Christians love boycotts. Somehow we have come to equate moral superiority with boycotting. Let an individual, institution, or industry oppose something important to us, and, immediately we call for boycotts.
Maybe it’s time to rethink our penchant for boycotts. Could it be that we might win a battle with a boycott but lose the greater eternal, spiritual war? Maybe the time has come to boycott boycotts.
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Four Reasons We Should Rethink Boycotts
1. Jesus’ example.
I cannot remember a time in the New Testament when Jesus boycotted. In fact I remember reading about a few times He went places boycotted by the religious superstars of His day.
He dined in the homes of at least two tax agents for the loathsome Roman Emperor. Matthew and vertically-challenged Zacchaeus both felt the scorn of the religious folks in Jesus’ day.
Jesus hung out with prostitutes and adulteresses. He befriended the ceremonially unclean, socially outcast, and spiritually broken. He didn’t condone their sinful behavior, but He didn’t boycott them either.
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2. Culture’s need.
We usually feel the temptation to boycott those people and places who stand in contrast to what we believe. How will they ever believe, though, if we withdraw from them. They have a clearer path to redemption with our loving investment in their lives.
The humanist in Starbuck’s needs to hear about Jesus from us. We can’t share Jesus if we boycott.
The employees of Target need to see the love of Jesus. They can’t see Him in us if we aren’t there.
The cashier at the store that sells beer and lottery tickets will need answers when her life falls apart. We can’t point her to the answer in Jesus if we refuse to go in the store.
Jesus didn’t come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners. If we refuse to lovingly interact those who need Him, how can we share Jesus with them?
3. Our testimony.
Do you refuse to allow people who work at the places you boycott to come to your church? Of course not. You not only allow them to come, you invite and encourage them to come. At least, I hope you do.
“I want you to come to my place, but I would not dare come in your place” is stark hypocrisy. I am afraid our culture identifies us more by what oppose than by Who we represent. They know us more as people against them than people who love them and want to introduce them to Jesus.
Why should they listen to our message about Jesus if we want nothing to do with them at their level?
4. Unintended consequences.
Sometimes, actions we intend for noble purposes yield counter-productive results. In the process of making our point, could we possibly cause greater harm in another area?
The economic impact of a boycott may cause innocent people to lose jobs that provide for their family. That innocent person may even attend our church. If they don’t, our boycott will ensure they never will.
The reputation of a boycotting church may hinder that church’s evangelistic efforts. Sometimes we unnecessarily close doors through which we can share Jesus.
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A Greater Good
I understand that sometimes we have to “draw a line in the sand” against the moral decay of our time. But that line must always be drawn over issues and not individuals. We cannot sacrifice an opportunity to share the Gospel on the altar of boycotting.
Please understand, I am not saying we should compromise Biblical teaching or heartfelt convictions. We cannot cave into to sin and be salt of the earth. However, we can state our case for right without voluntarily cutting off ourselves from those who need Jesus.
Paul made it his aim to be all things to all men so that by all means he might win some. Instead of limiting our interaction with those outside of our faith, let us look for ways to make ourselves more accessible.
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