join me …

A brother in Christ,
Bert

—
Bert Montgomery is a writer, minister and college lecturer living in Starkville, Mississippi. His new book is Psychic Pancakes & Communion Pizza (2011, Smyth & Helwys).

Cheryl Casey / Shutterstock.com

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Anonymous

http://goo.gl/fBG8N
http://www.facebook.com/kvestal Kathy Vestal

I second the respect for a company that espouses Christian values and chooses to close on Sundays. Where Chik-Fil-A crossed the line is when it determined that being Christian meant being anti-gay. That was not a spiritual decision but a political one and one that is quite demeaning to the many gay Christians and those who know and love them. Although I too was raised Baptist, my bottom line is different from yours. There are many places that sell chicken sandwiches, and if I support them instead of Chik-Fil-A, am I not saving the jobs of equally fine people who are working in them? It is not my desire to punish CFA but to make a statement in CFA’s bottom line that might help them to be better informed on what it means to be gay. Why does any restaurant ever need to take a political stand for or against homosexuality?
- dsmaxwell
  
  ask starbucks
- carmen
  
  that’s why I don’t think it is necessary for them to be so outspoken about it. if they were not so outspoken in the 1st place then this conversation would not be taking place. I also have gay friends, but they live like ordinary people and do not feel the need to make spectacles of themselves like some do. therefore creating situations like this. I would be offended if someone were throwing it up in my face, just as they would be offended if someone were throwing up being straight in their face. so let’s learn one thing “SSSSSHHHHHHH.
  - tom
    
    the problem is that he wasn’t being outspoken. he was talking to the BAPTIST Press. It got out, and became a huge deal, only because someone looking for a tidbit of bad info on CFA finally found it and spread it like wildfire. Only then did the backlash occur.
    
    I was surprised to read of how many homosexuals and leftists AT THT POINT decided to boycott CFA. Obviously it could not have been that big of a deal. And the organisations CFA supports obviously could not have been having that much of an impact in the LGBT community. Why? Because no one knew about it. Only after the media got ahold of it did it become an issue. Granted, many in the LGBT community may have known of CFA contributions, but, again, from what I can tell, it must not have been that big as no one ever heard about it until now.
    
    Maybe I am wrong, but that is how I see this whole mess.
- Frank
  
  You now as long as people characterize the pro-heterosexual crowd erroneously as anti gay, there never will be a middle ground.
  
  It’s lazy, untrue and further polarizing.
  
  Keep up the great work Dan with your food and your biblical positions! I am a fan!
  - http://twitter.com/stevenp1329 Steven Porter
    
    I’m sorry, did you just reference the “pro-hetersexual crowd?” Could you please juxtapose that with the “anti-heterosexual crowd?”
    
    Being anti-gay is not the same as fighting for the rights of heterosexuals, just as being pro-gay is not an affront to the rights of straight people.
    - Frank
      
      Hmmm I think we agree though I am not sure what your point is.
      
      This post calls Chick Fil A anti-gay which is a mischaracterization. They’re pro heterosexual marriage.
      - chemistrydoc
        
        No, not so. Look at where they choose to make corporate contributions – that tells you everything. They are MOST CERTAINLY anti-gay.
- Anonymous
  
  “Why does any restaurant ever need to take a political stand for or against homosexuality?”
  
  For the same reasons that anyone else might.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Westerman/1531760045 Chris Westerman
  
  If you have respect for a company that espouses Christians values, then you should respect CFA because being anti-homosexuality is a Christian value. Notice I said “anti-homosexuality” NOT “anti-homosexual”.
Brendon Pennington

Dear Author:

I noticed you’re article (which you sourced) is based upon a Huffington Post article regarding Mr. Cathy’s comments. Well, I did my homework. I read the Huffington Post article myself, and it quoted Mr. Cathy twice. I think you should have actually “quoted” Cathy directly in this article … because you’re article somewhat paints Mr. Cathy with a dark brush.

Here is what Mr. Cathy actually said:

“We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of
the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business,
and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that…we
know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we
live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical
principles.”

He went on to say:

“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 define
what marriage is about.”

Hmmmm … I guess I don’t see how Mr. Cathy thinks gays are the “enemies of Christianity” (you’re words).

And I don’t see anywhere in Mr Cathy’s language that proposes he might “refuse to serve gay patrons” (your words).

Sorry, author, but this post was misleading and unfair to Mr. Cathy … which I’ve met and spoke with personally. He’s a true lover of God, and a lover of people … even the LGBT community despite what you wrote in this article.
- Anonymous
  
  Thanks Brendon.
  When discussing this matter, it’s important to note what people actually say, not what one might add to that.
- Anonymous
  
  Thanks Brendon, for digging a little deeper. I also was confused by the question: “why not also allow these same folks to be your friends even if you disagree with their decisions?”
  
