Chick-fil-A Banned from Buffalo Airport for ‘Anti-LGBTQ Rhetoric’

[Chad]

Chick-fil-A has been banned from operating as a food vendor in the Buffalo Niagara International Airport after a Democrat New York assemblyman tweeted the restaurant supports “anti-LGBTQ organizations.”

After hospitality management company Delaware North and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) approved of plans to incorporate Chick-fil-A into its airport renovation plans, Democrat Assemblyman Sean Ryan called upon the authority Friday to reverse its decision, reported New York Upstate.

By the end of the day, Ryan said the privately-held family restaurant business was banned from the airport project:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111666523524026373

“A publicly financed facility like the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is not the appropriate venue for a Chick-fil-A restaurant,” Ryan said in a statement, adding:

I applaud the decision that has been made to remove Chick-fil-A from the plans for this project. We hope in the future the NFTA will make every effort to contract with businesses that adhere to anti-discrimination policies, and we’re confident another vendor who better represents the values of the Western New York community will replace Chick-fil-A as a part of this project in the very near future.​

When Ryan heard of NFTA’s decision include Chick-fil-A in its renovation plans, the Democrat took to Twitter to say he was “disappointed” by the plan:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111437992722231296

“Chick-fil-A has a long history of supporting and funding anti-LGBTQ organizations,” Ryan said. “In fact, the San Antonio City Council recently rejected a plan to open a Chick-fil-A at the San Antonio International Airport due to the company’s discriminatory advocacy.”

The assemblyman touted New York’s ban on state-funded travel to North Carolina, saying the state engaged in “transgender discrimination” when it voted to protect the privacy and safety of its citizens by continuing single-sex bathrooms and other legal and civic distinctions between biological males and females.

New York “currently has a state-funded travel ban in place for travel to North Carolina due to a law allowing for transgender discrimination that is on the books until 2020,” Ryan said.

“I don’t believe the leadership of the NFTA intends to help spread hate and discrimination, but allowing a corporation like Chick-fil-A to do business at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport will help to fund continued divisive anti-LGBTQ rhetoric,” he said.

The ban on Chick-fil-A at the Buffalo airport comes in the wake of a similar ban enacted by the San Antonio City Council.

However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday he plans to investigate whether the San Antonio City Council violated the First Amendment when it banned the restaurant from its airport because of its owners’ Christian values:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111406390076018688

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111381461532180481

Roberto Treviño, San Antonio District 1 City Councilman, moved to ban Chick-fil-A from its list of airport vendors. Six council members approved the motion to ban the restaurant, while four voted against it.

“With this decision, the City Council reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion,” Treviño said, according to NBC News 4. “San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior.”

However, Texas Rep. Chip Roy tweeted a letter he sent to the San Antonio City Council in which he reacted to Treviño’s comment:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111662433482035200

“Targeting individuals, organizations, or corporations for carrying out their deeply held religious beliefs in accord with our laws and consistent with many Americans’ similarly held religious beliefs is hardly making San Antonio a champion of ‘equality and inclusion,’” Roy asserted.

As Breitbart News reported, Chick-fil-A was slated to become one of the San Antonio airport’s food vendors until Think Progress brought attention to the restaurant’s contributions to Christian youth organizations and charitable groups such as the Salvation Army.

Chick-fil-A states on its website that the company continues to uphold the biblical principles that guided the founding of its business by S. Truett Cathy.

Chick-fil-A continues:

While some have questioned the motives behind our donations, we want to take a moment to reiterate the mission and focus of the Chick-fil-A Foundation, which has always been and always will be to donate to programs that support a diverse array of youth and educational programs nationwide. The 140,000 people who serve customers on a daily basis represent and embrace all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.​

In December 2018, Breitbart News reported Kalinowski Equity Research told Marketwatch that Chick-fil-A’s popularity is growing faster than expected. The restaurant is now on track to become the third largest fast food chain in the United States, catching up to publicly-traded competitors such as McDonalds and Wendy’s.

“We have long pointed out that Chick-fil-A is the restaurant competition with which McDonald’s U.S. should most concern itself – and by extension, investors should too,” said Kalinowski Equity Research in a statement. “But this goes beyond McDonald’s.”

According to the restaurant’s website, in 2018, Chick-fil-A was recognized for customer experience in the Temkin Experience Ratings survey, and was named “Best Franchise Brand” by Airport Revenue News.

Also, in 2018, Chick-fil-A was presented with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award for being among the top 100 best places to work. Additionally, Chick-fil-A was included in Glassdoor’s Top 100 CEOs.

The restaurant was included as well in 2018 in Forbes’ list of best employers and as a National Society of High School Scholars top employer.

