Friday, August 3, 2012

Thoughts on hate (Kristine)

I've been debating for a while to post anything regarding Chick-Fil-A. There's SO much out there. I think it's sad that there's so much hate on both sides of the opinion. It also makes me wonder, do you really know what the CEO's or owners of your favorite organizations believe in? I would bet most people don't and would be shocked as well at most opinions out there in this world. Yet does it stop us from enjoying their products, most times not.

I say stop the hate. Hating someone for believing in something you don't will not change their mind about anything. Yelling at them, taunting them or writing horrible things about them will not make them want to see your point of view. Instead it will make them want to run as far away as possible from it. There's hating on both sides of this issue. I think instead of despising someone for thinking different, it's important to take a step back and actually listen to their side of the story. Give them a listening ear of compassion versus a fist of hate.  Get to know where they are coming from. Get to know their history and maybe try to understand why they have their point of view. It's the better path to understanding and the better path to peace.

As a Christian, I do believe that Jesus befriended and had compassion on many people, whether they agreed with how he taught or not. In Mark 12:30-31 Jesus talked about the two greatest commandments. The first was "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (v 30) "..the second is this, love your neighbor as yourself."  In this country there's a lot of self-love and we get offended VERY easily. Jesus called us to first love God, but to also love each other.

I don't know the head of Chick-Fil-A. I've never eaten their food but I've heard it's rather tasty. I think he does have a right to express his views as everyone else in this country does. How people react to those views is their choice. I think we should start listening before we start swinging our fists or trying to shock each other to believe in what we do. I challenge every one of you reading this to think about how you react and maybe try to listen, if you pray please pray, and have a conversation with either side before immediately hating.

Love,
Kristine Reed