  Who says Cathy doesn’t allow “these same folks” to be his friends? The question implies that Cathy has made a decision not to be friends with “these same folks.”
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Westerman/1531760045 Chris Westerman
    
    yes, Mr. Montgomery has written an article full of deceit. He should be ashamed of himself. Liberals must do this to make their stances believable.
- Anonymous
  
  right on Brendon!!! could not have said it better myself
- tsreeves
  
  Great comments. It is a shame… a real, true, honest shame how so many people, including this blogger, unfortunately, have taken words like Mr. Cathy’s and twisted them to suit an individual ideology. The folks from GLAD have shown they are not really interested anymore in dialogue or living with others who have differing opinions than theirs; their intent now is no longer just to point out examples of defamation against gays and lesbians but to destroy those with differing opinions. That’s totally un-American. Let the arena of public discourse be open and free without threats of boycotts and economic destruction.
- Tommie
  
  Well done! I find that people often lose sight or simply disregard the facts in order to make a seemingly “airtight” assertion.
http://ricbooth.wordpress.com Ric

Excellent, gracious letter, Bert. I have no idea what’s going through Mr Cathy’s head.
- Anonymous
  
  Maybe this is God telling you that you need to find out.
  - http://ricbooth.wordpress.com Ric
    
    If every time any Christian is confused about something another Christian says is God’s way of telling us to go find out, we would all have to quit our day jobs.
    
    When a business person alienates a sizable segment of his market, it’s okay to think that’s not a good business practice. We can argue it is consistent with his faith but it is still bad for business.
    - jprice
      
      I do not frequent Any chicken joint. But, in 99.99% of restaurants that I dine at I find zero “alienation.” I bet you that this chicken joint follows very economically sound business practices. The food must taste satisfactorily, the quality must be at a standard the general public deems adequate, the price is based upon supply and demand, and customer service must be quite positive. I think that all of these criteria are all that matters. Alienation, personal philosophical/religious preferences do not matter to me. : )
      - http://ricbooth.wordpress.com Ric
        
        This particular “philosophical/religious preference” does not matter to you, I’ll give you that.
        
        I suspect (hope, actually) that if the Klan or Al-Quada opened up a restaurant, you might hesitate before “supporting them” with a your patronage.
      - Anonymous
        
        Ric,
        Are you paying attention?
        There are so many stories of Chick-fil-A restaurants doing really well. If only people who agreed with Mr. Cathy’s views (as he RARELY expresses them) ate there, that would definitely not be going on.
        Chick-fil-A would probably succeed in any market they enter. In fact, the mayor of Boston, an alderman in Chicago, and a community in San Francisco have expressed opposition to Chick-fil-A opening restaurants in those areas, in a manner resembling fascist tactics. Ultimately they have no legal standing to prevent businesses from opening in their jurisdictions.
        Finally, radical gay groups want to go near Chick-fil-A restaurants to set up displays that their patrons will likely find offensive. That is intimidation, pure & simple. Christians should oppose these tactics.
        Wake up!
      - http://ricbooth.wordpress.com Ric
        
        Um, wow. Small minority of oppressed people intimidating the masses… how could I have missed that one?
      - Anonymous
        
        Fail.
      - Anonymous
        
        Oh, and one more thing.
        Analogizing Chick-fil-A to the Klan or al-Quada.
        Really, really dumb.
      - http://ricbooth.wordpress.com Ric
        
        Reading is important.
      - Anonymous
        
        Nice try. Not buying.
Justin Lander

It is absolutely ridiculous to say that one could ever be called a “gay christian”. Knowingly and unremorsefully living in such sin does not compute with a strong relationship with the Lord. Please read your Bible and stop spreading this false and watered-down theology!
- http://www.facebook.com/otro.tierra Otro Tierra
  
  Reading the bible to learn about Jesus is indeed important. Here are all the passages where Jesus demanded adherence to ancient Levitical Laws and taboos:
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  - Brian
    
    You might start with Matthew 5:17-20
    - Anonymous
      
      II Corinthians 5:17. If you are a Christian, you are a new creation. You no longer want to pursue sex that is not blessed by a marriage relationship. If someone has a homosexual orientation, that will be difficult to live out, but with God’s grace, it is possible.
      - 47478
        
        What version is this? Please troll me you didn’t just expound on what the verse says and then quote it as scripture.
      - Anonymous
        
        ??
  - Drew
    
    I urge you to read the Bible daily, and become a member of a Bible-believing Church, Otro Tierra, instead of spreading false doctrine.
    
    Once you are instructed properly and read your Bible, you will see that Jesus did in fact uphold many Levitical Laws. There is a difference between sacrificial law and moral law and law designed to set apart Israel as a people. Jesus never reversed a single sexual law in Leviticus, not one, and upheld many of them.
    
    You are 100% mistaken and you need to read your Bible.
- keith
  
  The bible says you must turn from your sin does it not? If we choose to willfully pursue sin of any type then we will NOT have a relationship with Christ. Is that hard for you?? Christianity is a continuous evolution of battling sin in our life. If we refuse to try and live daily in a rebellious state then we can not be in a relationship with God. If someone is already a Christian and they enter the gay community then that they would be flagrantly rebelling and expecting God to bless them for defying his word. It would be the same as a man living in an adulturous relationship. He can not have a relationship with God while he is indulging in sin.
  - keith
    
    Sorry Justin, put this in wrong place….Peace
  - Drew
    
    Then we put our faith in Christ, we die to our old selves, and put on Christ, and are no longer slaves to sin, and are slaves to Christ. If you are unrepentant sinner, you are a slave to sin and have not died to your old self, and probably never put faith in Christ. This is what these people are missing, Keith, a true understanding of what it means to be “born again.” It doesn’t mean that remain a slave to sin, that Jesus looks the other way at unrepentant sin.
  - Drew
    
    Then we put our faith in Christ, we die to our old selves, and put on Christ, and are no longer slaves to sin, and are slaves to Christ. If you are unrepentant sinner, you are a slave to sin and have not died to your old self, and probably never put faith in Christ. This is what these people are missing, Keith, a true understanding of what it means to be “born again.” It doesn’t mean that remain a slave to sin, that Jesus looks the other way at unrepentant sin.
- Anonymous
  
  I believe people can be Same Sex Attracted and be Christian- but to be gay- to spread AIDS out of revenge, to participate in the immoral and immodest Gay Pride culture, to be promiscuous instead of chaste (and yes, I include a gay couple who has decided upon monogamy to be at least on the road towards sanctification) WILL endanger your salvation. Period.
  
