I wonder if the homosexual community and its supporters fully realize what their actions are saying to a country where, according to a Gallup poll, nine out of 10 people believe in God.

Let’s just suppose that of these nine believers, seven or eight believe the Bible tells us how we should live. Of these, let’s say six or seven believe Jesus’ words and try to live by them. Then let’s, as Jesus did, reduce all that He said and the entire Bible message to one simple concept. You may have heard of it: Treat others the way you want to be treated, or perhaps as it is more familiarly known, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” What would that mean, in practical terms, if the aforementioned six of 10 decided to follow the homosexual lobby’s application of that principle? Am I to understand that the homosexual lobby desires that we do unto them as they are doing unto us? Well, let’s just take a peek at a couple of results. It would mean we should immediately and vociferously begin a campaign of negative stereotyping of homosexuals and their activities. We should use words like vicious, bigoted, intolerant, heterophobes to link them and their supporters to any crimes or negative antisocial behavior engaged in by any homosexual anywhere. We would not allow homosexuals, or their advocates, to speak about their lifestyle publicly without an immediate coordinated negative campaign against them. We should immediately call for boycotts and demonstrations against any corporation or public official who dares to support, or speak out in favor of, the rights of homosexuals to practice their lifestyle. The “do unto others” mandate also says, “Every time anyone, public official or private citizen, speaks up in support of equal rights for homosexuals, we opponents (as do they) should launch loud, raucous anti-homosexual demonstrations.” Mayors of cities, perhaps even governors and city councils, should deny licenses to any business that publicly supports homosexuality, since that is what several politicians are trying to do to Chick-fil-A for daring to support traditional marriage. Those cities opposing Chick-fil-A store openings are saying to a business that serves and treats everyone equally, “We don’t want you here, and we don’t expect you to do business, or to vacation, with us.” It is interesting to note that the demand for equality – the right to “be who you are and to practice your lifestyle freely” – does not apply to people who disagree with the homosexual point of view. According to their viewpoint, only the practitioners of alternate life styles are guaranteed the rights enumerated in the Constitution. Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are solely in the province of said practitioners. If you adhere to a different point of view (e.g. “Marriage should be between one man and one woman”), you are violating their rights and you are not permitted to hold such a viewpoint. Only people who support a particular nontraditional lifestyle are entitled to advocate their value system. Only same-sex marriage participants and advocates are entitled to freedom from discrimination and can declare pride in their particular lifestyle. A very good friend of mine, who is a Hollywood producer, said to me regarding the Chick-fil-A controversy:

This brings a whole new meaning to the term hypocrisy within my industry. We’ve got to remake “Dumb & Dumber”; only this time we can use our mayors and the president of the United States the way the few, proud and arrogant like to be used. What do the cities of Boston, Chicago and New York have in common? The answer is simple: They all put up their middle finger to every Christian in the United States. And they did this over a harmless chicken sandwich. I had no idea a simple fast-food meal could stir up so much commotion. I mean, the way it sounds, the Japanese got off easy with those two atomic bombs, compared to the danger of the cluck-cluck sandwiches. The Bible teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman. I didn’t write it; I am not that old. Every Christian should be outraged at the political correctness of these mayors. So I’ve got a wonderful idea, let us spread the word to every Christian: Refuse to vacation or do business in Boston, Chicago and New York because of their bigotry toward Chick-fil-A. Every American who supports real marriage, not marriages made up by the Muppets, should stand and be counted. As for Elmo, Big Bird and Oscar, they should be ashamed of themselves for opposing Chick-fil-A entering their cities. Actually, only Big Bird should be concerned; he could end up on a bun.

My friend has a point. Let us do unto them as they are doing unto us. I think I read somewhere that people vote with their feet. I know this may sound strange, but there are millions of people who have never been to Boston, Chicago or Walt Disney World Resort and I have heard no reports of severe withdrawals or deprivation syndrome. People can vote with their credit cards and checkbooks, as well. It doesn’t have to be a called-out deal – just every Bible-believing person quietly, via a nice polite email or regular letter, denounce them; then just as quietly, but firmly, boycott corporations like JCPenney, Starbucks, Kraft and Target. There are easily accessible and acceptable substitutes for such favorites as Oreos, Betty Crocker, Levi’s, Wheaties (are you kidding me?!), Home Depot, Microsoft and Pepsi, to name just a few. (Here’s a more extensive list.) One final note: At some point in the discussions, someone will invariably make the attempt to link the whole “homosexual rights” controversy to the civil-rights movement. So let’s play the old race card now and get it out of the way. Being against homosexuality is not remotely the same as being for racism. As a black born well before the civil-rights revolution, I can distinctly remember being publicly turned away for what I was, not what I did. Homosexuals are not publicly discriminated against because of what they are; the sole basis of their complaint is the demand that we all agree with what they do. If you choose to sit on a cactus, that is your business, but don’t expect me to accept that as normal. Finally, what you do in private is between you, your partner(s) and God. (By the way, He has an opinion on the matter, too – as in Sodom and Gomorrah. Might want to check that out, just in case.) And oh yeah, speaking of Big Bird and a bun – see you Aug. 1 at Chick-fil-A (and the week after that, and the week after that, except Sunday, of course). Can you imagine? They are closed on Sunday! How dare they interfere with my right to gorge on a spicy chicken sandwich deluxe with large fries, a diet lemonade and a large Icedream cup after church? Rank discrimination!

Ben Kinchlow
Ben Kinchlow is a minister, broadcaster, author and businessman. He was the long-time co-host of CBN's "The 700 Club" television program and host of the international edition of the show, seen in more than 80 countries. He is the founder of Americans for Israel and the African American Political Awareness Coalition, and the author of several books.