Beauty and the Boycott

Beauty & The Boycott:

Okay…Deep Breath…Here we go!
I find the whole boycott Disney thing so ridiculous. I really do. On the other hand, I can see why folks are all jacked up about it. But here is my take, not that anybody asked for it, but here it is none the less.

If people who are claiming to be Followers of Jesus are willing to boycott Disney, why do they keep spending thousands of dollars for their kids to enjoy the parks and films? Why do we keep ESPN and faithfully watch SportsCenter? Why do we watch Good Morning America? Here are a few companies that you may not know to be part of the Disney Family of Companies: Lucas Films (think Star Wars), Pixar (think Cars & Cars 2), Marvel Entertainment (think Iron Man & Captain America),  Touchstone (think Bridge of Spies, Lincoln & The Help), ABC (Think 20/20, Modern Family & Good Morning America), A&E (think Duck Dynasty), ESPN (think Monday Night Football), The History Channel (think American Pickers), and there are plenty more. But hey, it’s pretty easy to get all whacked out about Lefou! (You really didn’t think he might have been gay in the original animated film?)

Why are we so selective about what we want to scream about? Are we willing to also praise Disney for the decades of great entertainment? Are we going to thank them for hosting Disney’s Night of Joy, which hosts tens of thousands of Christians and bands like Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Crowder, and plenty more?

Come on, folks? At what point did Christians develop such venom and hypocrisy in America? We call for boycotts, but too often, don’t really know what or why we are boycotting.

I listened to a TED Talk yesterday from a young woman that grew up in the hate-filled, angry lynch-mob better known as Westboro Baptist Church. I am pleading with you to listen to and watch this 15-minute talk on how and why she got out.

You may feel that it’s your spiritual job, or even calling to shout, scream, picket, or hate other people. But with all I am, I do not believe that is the message of The Christ. I refuse to believe that the Divine’s highest calling on our lives is for us to spew venom and hatred to anybody!

When Jesus speaks of our desire to point out someone else’s  sin, He is perfectly Waterford Crystal clear that we are first called to address our own sin. To hide behind the statement “love the sinner and hate the sin” is so easy to state. I’ve discovered that we should drop that mantra and replace it with “hate my own sin so that I might love others well.”

Listen, folks. I’m probably more conservative than you are, but I continue to grow in the understanding that I have more than enough sin and selfishness in my own life to keep me busy, don’t you? In a season of American polarization and segregation, why can’t we, as Followers of Jesus first choose to work on our own hearts, minds, and souls to love God, and love others as we love ourselves?

In the TED Talk mentioned earlier, Megan Phelps suggests these four things to check-up on our love, hate, and motivation meters. Again, I urge you to listen/watch Megan by clicking HERE.

1. Don’t Assume Bad Intent. Assuming ill motives will end our opportunity to introduce our faith and the life-altering love of Jesus. I sincerely doubt that Lefou is part of a worldwide “Gay Agenda.”
2. Ask Questions. You might be right, but we must learn to convey a willingness to listen and hear rather than proving our position in anger.
3. Stay Calm. We often allow our “rightness” give liberty to our “rudeness.” At that point, the opportunity to live Jesus with others has stopped. Often finished with our tone and decibel levels.
4. Make Your Case. Paul explicitly directs each Follower of Jesus to be able to “have a reason and understanding for why you believe.” Terminal certainty, even when that confidence is fully correct and biblical, must always be personal, not corporate. Loving, not hate-filled. Kind, not angry. And lived, not just talked (or in this case screamed).

As the Divine directs, “let us not grow weary in doing good.” But I guess that depends on your definition and understanding of “GOOD.”

Seek Peace today and if you’re not sure where to start, try clicking  HERE.

Peace, AChuck