  But the Church is a Hospital for Sinners, not a Resort Complex With Amusement Rides for Saints. We’re all on the path towards Sanctification. Some will get there in this life. Some may have a couple thousand years worth of purgatory to come to a reconciliation with God. But he is the potter, we are the clay, and I’m the biggest cracked pot of them all, so no, I am not going to exclude them because of their sin.
  
  I am, however, not going to celebrate or participate in their sin either, and I AM going to mention it to them.
Jshouts

If you know that traditional marriage is symbol of Christ and His church, how is it we’re not helping out gay friends out of their sin. You would if they were a wino addict or addicted to pornography. Do you have pornographic friends and drug addict friends. You see, you make it as if we have to give them what they want, or else we don’t like them. Not so. I am cordial to gay and lesbians, our church ministers to them, as they help them out of their lifestyle, but we should not offer them marriage. If we do, we will stab the Lord in the heart by changing the symbolism; changing it is not from God, but Satan.

Everyone wants to paint Christians, the ones who live by the Word, as bigoted. Well, we’re not. We’re for traditional marriage. And we’re for not lowering the age of consent, which often follows once they get gay marriage. We are for the traditional family. If they want to be gay, that is their business. Marriage is God’s business, and He doesn’t change it, no matter what we might think. If marriage is the symbol of Christ and His church, would a loving God let that symbol go and not become jealous or red faced (angry) especially if his ministers helped usher the change in? Remember, they said peace, peace in Judah, while they committed spiritual adultery. The Priests said God was not angry with them. Even they did not change marriage. It’s not man’s to define. We can’t take what God proclaims and change it because people want it.

When it comes to the things of God, we ought to stand, for the backbone of this country is God’s traditional marriage.

Kudos for Chick-fil-A. Too bad our ministers and churches don’t have the same guts.

JShouts
Drew Klees

Doesn’t the Bible say to treat a saved person, that is sinning shamelessly and claiming to be a follower of Christ, should be admonished? If there is no repentance to treat them as an unbeliever delivering them into satan’s hands that they may come to repentance? That is not to say don’t love them it is however to say don’t dilute the church with the non-repentant hearts that promote sin amongst those struggling to overcome their own sins. I am a sinner and fight constantly the battle to overcome my sin. I am forgiven through the blood of Christ. Don’t make out chick fil a to be more than a conscientious run business trying to follow the words of scripture. If you want to judge them harshly then what better are you than a gay basher. I have loved and will continue loving gay individuals not the community of homosexuality. We are called to disciple people to come into line with the bible’s teachings not to push away the bible and promote our own agenda of “love”. God’s definition is the only true definition of LOVE not mine or yours or the people of Chik Fil A. If you want to promote an agenda Pastor Bert then promote the Biblical agenda not the agenda of Bert. I would also remind you of the need to maintain the love of Christ for the saved and unsaved. But remember the need for all children to be chastised when necessary to promote their obedience to God. I think the greatest test of your particular love would be that you sit and eat with countless known and non repentant murderers, after all they are just sinners like the rest of us and if one should kill you then you have shown him the ultimate love and you would be proving your point. But moreover you should post against those that would not want to associate with the murderers and child molesters that claim Christ or dismiss him. For taken to its logical end it doesn’t matter what the sin; we are to love all the same for this is the love of God according to 1 John chapter 4. I do not think it is appropriate to ignore what Paul wrote about love in 1 Thessalonians 4 when he says what will happen to those that live in passionate lust like the heathens. I think you “pastor” must read more scripture in context to see how we are to love and not to dilute God’s love with human love which is not of God but of man. I guess in the end we need to Love the sinner and hate the sin as in the song by Mylon Lefev. “Any concept of grace that makes us feel more comfortable sinning is not biblical grace. God’s grace never encourages us to live in sin, on the contrary, it empowers us to say no to sin and yes to truth.–Randy Alcorn
- Mark
  
  We need to stop conflating marriage in the church and a civil recognition of marriage by the State. There is no inconsistency between the State providing for basic civil rights for couples who wish to marry each other before a state official, but the state may not determine whether a church may consecrate a marriage–or not. The church, and its various denominations, has complete control over which couples it chooses to marry. When Mr. Cathy seeks to have a democratic government of all the people espouse a particular religious viewpoint about who may marry, he forgets about the entire idea of religious freedom upon which the country was founded. Remember, government and political policies will almost always be a series of compromises while the fundamentals of Christian belief can not be chosen ala carte. Regardless of opinion/interpretation/literal translation one has concerning gay marriage, that’s not one of the fundamentals of Christian belief.
  - Brian
    
    What if his reason, or anyone else’s for that matter, for wanting to restrict marriage were secular as opposed to religious? Would it be ok then? Google and you can find numerous pages with secular arguments for traditional marriage. You can even find some homosexuals making arguments against same sex marriage.
    - Anonymous
      
      Good point, I occasionally read content from homosexuals who do not want “gay marriage” to have the same public policy benefits as traditional marriage. The view among the gay community does not seem to be monolithic on this matter, and differing views deserve to be respected.
  - Anonymous
    
    I’m a Catholic- and I am completely agreed with this one. Want my government out of your bedroom? Then get YOUR government out fo my Church!
Brian

I’ve been monitoring for the past couple of days what is being said about this on facebook.