Chick-fil-A Banned from Buffalo Airport for ‘Anti-LGBTQ Rhetoric’

 

[Bendito]

Chick-fil-A has been banned from operating as a food vendor in the Buffalo Niagara International Airport after a Democrat New York assemblyman tweeted the restaurant supports “anti-LGBTQ organizations.”

After hospitality management company Delaware North and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) approved of plans to incorporate Chick-fil-A into its airport renovation plans, Democrat Assemblyman Sean Ryan called upon the authority Friday to reverse its decision, reported New York Upstate.

By the end of the day, Ryan said the privately-held family restaurant business was banned from the airport project:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111666523524026373

“A publicly financed facility like the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is not the appropriate venue for a Chick-fil-A restaurant,” Ryan said in a statement, adding:

I applaud the decision that has been made to remove Chick-fil-A from the plans for this project. We hope in the future the NFTA will make every effort to contract with businesses that adhere to anti-discrimination policies, and we’re confident another vendor who better represents the values of the Western New York community will replace Chick-fil-A as a part of this project in the very near future.​

When Ryan heard of NFTA’s decision include Chick-fil-A in its renovation plans, the Democrat took to Twitter to say he was “disappointed” by the plan:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111437992722231296

“Chick-fil-A has a long history of supporting and funding anti-LGBTQ organizations,” Ryan said. “In fact, the San Antonio City Council recently rejected a plan to open a Chick-fil-A at the San Antonio International Airport due to the company’s discriminatory advocacy.”

The assemblyman touted New York’s ban on state-funded travel to North Carolina, saying the state engaged in “transgender discrimination” when it voted to protect the privacy and safety of its citizens by continuing single-sex bathrooms and other legal and civic distinctions between biological males and females.

New York “currently has a state-funded travel ban in place for travel to North Carolina due to a law allowing for transgender discrimination that is on the books until 2020,” Ryan said.

“I don’t believe the leadership of the NFTA intends to help spread hate and discrimination, but allowing a corporation like Chick-fil-A to do business at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport will help to fund continued divisive anti-LGBTQ rhetoric,” he said.

The ban on Chick-fil-A at the Buffalo airport comes in the wake of a similar ban enacted by the San Antonio City Council.

However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday he plans to investigate whether the San Antonio City Council violated the First Amendment when it banned the restaurant from its airport because of its owners’ Christian values:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111406390076018688

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111381461532180481

Roberto Treviño, San Antonio District 1 City Councilman, moved to ban Chick-fil-A from its list of airport vendors. Six council members approved the motion to ban the restaurant, while four voted against it.

“With this decision, the City Council reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion,” Treviño said, according to NBC News 4. “San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior.”

However, Texas Rep. Chip Roy tweeted a letter he sent to the San Antonio City Council in which he reacted to Treviño’s comment:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111662433482035200

“Targeting individuals, organizations, or corporations for carrying out their deeply held religious beliefs in accord with our laws and consistent with many Americans’ similarly held religious beliefs is hardly making San Antonio a champion of ‘equality and inclusion,’” Roy asserted.

As Breitbart News reported, Chick-fil-A was slated to become one of the San Antonio airport’s food vendors until Think Progress brought attention to the restaurant’s contributions to Christian youth organizations and charitable groups such as the Salvation Army.

Chick-fil-A states on its website that the company continues to uphold the biblical principles that guided the founding of its business by S. Truett Cathy.

Chick-fil-A continues:

While some have questioned the motives behind our donations, we want to take a moment to reiterate the mission and focus of the Chick-fil-A Foundation, which has always been and always will be to donate to programs that support a diverse array of youth and educational programs nationwide. The 140,000 people who serve customers on a daily basis represent and embrace all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.​

In December 2018, Breitbart News reported Kalinowski Equity Research told Marketwatch that Chick-fil-A’s popularity is growing faster than expected. The restaurant is now on track to become the third largest fast food chain in the United States, catching up to publicly-traded competitors such as McDonalds and Wendy’s.

“We have long pointed out that Chick-fil-A is the restaurant competition with which McDonald’s U.S. should most concern itself – and by extension, investors should too,” said Kalinowski Equity Research in a statement. “But this goes beyond McDonald’s.”

According to the restaurant’s website, in 2018, Chick-fil-A was recognized for customer experience in the Temkin Experience Ratings survey, and was named “Best Franchise Brand” by Airport Revenue News.

Also, in 2018, Chick-fil-A was presented with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award for being among the top 100 best places to work. Additionally, Chick-fil-A was included in Glassdoor’s Top 100 CEOs.

The restaurant was included as well in 2018 in Forbes’ list of best employers and as a National Society of High School Scholars top employer.

Chick-fil-A Banned from Buffalo Airport for ‘Anti-LGBTQ Rhetoric’

Isaiah 5:20 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who change darkness into light
and light into darkness,
who change bitter into sweet
and sweet into bitter!

