Farewell Chick-fil-A

For another perspective on the Chik-fil-A flap, read Jonathan Merritt's "Politics and Purchases"

I’ve been a fan of Chick-fil-A for a long time. Their food is always great, their service is impeccable (almost to the point of being a little creepy), and the restaurants are squeaky clean.

It’s not every day that you can enjoy a fast food restaurant where you actually feel like you’re putting something reasonably good for you in your body. Well, at least not as bad as some.

But the point is, I have always liked them. And if I like them, my wife, Amy is practically a Chik-fil-A disciple.

We’ve planned meals on the road around their locations. Sure, I’ve known Chik-fil-A was a Christian-based organization with some values that leaned farther right than my own, but I respected their business model and ethic. Plus, I’m used to having fellow Christians to my right.

And then I saw this video:

http://youtu.be/MlzQFChlltk

This makes me sad on two levels. For one, it always disappoints me when Christians come out in the public forum against an entire group of people. And although the LGBT community is the Christian Right’s favorite cultural pinata, I never had read or heard anything in particular about Chick-fil-A’s stance on traditional marriage. I had assumed — maybe because I wanted to — that they would know better than to put their personal theology and social values on display as a for-profit company.

But I was wrong.

The second sadness I have is more superficial and selfish, but I simply can’t bring myself to eat at a Chick-fil-A again. At least not until they take an equally public stance in favor of inclusion, equal rights, and affirmation of the sanctity of love of all stripes.

I showed the video to Amy, and upon it’s conclusion, she slapped her hands together, as if wiping off a layer of dirt. “Well,” she said, “that’s that. No more Chick-fil-A.”

I’ll miss your criss-cut fries most of all.

Christian Piatt is an author, editor, speaker, musician and spoken word artist. He is Director if Church Growth and Development at First Christian Church in Portland, Ore. Christian is the creator and editor of "Banned Questions About The Bible" and "Banned Questions About Jesus." His new memoir on faith, family and parenting is called "PREGMANCY: A Dad, a Little Dude and a Due Date."

Image: Ralf Juergen Kraft/Shutterstock.