I challenge anyone to go to Chick-Fil-A’s page there and read it for yourselves. Ask yourself this question, if anyone of the more conservative/traditional side of this debate said about homosexuals what the more so called tolerant folks are saying about the Cathy family what would they be accused of?
gms

If I were one of your gay friends, I’d be pretty upset that eating crappy fast food is so important to you that you’ll continue giving your money to Chik-Fil-A, knowing they will use it in support of other organizations to deny civil rights to the LGBT community.
keith

Mr. Montgomery, I couldnt help but notice that you are quite excited to have gay “christian” friends. Instead of trying to scathe Mr. Cathy about his personal beliefs why arent you trying to address the ‘homosexuals’ who are gloating about being a christian? If you knew a drug abuser who went around touting his christianity Im quite sure you wouldnt be ‘buddy-buddy’ with them. In fact I would hope you would try and reach them to explain that they CANNOT be in a relationship with Christ and practice homosexuality….there is NO way. Another misnomer you present is a “GAY PASTOR” That my friend is an impossibility. He is only a speaker who knows the Bible. Why dont you quit crucifying Mr. Cathy for his beliefs, which follow the Bible where yours dont, and instead defend his RIGHT to support whomever and whatever he wants???? What church do you pastor? and where is it since you say you are a Baptist?
- Trent
  
  YES KEITH! I used to go to one church, but then I found out that the “pastor” was greedy so I left. Then I went to a new church, but soon discovered the “pastor” was prideful so I left. I tried another church but the “pastor” worshiped his political beliefs. I tried another but the “pastor” had a problem with stealing things. I went to another church but the “pastor” slandered people. I went yet another church but the “pastor” was an alcoholic. And the last church I went to the “pastor” once had an affair. It’s terrible. I’ve yet to find a church and yet to meet a real pastor. All these guys were just, as you said, “speakers who knew the Bible.” It’s crazy! You can’t be a pastor and sin. Period. I’m honestly just thinking about starting my own church, and making myself the pastor.
  - Brian
    
    Your sarcasm is noted. Let me ask you a question about your “pastor” who stole things. Did he go around proud of the fact that he was a thief? Did the greedy “pastor” take part in “Greed Pride” parades? Did either of them claim that God made them that way? Did either of them claim that if you wouldn’t tolerate their stealing or greed that you were an intolerant bigot or a hater?
    - Anonymous
      
      It was late yesterday and I’d had a brewski, so I didn’t spot the sarcasm. Well done sir.
  - keith
    
    Trent, It is amazing how many pastors are in their vocation for the wrong reason. You can usually feel the spirit in a church when you enter it. There are very few who follow the scripture and preach the blood. I love our church. Our pastor has been delivering a series of messages on “Making Wise Choices” He understands that not everything we do is immoral, illegal or destructive. The question is, are they “Wise” choices? Here we argue about something the Bible is clearly against yet, for some reason, we find people who claim to be able to live in sin and be in a close relationship with Christ.
    My response to those who support homosexuality and are attacking conservatives……Is it the “Wise” choice?? Is it wise to usurp the instruction of the bible? Is it wise to help usher in sin in an attempt to “show” love?? I wouldnt want to be a pastor who compromises his faith to appease sinful but I guess when you can do that you can easily make the leap to all of the above examples you gave in your past experience. God Bless
  - Anonymous
    
    One would need vows, liturgy, and tradition for it to be any different.
- Trent
  
  And you certainly can’t sin and be in a relationship with Christ. There is NO WAY! I’m glad that somebody gets it!
keith

PS> I hope he takes your challenge….Would love to be a fly on the wall
J Shouts

I agree with Randy Alcorn. I woke up this morning and it was
like the Spirit spoke to my heart. We are arguing over the wrong thing.
Pastor Bert, you say you have homosexual friends who talk of the love of God
and share Christ. Do you also have straight friends in your church who
live together outside of wedlock and you say nothing to correct their behavior?
Why is this pastor? Does your Bible honor sexual perversion or fornication?
Does the Bible tell you to socialize with those that call themselves
Christians and do not repent and turn from sin?

1 John is very clear pastor. It says those who continue in sin and they do not
feel remorse, do not have Christ. In other words, a Christian, a true, born
again Christian will not promote their sin, whether gay or straight, they will
turn from it. They will not continue without any guilt or shame.

The new Post-Modernist pastor wants no judgment, no absolutes, God is love, and
He loves everybody. Well my Bible says unless they are obedient to the
Word, Jesus is not their friend. In case you haven’t read that the whole
concept of this is in John 14 and 15.

So you have gay friends. Are they fornicating or are they abstaining from sex?
The same goes for your straight friends, are they living together outside of
wedlock or are they married?