 

[Quantrill]

This is but a precursor of things to come. Economic leverage against the believers. (Rev. 13:17) "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

If businesses are not allowed to give to Christian organizations under threat of being labeled a hate group or intolerable and therefore not allowed to do business, then next it will be the individual who is targeted. What hate groups have you supported this past year? Some Christian missionaries? Salvation Army? Your church? Yes, if your church doesn't fly the LGBT banner and preaches the truth of homosexuality from the Bible, then it will soon be targeted.

There is a serious spiritual warfare taking place in America today. It is the last bastion of Protestant Evangelical Christianity. satan has duped America into these hate and intolerance laws. Why? Just for this reason. he can turn the tables and label the Christians as a hate group and intolerable. And so many Christians were on board through all this 'hate' legislation thinking it was so good thinking it would benefit them. It was but the bait satan used to spring his trap.

The largest hate group and guilty of intolerance is the Democratic Party in the U.S. I personally don't see how one can be a Christian and cast a single vote for a democrat. But, they will.

Quantrill

 

[Chad]

The largest hate group and guilty of intolerance is the Democratic Party in the U.S. I personally don't see how one can be a Christian and cast a single vote for a democrat. But, they will.

Agreed on that for sure. Also, I don't think you can be liberal and a Christian in the same breath. Contradictions of all sorts.

 

[Quantrill]

Agreed on that for sure. Also, I don't think you can be liberal and a Christian in the same breath. Contradictions of all sorts.

I agree here also. To be liberal runs completely contrary to God. Liberalism in America runs on the 'goodness of man'. It believes all men are good, and you just have to find it in them. It believes that if all men had exactly the same material goods, the same exact opportunities, that all would make the 'good' decision. It totally rejects the Biblical fall of mankind in Adam. Jesus will be a Gandhi sort of leader. A good man.

And liberalism found a home in the Democratic party.

Quantrill

 

[Blunder_Duck]

Amazing isn't it? One cannot stand for Christian family marriage values without being called names. And an airport thinks they have the right to violate the law in order to defend the rights of one group, LGBTQ, while discriminating against another protected class; Christians.

But not without a fight.
Buffalo News:
NFTA can't block Chick-fil-A at airport, say civil rights advocates
By Sandra Tan|Published Yesterday |Updated Today
"...
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority could open itself up to lawsuits if it directly bars a Chick-fil-A from opening at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, according to the American Civil Liberties Union and a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

"Government actors cannot officially silence speech or take punitive actions based on a person’s or private entity’s political viewpoints," said Erika Lorshbough, the assistant director of the New York branch of the ACLU, in a statement. "The First Amendment does not permit the NFTA to base its contracting decisions on the political views of a vendor. However, the First Amendment only applies to government action, not to a decision made by a private corporation such as an airport supplier or contractor.” "

 

[Dovegiven]

Fear is what is driving the hatred, and dividing the nation. It's expressed by the Democratic Party dreading loss of power such their supporters are well into violation of law to regain power. The Conservatives are afraid that whatever they try will backfire if opponents win the power. So they wait and see.

I doubt it would take a majority of Christians to change the nation back to civility. It should only take a tiny percentage. But now I see and hear so much fear among churches that their fear cancels out any blessings.

It started with the Johnston Act. Churches still fear losing tax shelters even with Constitution attorneys assuring they can communicate beliefs on social and political values, most shy from that. Our local Ministerial Alliance, an organisation of ministers across all religious leaders, has taken the regional advice, to remain distant from taking side in socio-political positions, especially if your budget is not in the multiple millions. Lawsuits will keep coming despite Constitutional rights.

What is lacking is faith. The recommendation now is to limit faith teaching to future events like the rapture or Second Coming. Just believe for that. "Faith" itself has taken a harsh beating even among Christians. Rejecting faith teaching for the NOW is directly defeating the authority Jesus left us. We are not supposed to use faith to alter the present, specially concerning 'horribly inflammatory' issues like "health instead of diease", or "prosperity instead of poverty" instead of Bible promises. Therefore, it's effectively impractible to live by faith like the Bible demonstrates. Now it's accetptable to have hope in bad health and poverty.

So we have been trained to live by lack, fear, want, and even now hate our race, gender, nationality.

Next, according to history, comes a declaration that Christianity is a hate group that should be exterminated. Not a church at a time, as lack of finances is doing that already. The persecution will be against individuals who don't accept every wicked thought of every wicked heart.

Let me remind of a saying.
"In Germany they came first for the Communists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me–and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Some variations add "teachers" and "anyone wearing glasses".

History has had a bad habit of repeating itself because we don't learn from it, nor the Bible.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

Chick-fil-A has been banned from operating as a food vendor in the Buffalo Niagara International Airport after a Democrat New York assemblyman tweeted the restaurant supports “anti-LGBTQ organizations.”

