Spicy Chicken Hot Take

I get it. I really do. It’s no fun being a 97-pound weakling in the midst of the culture wars. Which is why we cling to our King Sauls and our Samsons, big burly heroes that strike fear in our enemies, but who, in the end, always disappoint us. Chik-fil-A was just such a chicken champion. Big and powerful, a top three chain, clear which side they were on, until now. After years of bad press for not being on the left side of the sexual revolution, years that saw the chain experience enormous growth, the corporate office recently announced that it would no longer give to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or the Salvation Army. These two groups, as you might expect, are utter non-combatants in the revolution, but have had the bad taste to affirm their commitment to marriage. So yeah, like most Christians I’m disappointed, bummed, surprised. More than that, however, I find the whole thing baffling.

How did it come to pass that the corporate giving of a fast-food chain became news? Because somehow we’ve bought into the notion that who a company gives to somehow is a reason to either do business or not do business with them. The meta is cancel culture and I want out. Boycotts are more about virtue signaling than changing anything. It is clear that the left’s disdain for Mr. Cathy’s restaurants did them no damage. I suspect the coming disdain of the right will likewise do them no damage. The greatest danger in Chik-fil-a’s rearview mirror isn’t cultural warriors- it’s Popeye’s.

I am in complete agreement with the critics of the new policy. Neville Chamberlain apparently works in public relations in Atlanta. It’s bad enough to spin this move as, “We’re cutting off the Salvation Army and committing our resources to the hungry and homeless” but worse do so while claiming surrender as peace. It won’t begin to satisfy the left. Instead it will embolden them. It will anger the right. It is a clear sign that whoever is in charge of such things is Saul, not David. But choosing where to eat lunch is not a strategic maneuver in the culture wars. I will not lose a moment’s sleep over Chik-fil-a. I will, however, mark the date for more lines in the sand will be crossed, new lines drawn, only to be crossed. Goliath will continue to shout his insults at us, and we will continue to cower.

I’m not saying every Christian owned company needs to be on a crusade against homo jihad. I am saying that if Jesus is your chairman you tremble before Him, not pretenders to His throne. Chik-fil-a is free to do with its profits what it wishes. It now wishes to virtue signal to the left that they aren’t so bad after all. That’s a shame. But it is by no means unusual. We are a body of appeasers whose hunger for the world’s approval far outweighs our hunger for chicken sandwiches or our hunger for righteousness. Maybe what we need to do is not boycott Chik-fil-a but stand with and support FCA and the Salvation Army.