Now the hard part Pastor Bert is deal with the idea of gay marriage. You see if
God does not ordain gay marriage and He doesn’t, then a gay person will have to
continue to refrain from having sex, just like a straight person. And we know
that marriage between a man and a woman are in fact, the symbol of Christ and
His church. That is in the Bible too. I’m not sure what Bible you adhere
too. But it’s in there. You need to get past the love passages and start
dealing with the rest of God’s Word. Therefore, unless you are willing to allow
humans to put a stake in the heart of God, by declaring homosexual marriage is
good, then you cannot run with homosexual Christians or straight Christians who
live in sin.

I met this young pastor the other day. We talked about this. He said he
had a couple in his church who wanted to get married. They were young. He asked
them if they were living together outside of marriage. They told him they
were. He told them he could not marry them, until they repented and
turned away from their sin, and abstained until marriage. They agreed. They
didn’t know it was sin. They prayed, and are now following his advice. This was
a 30 year old pastor who knows Christ and what it means to follow His commands.

Pastor, thank you for not slamming Chick-fil-A. However, you should be
celebrating their stance. If only our Post-Modern pastors had the same
guts.

Here are some verses on how to correct a believer: Matthew 18:15-17,
Titus 3:10-11, Galatians 6:1, 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Timothy 5:20, 1 Corinthians
5:1-23, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 2:1, Romans 16:17, Ezekiel 33:7-12, 2 Thessalonians
3:14.

In case you haven’t read the above, I thought I would share them with you.

Finally, this one is for you pastor. The
Word says, “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that
he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those
who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9)

You have not held firm to the trustworthy Word that you were taught. Love is
wonderful, but truth is truth, and love without correction and discipline is no
love at all. As Paul would say that by your very actions you are condoning sex
outside of marriage. By the very fact that sex outside of marriage is against
God, and the fact that God cannot and will not ordain homosexual marriage, we
have to conclude the acts of homosexuality are against God’s Word. If a homosexual
abstains, so be it, if not, then you have to deal with their sin. Also, anyone
in your church living together and it’s known, they should know it’s sin also.
You have their souls and not the size of your church to be concerned about. I
can tell you this much, if you don’t deal with it, God will deal with it. One
more thing, until you do, I doubt if there is any true movement of the Holy
Spirit in your church. I am not judging. I just know what the Word says, and I
can make that assumption.

These words are a corrective rebuke. Do with them what you may. You have a
choice. Choose to follow Christ and His teachings, or the way of this world. As
for my household and me, we choose Christ.

J Shouts
- 47478
  
  Best response I’ve read. Thank you. I struggle to understand those who choose to bash LGBT and yet can’t realize that heterosexuals sin without remorse, too. Neither is right.
  - Drew
    
    It’s unfortunate when that happens. However, I have found that it is not often the case. We all struggle with sexual sins, and at least in my Church, premarital sex is by far and away is what is focused on the most.
- tarl_hutch
  
  J Shouts,
  
  Thank you for such an even tempered, thoughtful, and gracious response. You bring up many excellent points we would do well to consider. I agree with much of your writing, bit wanted to add a few things that you caused me to think about.
  
  First, your emphasis on not ignoring sin, in whatever form, is spot on and one would think make this issue very easy to address. The problem that most people have on the other side is whether committed, loving homosexuality is a sin. I am sure you have heard the arguments regarding context and translation, as well as whether it is a manmade addition or God’s words, which lead some to question. I am sure you don’t have the same questions, but those that do are troubled by the implications.
  
  Second, what are we to do with those who seem to be fully committed Christians whose life shows spiritual fruit, but are gay and dont feel any judgement from God involving their homosexuality? Are they all just deluded or is there something to this? Also, what about those who pray to be freed from this, but never find freedom?
  
  Third, in reference to John 14 + 15, I see where you are going, but find it interesting that the only command Jesus gives in this section is too love and remain in his love. Truly, there are grave consequences outlined here for failing to love others to the point of self sacrifice. What is your take on this?
  
  I wonder if there is a way for the church to welcome gay folk without passing overwhelming judgement on them, and instead trusting their time with Jesus to convict as is necessary. Can we still love and hold to the truth of Jesus’s transformative sacrifice, while creating an open, welcoming space. Obviously, we do not want to encourage sin, but is it possible to stand against it while leaving space for others to work out their salvation?
  
  I am thankful for folk like you, who are concerned and working for reconciliation through reasonable discourse. Let us look to the Spirit to guide us and help us find and keep the right path.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=502686523 Matthew T. Mason
  
  As much as it pains me to say this, if Bert is the minister he says he is then he should be fully aware of the verses you mentioned.
J Shouts

Great response and great quote. You nailed it. The Holy Spirit woke me this morning to show me two things. One fornication outside of marriage is wrong. God ordains marriage. It is the symbol of Christ and His church. Therefore, the only road for those who are homosexual and want to remain that way is to abstain, the same way straight believers are to do if they are not married.

Great remarks.

J Shouts
Blake

Dear Bert,
While I agree with you that Christians are overtly militant toward the LGBT community, I am also trying to understand the process of sanctification in Christian who is also gay. I understand the job of sanctification is solely the responsibility of the Holy Spirit (I’m a recovering Baptist as Shane Claiborne would say), but at the same time, isn’t there a purpose to loving our neighbor as ourselves besides ‘so we can all just get along’? And how does sanctification work in the life of a gay believer? Should I ever expect to see change in this area as I would any other area of a believers life? As a follower of Jesus, I’m being made more and more like Him and I need the grace that comes from Gospel-confrontation every day for this to be possible.