After hospitality management company Delaware North and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) approved of plans to incorporate Chick-fil-A into its airport renovation plans, Democrat Assemblyman Sean Ryan called upon the authority Friday to reverse its decision, reported New York Upstate.

By the end of the day, Ryan said the privately-held family restaurant business was banned from the airport project:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111666523524026373

“A publicly financed facility like the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is not the appropriate venue for a Chick-fil-A restaurant,” Ryan said in a statement, adding:

I applaud the decision that has been made to remove Chick-fil-A from the plans for this project. We hope in the future the NFTA will make every effort to contract with businesses that adhere to anti-discrimination policies, and we’re confident another vendor who better represents the values of the Western New York community will replace Chick-fil-A as a part of this project in the very near future.​

When Ryan heard of NFTA’s decision include Chick-fil-A in its renovation plans, the Democrat took to Twitter to say he was “disappointed” by the plan:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111437992722231296

“Chick-fil-A has a long history of supporting and funding anti-LGBTQ organizations,” Ryan said. “In fact, the San Antonio City Council recently rejected a plan to open a Chick-fil-A at the San Antonio International Airport due to the company’s discriminatory advocacy.”

The assemblyman touted New York’s ban on state-funded travel to North Carolina, saying the state engaged in “transgender discrimination” when it voted to protect the privacy and safety of its citizens by continuing single-sex bathrooms and other legal and civic distinctions between biological males and females.

New York “currently has a state-funded travel ban in place for travel to North Carolina due to a law allowing for transgender discrimination that is on the books until 2020,” Ryan said.

“I don’t believe the leadership of the NFTA intends to help spread hate and discrimination, but allowing a corporation like Chick-fil-A to do business at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport will help to fund continued divisive anti-LGBTQ rhetoric,” he said.

The ban on Chick-fil-A at the Buffalo airport comes in the wake of a similar ban enacted by the San Antonio City Council.

However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday he plans to investigate whether the San Antonio City Council violated the First Amendment when it banned the restaurant from its airport because of its owners’ Christian values:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111406390076018688

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111381461532180481

Roberto Treviño, San Antonio District 1 City Councilman, moved to ban Chick-fil-A from its list of airport vendors. Six council members approved the motion to ban the restaurant, while four voted against it.

“With this decision, the City Council reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion,” Treviño said, according to NBC News 4. “San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior.”

However, Texas Rep. Chip Roy tweeted a letter he sent to the San Antonio City Council in which he reacted to Treviño’s comment:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1111662433482035200

“Targeting individuals, organizations, or corporations for carrying out their deeply held religious beliefs in accord with our laws and consistent with many Americans’ similarly held religious beliefs is hardly making San Antonio a champion of ‘equality and inclusion,’” Roy asserted.

As Breitbart News reported, Chick-fil-A was slated to become one of the San Antonio airport’s food vendors until Think Progress brought attention to the restaurant’s contributions to Christian youth organizations and charitable groups such as the Salvation Army.

Chick-fil-A states on its website that the company continues to uphold the biblical principles that guided the founding of its business by S. Truett Cathy.

Chick-fil-A continues:

While some have questioned the motives behind our donations, we want to take a moment to reiterate the mission and focus of the Chick-fil-A Foundation, which has always been and always will be to donate to programs that support a diverse array of youth and educational programs nationwide. The 140,000 people who serve customers on a daily basis represent and embrace all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.​

In December 2018, Breitbart News reported Kalinowski Equity Research told Marketwatch that Chick-fil-A’s popularity is growing faster than expected. The restaurant is now on track to become the third largest fast food chain in the United States, catching up to publicly-traded competitors such as McDonalds and Wendy’s.

“We have long pointed out that Chick-fil-A is the restaurant competition with which McDonald’s U.S. should most concern itself – and by extension, investors should too,” said Kalinowski Equity Research in a statement. “But this goes beyond McDonald’s.”

According to the restaurant’s website, in 2018, Chick-fil-A was recognized for customer experience in the Temkin Experience Ratings survey, and was named “Best Franchise Brand” by Airport Revenue News.

Also, in 2018, Chick-fil-A was presented with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award for being among the top 100 best places to work. Additionally, Chick-fil-A was included in Glassdoor’s Top 100 CEOs.

The restaurant was included as well in 2018 in Forbes’ list of best employers and as a National Society of High School Scholars top employer.

Chick-fil-A Banned from Buffalo Airport for ‘Anti-LGBTQ Rhetoric’

Let them continue harassing, persecuting, intimidating, and messing with God's people. I've read the Book. I know how this story ends.
God will get the last WORD. Glory be to God.

