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Chick-fil-A is listed as one of the corporate sponsors of the "Level Ground Festival" in Pasadena that is billed as "the first faith based homosexual film and arts event."
What's going on?
Was the Cathy family misinformed, or is this an attempt to move to a more "neutral" social position?
Or did a franchisee of Chick-fil-A become a sponsor and use the Chick-fil-A name?
I called their corporate office in Atlanta yesterday.
I'll be talking more about this Chick-fil-A matter and some of yesterday's important election issues this morning on our live radio program. You may join me from anywhere in the world, live at 9 AM PST or the rebroadcast at 7:30 PM PST. Here's how.
I was personally surprised when I heard, then verified, that Chick-fil-A is actually listed as a sponsor of the "Level Ground Festival." It is, as advertised, "The first faith based homosexual film and arts" event.
The narrative of the organization is laced with New Age confusion, religious left interpretation of the Bible, and the deception of the homosexual movement.
The festival has grown exponentially over its two and a half year existence, boasting over 3,000 participants.
The organization is sponsored by a number of high visibility national homosexual advocacy groups, such as "The Advocate" and others.
The "Level Ground Festival" itself is sponsored by a number of local churches---First United Methodist and New Abby, a "New Age/ religious left-emerging church." Pasadena Hilton, Rule 29, Film L.A., Whole Foods, Los Angeles College of Music and others---including Chick-fil-A.
The festival says on their web site, "Level Ground values the role of our sponsors in fulfilling our mission to create a better, more civil world together."
Equality.
The festival's motto, or mission statement, is a version of Isaiah 40:3-5, after which the festival is named: "Every valley shall be raised up, and every mountain and hill will be flattened. The uneven ground will become level."
I researched the festival and the organization. It is new age, religious left-emerging church and under the guise of Scripture, an advocate of the homosexual agenda and lifestyle.
Yesterday afternoon I spoke by phone with the corporate office of Chick-fil-A.
"Run-a-round" would be an understatement. Eventually I was told a corporate officer would call me back tomorrow--which is today.
I was asking how the company can square their sponsorship of "Level Ground Festival" with the Christian testimony and strong beliefs in natural biblical, pro-marriage beliefs the Cathy family, who own the privately held company, has given repeatedly in very public settings.
I was told, "It is complicated."
As of the time this article was published, I have not received a call back from the Chick-fil-A corporate office.
We'll see.
Charlie Butts, writing for American Family Association's "One News Now," says others are asking the same questions.
This will continue as people become aware of what appears to be a very bad moral decision---by somebody.
It will also likely prove to be a very bad business decision for whomever made the decision.
Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people rallied behind the Cathy family when they were attacked by the homosexual community after public statements by Dan Cathy regarding his belief in natural, biblical marriage.
You may recall that Mike Huckabee went to the wall in support of the Cathy family and Chick-fil-A back in 2012 when leading homosexual activist organizations were trying to create a national boycott of the restaurant chain.
Chick-fil-A later reported they experienced, not a decline in business, but record setting levels in their already very successful business.
I have personally been an advocate of Chick-fil-A, pointing out Seattle Mayor Ed Murray's strong biased opposition to them based on their religious beliefs regarding marriage, while encouraging both readers and listeners to eat in their restaurants.
Has the Cathy family "evolved" and changed their beliefs? Or was this an ill advised attempt by an uninformed marketing "expert" at being a little more "inclusive?"
Or is it something else?
"The Advocate," the nation's largest homosexual newspaper, is telling the public, the Cathy family did not buy the sponsorship. They say the donation and sponsorship came from a franchisee of the Chick-fil-A in Nashville, Tennessee, not the company itself.
They say franchisees have the right to make decisions regarding local advertising.
But the Cathy family needs to address this publicly. I believe they will. There could be a statement out today.
If it is true that a franchisee, not the company, bought the sponsorship, I would think the Cathy family must take steps not to allow their good name to be used to promote immoral behavior--in the name of Christian compassion---and "leveling the ground" within Christianity so what God has condemned is now accepted, affirmed and celebrated under the guise of Christian inclusiveness?
That does not define the company Mike Huckabee and a whole lot of others, including me, have stood behind.
At best, this points out the need for the Cathy family to take another look at the franchisee agreements.
In the worst case, it could show the possibility of failing to take the proper stand for the Lord.
In either case, it reminds us of the ends to which the "evil one" will go to destroy righteousness. And those who stand for it.
And it reminds us of a truth that is sometimes lost in the conversation of the modern Christian church as it seeks to "relate" to a lost and broken world rather than to restore it through the power of God.
There is only one place where we truly find "level ground."
At the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is level ground.
Christ did not die to affirm perversion---but to forgive and deliver and restore us from our sins and addictions and bondage---because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
That place in front of the cross is already "level ground."
At the foot of the cross, "equality" has already been achieved---all may come. All are welcomed, all included, all may be free---"whosoever will."
All of us have sinned. All of us may be forgiven. All of us may be set free.
If today's Christian Church will preach the gospel and stand up for Jesus and skip the conversational narrative of "I'm okay,You're okay," the world will be changed.
And so will the culture. And the families and individuals within the culture.
God help us.