Thanks in advance for your response.
Blake
- http://twitter.com/BertMontgomery Bert Montgomery
  
  sanctification works in the life of the gay believer the same as it does in the straight believer – by the grace of God and nothing more or less.
  - Eileen
    
    It is one thing to struggle with being gay, and acting on homosexual impulses. The temptation is not the sin. But the act- no matter how natural it may feel- absolutely is. No one should be faulted for an impulse like that (however it came about) but when you act, it is another thing entirely. The Bible clearly states God’s abhorrence of homosexual acts. God also eschews sexual immorality in general, cheating on a spouse, greed, unbiblical divorce, abuse, rape, murder, pride, etc. The point isn’t that one thing is worse than the other. The point is, we all struggle with different things, and whatever struggle you are given, it is still your responsibility (EVER MORESO IN A CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP ROLE) to do your best to rid yourself of things like this and become “little Christs” as C.S. Lewis would say.
    - Drew
      
      That is the distinction that needs to be made and I have been trying to make. All sin is sin, but unrepentant sin or being a slave to sin stands in opposition to being born again.
      - Rob
        
        Drew and Eileen, I am so thankful to hear this from others amidst the storm of so much confusion about what God intends. It’s really encouraging to know God loves us no matter the impulses coming against our future happiness that he just won’t give up on us until we’re at his side and happy – freed by God’s grace: the blood of the Lamb.
  - Blake
    
    I’m in total agreement with you on this. Given you are a spiritual leader in the church and you understand and believe in the process of sanctification of believers (being rescued from the hurt of greed, envy, slander, sexual immorality OF ANY KIND, lust, hate, etc), how do you help your gay Christian friends with sanctification? What conversations are you having with them that’s helping them and not judging them. I am sincere in wanting to know how to approach this matter. I need tools because I do not want to come of as holier than thou, condemning or judgmental, but just like I need other believers to help me in my process of being made like Christ, I want to help my friends as well.
    
    I may be misunderstanding your initial post, but it seems like you’re content with your fellow believers and do not desire them to spiritually mature in the area of sexual immorality. If that is the case, you’re not being a very good friend. If I were having an affair, I would hope I would have someone friend enough to lovingly admonish me.
    
    Lastly, taking Romans 12:2 out of its context as you did does not help in the advancement of unity. Breaking a verse into two pieces and assigning one part to one side and the other part to the other side only makes things, well, one-sided….What I mean is I don’t get the impression that you would be happy about your gay friends having burning coals of shame heaped upon them.
Matt

I don’t think that the homosexuals really care about the bible’s version of “marriage”. We do not purchase marriage licenses from the church or the bible. We want the same GOVERNMENT rights that everyone else has. The so called “Christians” can still believe whatever they would like.
- BigGayAl
  
  You are right Matt; there is supposed to be a seperation of church and state!
  - Frank
    
    Yes to keep the government out of religion not religion out of the government.
  - Frank
    
    Yes to keep the government out of religion not religion out of the government.
- Frank
  
  Great so civil unions with all the same government benefits should work then. Just won’t be a marriage.
  - Matt
    
    No, because civil unions do not have the same inclusions as marriage. Why don’t we call all government granted marriages “Marriages”. The “Christians” can have something called “Biblical Marriages”. The “Biblical Marriages” can be smiled on by the church all they want.
    - Frank
      
      Civil union laws can be changed to include all the relevant benefits so that should be enough right?
http://www.facebook.com/carlos.bello1 Carlos Bello

heart warming.. yes, ,this is the answer amen!
Rob

While I respectfully disagree about continuing your support of them, I appreciate your opinion. Thank you for taking a balanced and reasonable approach to this matter.
eMatters

I’m not surprised to see such bad theology from a site called “Red letter Christians.” Fact: Jesus is divine and agrees with all scripture, down to the last letter. It turned out just the way He wanted it to. 10% of the red letters were black letters. Matthew documenting what Jesus said and did is no more authoritative than what Paul documented about what Jesus taught. I’ve yet to come across a “Red letter Christian” who wasn’t up to all sorts of theological mischief or downright false teachings. I encourage you to take the entire Bible seriously.
- Drew
  
  It’s not Red Letter Christians, it’s Liberal Letter Christians. Jesus said marriage was one man and one woman uniting but people like Bert don’t care. If it does not fit the postmodern, extremist liberal, secular agenda of the 21st century, it does not have to be followed.
William Cheung

Dear Bert,

If you condone and celebrate what the Bible has already said is sinful then you are very deceived. I couldn’t care less whether you are a pastor. If you have never admonished your friends to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit regarding their sexual impulses, that is your shame.
Anonymous

this is not in response to anything you wrote in you post but more as an overall statement in response to anytime a LGBT group attacks a Christian person/business/group that does not advocate same-sex marriage.

