Christians, Boycott!

How can Christians bring about change in our world? Should we try to bring about change? Well, to that second one, I say yes, we should. For too long Christians have sat back and allowed institutions like education, the entertainment industry, and the media be dominated by non-Christians who perpetuate non-Christian values and mores. We have the ability to make change in this world and it is our obligation to exercise that ability.

However, we must do it within the bounds of the laws of our country. Those who blow up abortion clinics are not only violating civic law, but they are also going against God.

Romans 13:1-2 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

In this country, one of the best ways to bring about change is to vote with our pocketbooks.

75% of all Americans claim to be Christians. If only half of those, 37.5% of all Americans, boycotted a product because they wanted something changed, you can bet the company would change.

Okay, so who should Christians boycott? Well, for starters, I think Christians should boycott Hardees and PepsiCo.

Why Hardees? For several years now, Hardees has run advertisements that are blatantly sexually explicit and advertisements that demean, demoralize, and denigrate women. I’m sure you’ve seen the latest one. Sure, the target market is adult men. But, the ads are watched by children, teenagers, and young adults. What message is Hardees sending to these demographics? If their hamburgers are so good, do they really need such filthy ads to push them? Actually, I’m surprised some of the liberals haven’t raised more of a cry on this one. I would think the feminists would be having fits. I guess it just shows their hypocrisy as well.

PepsiCo is a harder one. This means no more Pepsi soda products, no more Pizza Hut (Ouch! That one hurts.) and no more Taco Bell, among other things. I’m struggling with this myself to the point where I forget. Last night I purchased a Cherry Pepsi from a vending machine without even thinking.

So, why PepsiCo? They give large amounts of money to homosexual advocacy groups. And Christian groups have repeatedly lobbied them to stop and instead they’ve increased their support. Therefore, when you purchase something from PepsiCo, you are indirectly supporting homosexuality, something that God detests.

By now you’re probably wondering what the Scriptural support for this is.

Let’s start with Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

And move onto 1John 2:15 – 17 - Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

In the passages above and the one below, “the world” means the world’s system. Things of man, not of God.

James 4:4 says “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

Here are some more verses directly referencing immorality.

1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

Ephesians 5:3 - But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

And here is God’s command regarding sexual immorality and impurity: Colossians 3:5 - Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

If you think sexual immorality only applies to adultery, fornication or physical sexual sin, think about these words from Jesus: Matthew 5:27 - You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jesus never said living the Christian life would be easy. Everyday we have to make a choice. Do I live for myself or do I live for God? As best as I can, I’m going to try and live for God. What about you?

By the way, don't just boycott, but send them a letter telling them why.