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NASB | John 17:15 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 17:15 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. |
Bible Question:
As I was surfing the web one day, I came across an invitation to join in on a boycott. It was reported that a big company was planning on supporting the Olympic games for homosexuals and lesbians. The person, or organization, suggested that we, as Christians, should boycott this company that was supporting this event. It sounded like a good idea to me. I have been thinking about this for sometime now. The conclusion I came to is we daily face the possibility of supporting and propagating the promotion of things that do not fit who we are in Christ. We give our money to purchase a product or service. The businesses we patronize maintain operations with the support we provide. Many of the corporate organizations partake in and promote ungodly practices for greedy monetary gain. Below is a list of examples of products/services and unchristian practices: 1. Cable or satellite television services--unacceptable language/violence/porn 2. Theaters and movie rental stores----gratuitous language, sex and violence 3. Grocery stores----tobacco products and alcoholic beverages 4. Super centers----products from foreign countries (possible sweatshops) (support of foreign people serving false gods) 5. Postal and parcel services---porn and ungodly items are shipped daily 6. Any foreign material products; automobiles, electronics, household items, ect. -----possible sweatshops and support of foreign people serving false gods 7. Internet services---promote unchristian ideas and products, gives access porn and other unacceptable practices I thought I had resolved this issue within myself. I thought "I give my money to them. What they do with it is between God and them". This idea was short lived. I thought again "But, if I know for sure that this company I am supporting is practicing ungodly deeds, then it is unchristian of me to do so". Ok, here, finally, are my questions: Is there any merit to what I have thought through and concluded? If so, then how is a Christian to survive in this world without supporting those who are going against God's guidelines? |
Bible Answer: brazos: There is no Scripture of which I'm aware that teaches by example or precept that the way to lead the lost to Christ is through the use of boycott. One may easily infer that the apostles and the members of the apostolic church conducted necessary business transactions with non-Christian members of the communities of the first century. ...... Should a Christian who needs to purchase a loaf of bread or a bottle of milk deprive his family of vital nourishment because the baker and the dairyman are non-Christians? Does he sin when he pays the baker and the dairyman for goods received? How effectively does he witness for Christ by boycotting the baker and dairyman? Is he really being salt and light? ...... When Jesus said, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's (Matthew 22:21), He was speaking of paying taxes, of course. He laid down a principle in broad strokes, but He did not stipulate that one must necessarily agree to or approve of every expenditure the government makes using his money. There is no earthly reason why this principle that our Lord laid down could not be applied to money that we pay for goods and services. If you buy a product or engage a workman, you are duty bound to pay for the product or service. You are no longer accountable for what use the money you pay is put once you have discharged your duty to pay for what you received. It is no longer your money and you are no longer its steward. ...... Jesus laid it down in His Great Commission to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19). He said nothing about boycotting their businesses. Paul's charge to Timothy was "Preach the word!" (2 Timothy 4:2). And that remains the duty of the church still, to preach the gospel of Christ. That is our mission. It is not to boycott or coerce. These things don't bring anyone to Christ; they are not the power of God to salvation. But Paul tells us what is in Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." ...... When Paul came to Corinth, did he have boycott on his mind? Let's let him answer that question himself: "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2) ...... Yes, brazos, what you say is true, the web is full of petitions to sign pledging boycotts against this or that company or organization -- all of them sponsored by individuals and groups that probably have honorable motives, and all of them in the name of Christianity. But I've endeavored in this post to raise the question of whether this is the scripturally-correct way to spread the message of Christ's church, to lead the lost to Christ, and to glorify God. Is the mission of the corporate church and of the individual Christian to promote boycotts or preach the gospel of Jesus Christ? Boycotts don't have the power to save a single soul. The gospel is God's power to save everyone who believes. --Hank |