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
-Matthew 5:11-12

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

It will get only get worst before it gets better. Believe it will get worst, but know that it will get better in the end.

 

[Chad]

I agree @Jesus_is_LORD

That verse is something I had to learn from experience as well over the years. To relax, breathe and even appreciate that God warned us ahead of time and even promises blessings for us who persevere through these harassment.

 

[Blunder_Duck]

I think every Christian who has a Chick-Fil-A in their town should make it a habit of patronizing the chain. Here there are times when people are lined outside the door waiting to be served. The drive-thru is two lanes deep and cars often spill out into the parking lot of the adjacent businesses. It's beautiful! Because the support has never waned. Even when the LGBTQ groups were protesting in front of the restaurant, people were still choosing to eat there.

We can't really be surprised at the hypocrisy of those fallen in their behaviors. They started their campaign for equality by claiming they were not whom they had sex with. Now, that particular characteristic is the outstanding feature they make public when they campaign as "coming out". And when they discriminate against straights for daring to have an opinion that is founded in Christian principles.
There was a school district in Alabama that made news twice recently and concerning this hypocrisy. One, that the LGBTQ group in Birmingham Alabama actually succeeded in getting the "LGBTQ history" on the curriculum of Birmingham public schools.

What? Really!
Why are you special because of whom you are intimate with as pertains to history making? Why can't they just be part of history without the sexual phonics? Like straights are.

Well of course Christian activist groups were appalled at the special identifier this proposed curriculum suggested. "We made history and we're homosexual!" Just didn't wash. And with good reason. But, the Christian outcry was met with the typical phobe responses and the curriculum concerning LGBTQ historic contributions moved forward and was to be taught in Alabama public schools.

Until.....

The Muslim citizens of Alabama found out about this and every single one of them pulled their children from Alabama public schools in protest.

Guess what?

The school board of Alabama and all concerned with producing Birmingham public school curriculum reconsidered! And pulled the LGBTQ history curriculum from all state schools!

Didn't matter a hill of beans Christian parents protested. But let a group who's members are known to go to the extreme of blowing themselves up to make a political point speak out and act out by pulling their children from school, and that gets the attention of those in charge. And they end up conceding to the Muslims.

Articles

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

I think every Christian who has a Chick-Fil-A in their town should make it a habit of patronizing the chain. Here there are times when people are lined outside the door waiting to be served. The drive-thru is two lanes deep and cars often spill out into the parking lot of the adjacent businesses. It's beautiful! Because the support has never waned. Even when the LGBTQ groups were protesting in front of the restaurant, people were still choosing to eat there.

We can't really be surprised at the hypocrisy of those fallen in their behaviors. They started their campaign for equality by claiming they were not whom they had sex with. Now, that particular characteristic is the outstanding feature they make public when they campaign as "coming out". And when they discriminate against straights for daring to have an opinion that is founded in Christian principles.
There was a school district in Alabama that made news twice recently and concerning this hypocrisy. One, that the LGBTQ group in Birmingham Alabama actually succeeded in getting the "LGBTQ history" on the curriculum of Birmingham public schools.

What? Really!
Why are you special because of whom you are intimate with as pertains to history making? Why can't they just be part of history without the sexual phonics? Like straights are.

Well of course Christian activist groups were appalled at the special identifier this proposed curriculum suggested. "We made history and we're homosexual!" Just didn't wash. And with good reason. But, the Christian outcry was met with the typical phobe responses and the curriculum concerning LGBTQ historic contributions moved forward and was to be taught in Alabama public schools.

Until.....

The Muslim citizens of Alabama found out about this and every single one of them pulled their children from Alabama public schools in protest.

Guess what?

The school board of Alabama and all concerned with producing Birmingham public school curriculum reconsidered! And pulled the LGBTQ history curriculum from all state schools!

Didn't matter a hill of beans Christian parents protested. But let a group who's members are known to go to the extreme of blowing themselves up to make a political point speak out and act out by pulling their children from school, and that gets the attention of those in charge. And they end up conceding to the Muslims.

Articles

In my little town here in Maryland, our Chik'Fila is always packed as well. Fortunately the service is so good that the lines go fast.
The drive thrus are busy as well. I go there moderately, but I will start going there more in comparison to other places. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Dovegiven]

I agree @Jesus_is_LORD

That verse is something I had to learn from experience as well over the years. To relax, breathe and even appreciate that God warned us ahead of time and even promises blessings for us who persevere through these harassment.

If that happens that way we know we'll be rewarded by the Lord, but understand untold numbers of Christians are not living past their first persecution, especially in Muslim nations. If you line up for persecution, your ministry might well be ended prematurely. Jesus commandments include to preach the gospel, not die or be harmed by persecution, putting that eventuality sort of "in parentheses". Instead be Even sinners have faced persecution by Christians. Is there a blessing for that?

