Apparently a group recently tried to organize a boycott of JCPenny for having Ellen Degeneres as their spokesperson (the boycott has since been lifted). The problem? Ellen is a lesbian and by using her in their commercials the corporation was being "anti-family."
Here's why I'm boycotting boycotting:
1. The "fight fire with fire," "hit 'em where it hurts," attempt at strong-arming people into living according to godly standards is... not godly. The gospel is not best carried through the vehicle of manipulation.
2. It's almost impossible to have integrity. Ellen works for Warner Brothers. Why didn't they call for a boycott on all of their movies and programs? She did a voice on the cartoon Finding Nemo, was that anti-family? What about the network her daily show is on? Often boycotts don't have the integrity to be thorough.
3. We pick our issues. We decide what single issue is most offensive to God. What about the spokespeople that live profoundly immoral heterosexual lifestyles? I am not in favor of redefining marriage any more than I am of repealing the law of gravity, but there are many issues that are equally offensive to God and I'm kind of annoyed at some "Christian" organizations that take the name of my faith and attach it to their agenda.
4. We are very moody. We like a boycott that doesn't too negatively impact us. "I'm going to get my shoes at…." If Christians are going start refusing to do business based on morals we had better be ready to make some drastic lifestyle changes. It takes a few clicks online to find out about the hiring practices of oil companies that make the gas we buy. With a moment of searching you can find out about the lifestyle of CEO's of the restaurants we like to go to. It wouldn't take long to learn about the lives of some of the people that own our grocery stores. Boycotters get your signs ready, buy a bike, and grow your food! We like to make statements that don't inconvenience us.
5. It hasn't worked. Let's quit finding ways to show the world around us that we are angry people. I'm not suggesting that we give up and don't care. I'm suggesting that the method of a "we're-right-you're-wrong-change-or-else" boycott doesn't seem be congruent with the call to engage and reach the culture.
Now, I know that some will not agree with me. This is not the official position of the Free Methodist Church or even the Midland Free Methodist Church, this is just Dave listening to the world mock our behavior and ignore our Savior again.
Boycotting Boycotting,
Dave
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