It is sad to me that this world equates the term “intolerant” with those who actually stand for something. Tolerance is not accepting or condoning people/views different than your own. Tolerance is supposed to be learning to live AMONGST those who differ in opinions than your own. Sometimes I want to scream when people are quick to label others as intolerant (mainly Christians being labelled intolerant). They are doing nothing but proving THEIR intolerance
keith

Bert
,I remeber now that you are the college Baptist Minister. Seems appropriate considering some of your articles and the stances you take. My point is this. You say you are a Baptist yet not once in your articles do you condemn the ‘sin’ of homosexuality. Instead you ask for tolerance from someone who is not a minister but holds to your denominations stance on homosexuality which is:
Sexuality

We affirm God’s plan for marriage and sexual intimacy –
one man, and one woman, for life. Homosexuality is not a “valid alternative
lifestyle.” The Bible condemns it as sin. It is not, however, unforgivable sin.
The same redemption available to all sinners is available to homosexuals. They,
too, may become new creations in Christ
Now if you cant follow your own denominations stance on the issue then would you expect anyone else to take you seriously?
- http://twitter.com/BertMontgomery Bert Montgomery
  
  I haven’t been Southern Baptist since they kicked a bunch of us out for treating women equally over 20 years ago.
  - Drew
    
    Thank you for being honest in that you are apostate.
http://www.facebook.com/writingmother Heather Atton Cook

Love it, Bert! I am Canadian so I don’t have access to ChickAFil so I’m not all up on the latest controversy… but oh my don’t we as Christians spend so much time worrying about What Sin Someone Is Doing.

When I have totally perfected God’s “top ten”, aka the commandments, and really focused on the top two Big Rules, you know… love the lord your God with all your heart and soul …. and love your neighbour as yourself… then maybe I’ll get around to worrying about Those Gays.

Until then, I will remember that they will know I’m a Christian by my love…. not my ability to quote an old, out of date rule of Moses… now superseded by God’s laws.
- http://twitter.com/BertMontgomery Bert Montgomery
  
  Thank you, Heather.
D Dominguez

Burt, I showed your letter to several pastors. While your letter is admirable you can’t ride the fence on this issue. This is not about choosing to eat at a fast food restaurant or your friends. No one is asking you to do this. You can have your friends and not agree with their lifestyle choices. I have friends who I do not like what they do and I still love them. This is about choosing between God’s laws and what is wrong. Gay marriage is wrong according to the Bible you gave an oath to the Lord to obey and teach. You can’t ride the fence.
- http://twitter.com/BertMontgomery Bert Montgomery
  
  I’m not riding the fence. I fully welcome and affirm EVERYONE into God’s Kingdom – no exceptions.
  - keith
    
    You are riding the fence when you suggest that a believer not support an organization that promotes your faith. You are trying to have your cake and eat it too. You have not ONCE denounced homosexuality….Not ONCE. Instead you call out Chik Fil A because they believe the way you are supposed to believe as a BAPTIST. I posted the Southern Baptist Conventions stance on homosexuality which renounces gay marriage and homosexuality. Why is it that you can not tell your gay friends that God doesnt like their sin, just like you do to people who sin in other ways? Why is it that when it comes to this issue we have so many weak pastors and evangelists? If your friends cant accept you denouncing something that God instructs you as wrong then are they your friends? Do they love you? Are you a means to an end? Weak and apologetic was never my God’s motto. If your friends are not your friends because you eat at Chik Fil A then you better look in the mirror and see whos running your ministry.
  - someguy
    
    My, how tolerant. So, for the record, should a known wife beater or child molester enter your church, you would fully welcome them AND affirm their behavior?
  - http://www.facebook.com/americanrosie Rosie Riveter
    
    There’s a problem there Bert, you aren’t the one that welcomes or affirms anyone into the kingdom. Seriously, how could you even say that? A Fruedian slip, do you see yourself with that power and authority?
- Drew
  
  I’ve learned by now that people like Bert are Liberal Letter Christians, not Red Letter Christians. When they see Jesus affirm marriage between one man and one woman, they pretend it’s not there.
Steve

I’m soooooooo glad we don’t have Chick-fil-a in Michigan.
Anonymous

It is possible to struggle with same sex attraction and not *be gay* in the sense of sinning with homosexual acts or supporting gay marriage. I think you are giving your LGBT friends and family far too little credit and support in their struggle against sin- in effect telling them “I believe you are going to hell for your sins and that there is no way out”.

It is the job of a pastor, the job of a Christian Friend, to give our brothers and sisters who struggle with sin *a way out of the sin*. We are, unlike what secular society would teach us, our brother’s keeper. That means being more inclusive in our relationships with them, not less. That means having the courage to tell them the *truth*- that despite their disordered attractions, they are still Imago Dei and that God still wants to reconcile them to themselves.

Besides, is homosexuality any more gross than my favorite sins of gluttony and anger? Or the common American mortal sin of Pride that leads us to celebrate sin instead of attacking it?
Jprice

I know of no major organization based upon Christ’s teachings to deny those with same sex attraction constitutional rights. Please be specific detailing the US rights being denied. Thank you.
cassie

wondering why chick-fil-a’s rejection of the lgbt community is not just another reason to stop eating there? why in the world have we not implored each other as christians to stop eating there a long time ago? their food makes us fat, gives us heart disease and diabetes, the toys in their kid’s meals are made in china, and they are a huge corporation existing to make a profit. their stance on lgbt issues is just the cherry on top of a big pile of… .
carol

so eloquently said, wow! thank you. this is one of the few letters written with love and truly as Jesus would have done…wow!
Tim

Titus 2:11-12 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It
teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
Tim

Titus 2:11-12 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It
teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Westerman/1531760045 Chris Westerman

Bert, you are friends with gay ministers? Are they openly gay and therefore living openly against the teaching of the holy scriptures or are they hiding their way of life from the public?