I prefer to avoid persecution as much as possible, not expecting that while living in this amazingly free society that was based on the word of God being respected, and certainly am not volunteering for it. Jesus avoided being stoned by just walking away from those threats, stayed out of Jerusalem a lot until required by the law to be there. Until His last week I don't think Jesus was physically harmed even though the Jews plotted to kill Him, tried their best to trip Jesus up over matters of the law. He outsmarted all of them. That's a great way to meet persecution. There are many Paul was lowered in a basket down a wall by disciples to avoid being captured and killed.

We all ought to be equipped to deal maturely with mere words against us, unfair discrimination, being resisted in many ways, and even an occasional slap or kick. However, in a civilized place the abusers are subject to punishment by the laws of that society.
Matthew 10:16-17 (KJV)
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

How else could a ram or ewe survive for any purpose other than filling a wolve's belly? Well, it would involve being very aware of the wolves, knowing their ways. It's how the much prized wild sheep survive to old age. We do best to regard enemy men likewise, but if caught and delivered, it's best not to open our mouths in shame, but rather to testify of our Lord. It's rare to come to that in the USA.

Anyway, that's how I am viewing Christian businesses like Chic-fil-a are behaving, their employees keeping their cool.

 

[Dovegiven]

In my little town here in Maryland, our Chik'Fila is always packed as well. Fortunately the service is so good that the lines go fast.
The drive thrus are busy as well. I go there moderately, but I will start going there more in comparison to other places. Thanks for the reminder.

We have one here too, but I've learned to avoid fried food to keep a healthy triglyceride level, though occasionally partake with a smile.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

We have one here too, but I've learned to avoid fried food to keep a healthy triglyceride level, though occasionally partake with a smile.

I too don't eat out much, but I was saying that if I'm inclined to do so I might as well support one that is standing for something.


You also said "I prefer to avoid persecution as much as possible,"
The way I look at it is this, and it depends on one's spiritual perspective and level of maturity.

As I've grown in my faith I've learned to hear the voice of the Lord or be in tuned with the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore I focus more on being in God's WILL and walking in the path that he has for me. When I'm doing that,
I don't worry about persecution. When I say I don't worry about persecution it doesn't mean it doesn't happen
or it is not a stress, but rather I'm not concerned by it because I know that God will deliver me through. And if He
does not I know that He will get the glory because I'm walking in His WILL.

I know many people ask about how do you know if you are walking in the WILL of God for your life. For me
spending time with God (praying, fasting, loving people, Bible study, Communion of Saints, etc) helps me to stay in God's presence.

For example I had a situation at work where I wrote an letter up to two level of administration above me regarding what I
was not going to do because of my Christian beliefs.I stood my ground and had a meeting with them but I was loving
and respectful. Which served as a witness because later this boss who never once mentioned God before started
talking to me about Jesus and how she had started to go to church.

I also had a time when I wanted to do Bible study at work and the boss was giving me a hard time.
That time I didn't get worked up or bent out of shape, I just respected her authority and waited patiently ( Did Bible
Study offsite at a Subway food place) and soon she was transferred and I had a new supervisor who allowed us to do Bible study
at work.

In the first situation I held a hard line and in the other I compiled, the difference was because I was following the leading of the
Holy Spirit. For example, in the situation in which I compiled, I had heard a sermon that morning on the radio about
giving up your right to be right in order to glorify God. And that stuck with me and I felt God was speaking to me through that.

So for me as long as I'm staying close to God, I'm not worried about persecution, of course no one wants it, but I feel when I'm walking
with God that He has it all planned out, so I feel fine. My only worry at times is if I fall into sin which then takes me away from hearing His
voice and then I feel a lack of peace and confidence. I know we are not suppose to worry about sin, so instead of trying to focus on
fighting sin, I focus more on staying in God's presence.

 

[Dovegiven]

......So for me as long as I'm staying close to God, I'm not worried about persecution, of course no one wants it, but I feel when I'm walking
with God that He has it all planned out, so I feel fine. My only worry at times is if I fall into sin which then takes me away from hearing His
voice and then I feel a lack of peace and confidence. I know we are not suppose to worry about sin, so instead of trying to focus on
fighting sin, I focus more on staying in God's presence.

