Thursday, June 9, 2011

Is Boycotting Pleasing to God?

Is God pleased with Christians boycotting a business or organization because they sponsor something ungodly?  Does anyone or anything NOT born of God do anything godly?  Could they if they tried?  Are Christians called to snuff anyone who doesn't know Jesus,
as if our "snuffing" will drive them to their knees in unbearable guilt?  I don't think so.

Let me admit, I have a problem with boycotting a business or organization, because they aren't behaving according to Godly standards.  To believe we can legislate, picket, or boycott people into conformity to God's standards is the same as believing you can follow the Levitical Law perfectly without God's saving grace and mercy applied!  The truth is...it's impossible!  The Bible makes it clear Jesus hung out with those who were sinners.  He didn't condone their lifestyles, but He connected with them in order to lead them out of those lifestyles.  Jesus did not boycott sinners.  He boycotted those who claimed to be righteous yet were hypocrites!  Those who were blatant sinners He hung out with!  Listen to I Corinthians 5: 11, "But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one."  If you want to boycott someone, boycott those who pose as believers, yet live immoral, covetous, or idolatrous lives.  We would do better to boycott some well-known national ministries instead of national business/organizations!  (According to the Scripture.)  Why?  Because they should know better.

Think about the employees of organizations/businesses under boycott by Christians.  They are made up of people just like you and me.  You may want to inflict financial pain on the organization, but the truth is you are inflicting financial pain on hard working employees like you and me.  Would Jesus do that?  I don't think so.  Boycotting a business/organization builds an impenetrable wall between you and its employees.  To them it is a personal attack on them...by Jesus loving Christians.  Don't think of the conglomerate, think of the individual.

So what's the answer for this?  It's time for those who are followers of Christ to start following hard after Christ.  When we do we won't desire to cast stones at those who are now living in the same sin we used to live in.  It's time to love and pray for the lost...as He does for them, and you and me.  Jesus said to the accusers of the woman actually caught in the act of adultery, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone."  Let's stop casting stones and start living and loving for Jesus.  No...we don't condone sin.  Jesus, after NOT condemning her said to her,"Go and stop sinning!"  God sent His only son Jesus, to pay the price for our sins.  We were sinners by nature and only by God's grace are we forgiven and changed.  Jesus changed you and me as living proof of His love for the lost.  And it is through you and me that He can reach and change others.  But it won't happen through boycotting.  What do you think?

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