”
Therefore, if Chick-Fil-A is willing to accept money from customers who may or may not be gay (because you don’t ask), why not also allow these same folks to be your friends even if you disagree with their decisions?”

When did Chick -Fil-A ever say that they would not allow gays to be their friends?
Independent Christian

My interpretation of the Bible is that marriage is between a man and a woman. Whatever the government chooses to do with civil unions is up to them, just as whatever rights they choose to bestow upon “common-law marriage” partners is theirs to choose. Boycotting a business because of the views of their owner or founder is likewise the choice of the individual.

However, the banning of a chain of restaurants in a city like Boston or Chicago by the government based on the religious views of the owner is absolutely unconstitutional and should be opposed by every American and the ACLU.

I was introduced to this website and its commentators by Tony Campolo who happens to head up a ministry called Urban Promise that operates in NJ and Delaware, and which I have supported for years. I suppose by the standards his co-bloggers advocate, I should stop my support of Urban Promise because I disagree with the views of their founder.

And so, my old friend Tony, my next annual Urban Promise donation will go to Win Shape Homes, a charitable foundation founded by Truett Cathy to serve foster children.

Farewell, old friend.
- http://www.facebook.com/americanrosie Rosie Riveter
  
  I appreciate you comment, Independent Christian. Well stated.
Anonymous

I believe that you should read this Mr Montgomery.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/07/in-defense-of-eating-at-chick-fil-a/260139/
http://www.facebook.com/americanrosie Rosie Riveter

Wow, I’ve been researching about Red Letter Christians and was just wondering how “liberal” you appear to be and what your doctrine is truly made of- this post blatantly explains a lot it.
- Drew
  
  Originally, RLC was a movement by Tony Campolo, an Evangelical Christian, to move back towards an emphasis on the Christian action found in the Gospels and in the life of Jesus.
  
  However, Tony Campolo has allowed the movement and this website to be hijacked by liberal Christianity of all denominations that are concerned only about attacking moderate and conservative Evangelicalism and sowing division and love of liberalism. It’s pretty sad. Bert even admits below he was kicked out of the SBC and thus out of an Evangelical denomination for being apostate, yet he posts on this site.
  
  There are still some good authors though, just have to wait a few days at at time.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000699994198 David Reynolds
    
    I’m just flabbergasted by this thinking. I am a Baptist, have been for over thirty years. I was, until somewhat recently, what you would describe as a conservative.
    However, the reality is that all I seem to have seen from the conservative side is this kind of name calling and sloganeering. Conservatives come on here and throw around this kind of alarmist, name calling rhetoric, but don’t seem to have any well reasoned argument to support their positions. I’m not talking about pulling out random bible verses to try and support a pre-determined position. I’m talking about genuine critical thinking. A sound mind is a great gift, I am begging the conservative side to use it.
    If you really believe the things that you are saying, please (again I am begging you), write it down in a well thought through piece and post it here as a blog. Submit it to the critical thought processes of others, see if it can withstand the spotlight of other well thought through Christians reading and commenting on it.
    If what you believe has substance, and you can communicate that substance intelligently, you will certainly win me over and others too I suspect.
    For now the right wing side has lost me, and my vote. Those of us who are born with decent critical thinking abilities have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters, and the larger world, to work our way through to truth and grace. Your sloganeering and name calling just makes you look like a school yard bully. Loud and afraid.
chemistrydoc

Mr. Cathy’s sin is one of arrogance (presuming to know the mind and will of God) and a lack of hospitality (greeting the stranger). He has instantly alienated over 1/10th of his customer base (not only LGBTQ individuals but also their close family / friends / etc.) – dumb on a business level and antithetical to Christian teachings on a theological level. It’s his business – he can do with it as he chooses. His speech is free, as is anyone who chooses to do business or not do business with him. There is no need for “shows of support” or “boycotts”. Just go about your lives, people, and try to see others the way Christ sees them – with love.
Cynthia

It is funny how something sticks with you and you feel you
have to chime in and this is one of those times. Killing with kindness is
always the best way to react to almost any situation. Also I would fight for anyone’s
right to free speech no matter how ugly it is as in doing so we protect all of
our right to do the same. Additionally no government official should be able to
ban a company because they do not agree with their stance on a social issue. No
one’s constitutional rights should be compromised due to the fact that we do
not agree with them and that is a line we should always be vigilant in
protecting.

Having said that as a mother of a gay child I will not be
giving money to an enterprise that invests their profits in organizations that
work diligently to deprive my child and an estimated 10% of our population of
the same rights they enjoy. Their freedom of religion should not supersede anyone
else’s, that is the beauty of our country.

We should always pray that those who feel hate, practice
exclusion instead of acceptance and understanding. But we should always
question the morality of enabling such practices monetarily as by doing so we
give implied support for such practices.
Musicchick

Bert, Jesus commands us to love one another. I certainly get that. But are these gay Christians of whom you speak active in the gay lifestyle? If so, my friend, they are not Christians. I am heterosexual, single, 48 years old, and a virgin; because sex outside of marriage is wrong. So, for the sake of the name of Christ I have made the decision to put aside the fulfillment of my desires until I marry. I question whether heterosexual couples who live together or have an active sex life are Christians, too; I’m not just saying it about gays. It is not a sin to be attracted to someone of the same gender, but it is if it is acted upon. I don’t condemn them because I am just as much a sinner as they are. But I will not stand there and allow someone to defend a blatantly sinful lifestyle and say nothing.