While not worrying about being persecuted, there is wisdom in avoiding it like Jesus and Paul did so splendidly. What I had in mind was the last march for life route and how it turned out predictably, but with others clueless as to hazards. The planning committee had it set for passing down the sidewalk at a local abortion clinic. When I learned of it I called asking them to revise it, as it would be like poking a finger to stop up a hornet's nest. The participants would include Christians, but not all. The plan was submitted for the city permit, which was declined, causing a major delay for people already setting their plans. We eventually marched, allowed to pass through the street intersection. At the clinic was at least a hundred protesters, some with canes and "walking sticks" (illegally used raised in terroristic threatening), metal signs (illegal), shouts in ears, and a large pickup parked at the clinic with engine roaring (noise violation ignored by cops), appearing to be a threat to our crowd. We peacefully passed, then the protesters began following and heckling. They mixed in and threatened in many ways, spray painting marchers, and causing injuries learned of at the end. A stick jabbed between your legs while walking with a sign is a sure fall for some elderly people. They don't heal well. That isn't a wise thing to volunteer to experience at any age. Children in our group were traumatized, and many of those people will never march again.

Notice Jesus never volunteered to absorb a stoning, nor did He ever preach followers should do that. Enough happens already, like Stephen being taken up and stoned. Jesus had a greater agenda. If and only when the Holy Spirit confirms you should stand for, or step forward to suffer persecution, do it in faith, but never tempt God with carelessness, especially when others of unknown maturity in the Lord are following you. You showed maturity to object, and maturity to submit wisely.

There's a better way for most decisions we are faced with. I've come across some of those abusers since then, one a technician at that clinic we know from her childhood, and had civil talks, planted some gospel in them, forgave them whether they wanted that or not. Engaging in hostility, "facing off", standing your ground in public can escalate to heightened hostilities with many regrets. We are to be living sacrifices to God, not flesh targets for people caught up in mass hysteria.
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

While not worrying about being persecuted, there is wisdom in avoiding it like Jesus and Paul did so splendidly. What I had in mind was the last march for life route and how it turned out predictably, but with others clueless as to hazards. The planning committee had it set for passing down the sidewalk at a local abortion clinic. When I learned of it I called asking them to revise it, as it would be like poking a finger to stop up a hornet's nest. The participants would include Christians, but not all. The plan was submitted for the city permit, which was declined, causing a major delay for people already setting their plans. We eventually marched, allowed to pass through the street intersection. At the clinic was at least a hundred protesters, some with canes and "walking sticks" (illegally used raised in terroristic threatening), metal signs (illegal), shouts in ears, and a large pickup parked at the clinic with engine roaring (noise violation ignored by cops), appearing to be a threat to our crowd. We peacefully passed, then the protesters began following and heckling. They mixed in and threatened in many ways, spray painting marchers, and causing injuries learned of at the end. A stick jabbed between your legs while walking with a sign is a sure fall for some elderly people. They don't heal well. That isn't a wise thing to volunteer to experience at any age. Children in our group were traumatized, and many of those people will never march again.

Notice Jesus never volunteered to absorb a stoning, nor did He ever preach followers should do that. Enough happens already, like Stephen being taken up and stoned. Jesus had a greater agenda. If and only when the Holy Spirit confirms you should stand for, or step forward to suffer persecution, do it in faith, but never tempt God with carelessness, especially when others of unknown maturity in the Lord are following you. You showed maturity to object, and maturity to submit wisely.

There's a better way for most decisions we are faced with. I've come across some of those abusers since then, one a technician at that clinic we know from her childhood, and had civil talks, planted some gospel in them, forgave them whether they wanted that or not. Engaging in hostility, "facing off", standing your ground in public can escalate to heightened hostilities with many regrets. We are to be living sacrifices to God, not flesh targets for people caught up in mass hysteria.
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Amen, I am a lover of Wisdom as well. Well said.

 

[Br. Bear]

While not worrying about being persecuted, there is wisdom in avoiding it like Jesus and Paul did so splendidly. What I had in mind was the last march for life route and how it turned out predictably, but with others clueless as to hazards. The planning committee had it set for passing down the sidewalk at a local abortion clinic. When I learned of it I called asking them to revise it, as it would be like poking a finger to stop up a hornet's nest. The participants would include Christians, but not all. The plan was submitted for the city permit, which was declined, causing a major delay for people already setting their plans. We eventually marched, allowed to pass through the street intersection. At the clinic was at least a hundred protesters, some with canes and "walking sticks" (illegally used raised in terroristic threatening), metal signs (illegal), shouts in ears, and a large pickup parked at the clinic with engine roaring (noise violation ignored by cops), appearing to be a threat to our crowd. We peacefully passed, then the protesters began following and heckling. They mixed in and threatened in many ways, spray painting marchers, and causing injuries learned of at the end. A stick jabbed between your legs while walking with a sign is a sure fall for some elderly people. They don't heal well. That isn't a wise thing to volunteer to experience at any age. Children in our group were traumatized, and many of those people will never march again.

Notice Jesus never volunteered to absorb a stoning, nor did He ever preach followers should do that. Enough happens already, like Stephen being taken up and stoned. Jesus had a greater agenda. If and only when the Holy Spirit confirms you should stand for, or step forward to suffer persecution, do it in faith, but never tempt God with carelessness, especially when others of unknown maturity in the Lord are following you. You showed maturity to object, and maturity to submit wisely.

