Chick-fil-A: What Christian Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Their Controversy

In case you didn't know it already, being a real Christian business is not as easy as sliding a few words into your mission statement or slapping a fish on your logo. This is real world stuff with real world considerations and consequences. We're playing for a prize that's eternal, not just our next quarterly earnings target. So whether you realize it or not, being a entrepreneur who is committed to representing God in your business will put you in the crosshairs of those who are hostile to Christianity, reject Biblical standards, and want you to conform to societal pressures.

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." ~ Romans 12:2

Unless you've been totally disconnected from the media in the past couple of weeks, you are well aware that recently Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-a, stated in an interview that he supported the Biblical definition of marriage. I'm not sure he could have predicted or was ready for the incredible backlash he is receiving for simply stating what he believed. He has been vehemently blasted by those who support gay marriage. Interestingly, for simply stating his beliefs - not declaring hatred or discrimination against anyone - vitriolic intolerance has been a common response by those who demand tolerance for their lifestyle choices.

The treatment he has received really shouldn't be a surprise, because the issue is much bigger than just his position on gay marriage. Christianity as a whole is under attack and marriage is just a part of that. I would even say that the intolerance directed towards Biblical beliefs these days is as much or greater than the intolerance directed towards the LGBT community. But this overall societal response really shouldn't be a surprise to Christians according to John 15:18-21:
 
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me." 

Attacks are the norm for those who don't understand the "foolishness" of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). In fact, Jesus said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:1-12).

So how does all this tie into you as a Christian business owner? Many Believers try to compartmentalize their faith and leave it out of their business affairs. They think they must suppress, downplay, or compromise their beliefs in order to make a dollar or grow a successful business. I don't believe that's true. You can stand up for what you believe in and build a successful business. It just depends on whose definition of success you are using, God's or the world's.

Let's look at five things Christian entrepreneurs can learn from the Chick-fil-a controversy:

1. Your business should reflect your beliefs. Christian entrepreneurs should be thermostats that change the culture, not thermometers that just reflect it. We are called to be in the world, but not operate in business how the world operates. No matter what society says is the "new" way of thinking and doing things, we can't abandon the unchanging standards of God to fit in with the culture or to get a sale. If you're a Christian entrepreneur what you say you believe should flow through your daily actions and activities. Say what you mean and mean what you say. You can't acknowledge Jesus on Sunday in church and then deny him Monday at work. Matthew 10:33 reads, "But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven."  Every Christian business will not reflect their beliefs the same way, but there should be some kind of differentiation between how you do business and how the world does it. When you let your beliefs shine through your business, you will bless those who see your good works, and you will be blessed in the process.
   
2. Stand for God's Truth regardless of what it might cost you. We don't bend to conform to the world's standards, no matter what the issue is. We take a stand on God's Word, and allow Him to fight for us when we endure persecution. James 4:4 reads, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." Whether you like it or not, everyone has to pick a side. Choose this day who you are going to serve in your business, God or the culture. Chick-fil-a has chosen to stand for God.
   
3. Don't chase money. Chase God. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus stated, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." As a Christian entrepreneur you have to make the intentional, conscious choice to serve God over money, otherwise you will compromise what you say you believe when your bank account or earnings potential is threatened. Many Christian businesspeople believe they have to play by the world's rules in order to get ahead financially. Even if that does work for you in the short term, what would it profit you to gain the world and lose your soul (Mark 8:36)? Chick-fil-a has chosen for over forty years to value God's principles over money. And for that choice they have received abundant financial blessings, including more than forty years of annual growth! Don't chase money. Chase God, and then the money will chase you (Deuteronomy 8:18, 28:2).
4. Build an excellent reputation and you will have supporters who defend you. Many national and local leaders and faithful customers have come to Chick-fil-a's defense since this bruhaha erupted. That's because this company has had a stellar reputation for over four decades. If they weren't a company that successfully lived their values before this situation arose, they wouldn't have very many people standing up for them right now. Just like Chick-fil-a has done, as Christian entrepreneurs you must "be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world" (1 Peter 2:12).
   
5. Love people regardless of how they treat you. This is definitely a turn-the-other-cheek moment for Dan Cathy and his company, especially because his critics have misappropriated his words. When you draw a line in the sand with your beliefs, some people will respond like you threw sand in their face. There is a big difference between disagreeing with someone's lifestyle and hating or discriminating against them. Jesus calls for us to love everyone. However, that doesn't mean we are to condone, support, or endorse their choices, especially when they fall outside the boundaries of godly behavior. Regardless, we must still love those who subscribe to character assassination and economic threats as forms of retaliation. 1 Peter 3:8 tells us, "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing". (Customer service comes to mind when I think about the business applications of this scripture.) This is the prescription we are to follow if we want God's blessing to override curses that are unjustifiably heaped upon us. Jesus set the bar for us in this area when he asked God to forgive those who were crucifying him out of their ignorance.
   

I once heard someone say, you choose your choices, but you don't get to choose your consequences. Chick-fila didn't choose this controversy, but a long time ago the Cathy family chose to follow God's design for their lives and businesses. As a result their business has prospered greatly and many people have benefitted. 

As a Christian entrepreneur when you are willing to make similar choices in spite of the potential opposition you might face from people who are hostile to God's ways, you will hear "well done good and faithful servant."

********************