Editors, Patriot Post: In Brief: Where Do Christians Draw the Line?

By Patriot Post, June 20, 2023 (Sarah Holliday)

No company is perfect and we can’t boycott them all, so we need to figure out what that means in practice.

Bud Light, Target, and others have been in the news for doing what has become standard practice, especially in June: shoving the rainbow down our throats no matter what we want to buy. Obviously, that offends millions of Christians, but we can’t boycott every company with a rainbow flag in the window. The Family Research Council’s Sarah Holliday explores what that might mean.

As businesses like Target sell apparel for children with Satanist ties and Bud Light advocates transgenderism, believers naturally start to wonder: “Is it wrong for Christians to shop at stores run by sinners?”

This question was posed on a recent episode of the Outstanding Podcast with host Joseph Backholm and guests Jared Bridges and Suzanne Bowdey. The rise of corrupt ideologies sweeping over America is nothing new, but how do Christians determine whether boycotting is the right course of action?

The fact of the matter is that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. So, the better question may be: is it wrong for Christians to consciously give money to companies who use those dollars to support sinful practices? Throughout the discussion, Bridges and Bowdey share helpful insights in navigating this conundrum.

Holliday notes that Bowdey “advocates for boycotting.” Bowdey admits it’s “messy,” but it’s about stewardship for her own resources. Bridges agrees, acknowledging that while the reformers have a valid point, the Puritans serve as examples of Christians “who wanted to leave and go elsewhere.” Holliday continues:

Much of this discussion boils down to personal conviction. But, as Bowdey stated, “We are accountable for what we know. If I know that my money is going to be turned around and given to the Trevor Project or the Human Rights Campaign, and they’re going to use it to fund a war on God’s values, [I’ll have to answer for that].” Bridges lamented that many Christians don’t even take the time to think about these matters enough to have personal convictions.

… What is most important is to discern what best aligns with Jesus. At what point do you draw the line? What sacrifices are you willing to make for the sake of upholding Christian values?

1 Corinthians 10:31 states, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Christians have a call to live according to a biblical worldview — that is, in accordance with the Scriptures. Perhaps this discussion is hard to navigate. Perhaps the solution is not clear. What is clear is that we ought to glorify God in all we do. As Backholm put it, ask yourself this question: “Am I looking for excuses to do what I want to do, or am I trying to find a way to be more obedient to Jesus?”

Read the whole thing here.

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