There's a better way for most decisions we are faced with. I've come across some of those abusers since then, one a technician at that clinic we know from her childhood, and had civil talks, planted some gospel in them, forgave them whether they wanted that or not. Engaging in hostility, "facing off", standing your ground in public can escalate to heightened hostilities with many regrets. We are to be living sacrifices to God, not flesh targets for people caught up in mass hysteria.
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
2Samuel 6:16

Greetings,

i was thinking about this whole topic that is also being addressed on another thread to some degree and wonder if maybe we could learn a bit from the celebrations that some who do not know or want to know the Lord participate in and why.

Some people have big public celebrations, sometimes regularly and often annually, around the world and they really seem to be enjoying themselves, even if we do not agree with their lifestyle or better put their deathstyle.

I am reminded of the chap who, when healed, went leaping and jumping and praising the Lord! He had something to celebrate and did!

Surely we have something to celebrate in our new found life in Christ, which is eternal? But perhaps, is it not proper or does it go against our conservative way, where we go around with long faces and get sad about what we see?
Rather than organize protests marches, should we instead organize celebrations, street celebrations and show the world we have Someone to celebrate about? Or are we too organized and worry what people will think?

The gay community of both genders feel they have something to celebrate, and in this world, and they do. They now have freedom to be and do as they believe is OK for them to do and they do it, celebrate, that is, against the opposition they face.
Surely, as in SURELY, we have something to celebrate in the face of opposition too and for all who know the liberty wherewith we have been made free.... can we rejoice?
Or have we done all that and need to get back to normality and instead appear a stale and dead people who are doing it because they have to?

We don't need to focus on what others are doing or even what they think. We need to focus on the love we have in Christ Jesus the Lord and to get celebrating that love with each other and why not also in the streets, so that all may see that new found freedom and life in Christ is really something to be desired!
We don't have to dress up because we are already clothed with the robes He fits us with, washed in His own Blood for us.
Yes, we need to be sober, I hear some say. Yes, sober in our thinking and talk, meaning not jesting and not being careless about that cup we are invited to partake in, the bread that was broken, the life that was given. Be not frivolous and quit the small talk, stop playing the fool but don't quench the Spirit of rejoicing in the Lord!

What do you think to these things?

Is it to our shame that we need to learn from the very ones who oppose all we stand for?
Surely we have something better to celebrate and if so.... why don't we?

"But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
Malachi 4:2

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Acts 3:8


Bless you ....><>

 

[Jesus_is_LORD]

And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
2Samuel 6:16

Greetings,

i was thinking about this whole topic that is also being addressed on another thread to some degree and wonder if maybe we could learn a bit from the celebrations that some who do not know or want to know the Lord participate in and why.

Some people have big public celebrations, sometimes regularly and often annually, around the world and they really seem to be enjoying themselves, even if we do not agree with their lifestyle or better put their deathstyle.

I am reminded of the chap who, when healed, went leaping and jumping and praising the Lord! He had something to celebrate and did!

Surely we have something to celebrate in our new found life in Christ, which is eternal? But perhaps, is it not proper or does it go against our conservative way, where we go around with long faces and get sad about what we see?
Rather than organize protests marches, should we instead organize celebrations, street celebrations and show the world we have Someone to celebrate about? Or are we too organized and worry what people will think?

The gay community of both genders feel they have something to celebrate, and in this world, and they do. They now have freedom to be and do as they believe is OK for them to do and they do it, celebrate, that is, against the opposition they face.
Surely, as in SURELY, we have something to celebrate in the face of opposition too and for all who know the liberty wherewith we have been made free.... can we rejoice?
Or have we done all that and need to get back to normality and instead appear a stale and dead people who are doing it because they have to?

We don't need to focus on what others are doing or even what they think. We need to focus on the love we have in Christ Jesus the Lord and to get celebrating that love with each other and why not also in the streets, so that all may see that new found freedom and life in Christ is really something to be desired!
We don't have to dress up because we are already clothed with the robes He fits us with, washed in His own Blood for us.
Yes, we need to be sober, I hear some say. Yes, sober in our thinking and talk, meaning not jesting and not being careless about that cup we are invited to partake in, the bread that was broken, the life that was given. Be not frivolous and quit the small talk, stop playing the fool but don't quench the Spirit of rejoicing in the Lord!

What do you think to these things?

Is it to our shame that we need to learn from the very ones who oppose all we stand for?
Surely we have something better to celebrate and if so.... why don't we?

"But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
Malachi 4:2

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
Acts 3:8


Bless you ....><>

Wow, well said. Well said.