Burger King and Starbucks

Around July of this year, a local Burger King in the U.S. launched a limited edition "Proud Whopper" that fuelled a controversy about the company's promotion of homosexual behavior and gender equality.

About a week ago, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz adamantly reaffirmed his company’s support for same-sex marriage, saying that shareholders can sell their stocks if they are only in favor of biblical marriage.

OK, so what is the big deal?

First of all, I am not homophobic. I have had gay and lesbian friends since early childhood. Study finds that homosexuality is only partly genetic with sexuality mostly based on environmental and social factors, scientists believe. Biblically, a homosexual orientation is a result of the fall of humanity into a sinful condition that pervades every person (Romans 3:23). I am describing here, as best as I can, the condition of being a homosexual (noun) – not any kind of homosexual act (verb). Therefore, a homosexual is characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex.

I believe that sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex is a sin. I believe that trying to involve God in this sinful union by getting married is even worse. Reproduction (or procreation) is the biological process by which new "offspring" individual organisms are produced from their "parents". Reproduction is a fundamental feature of all known life; each individual organism exists as the result of reproduction. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Whether scientifically or biblically, sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex does not seem normal and will certainly not produce any children. Whether biologically or spiritually, only a unification between a man and a woman is truly necessary.

I may have doubts about my faith at times, and that is a part of my journey as a Christian, but I am not in favor of same-sex marriage, or bestiality or abortion or murder or suicide, etc. I do not even have time to research the statistics or discuss the repercussions of homosexuality, but I will say it again: I am not in favor of same-sex marriage.

By writing this, I am not encouraging anybody to boycott any company that supports sinful behavior such as homosexuality or abortion. I am not even remotely popular or influential to do that. It's really just that, I strongly feel I have a moral obligation not to be an advocate of things that are sinful in the eyes of God whom I worship. I think endorsing behavior which the Bible disapproves only dishonors God.

There is hope for homosexuals and humanity in general. If I could see my homosexual friends now, I would be glad to speak to them about God's great love and mercy, and why we all need God. Jesus Christ offers a healing alternative in which the power of sin is broken and freedom is gained by the person who experiences his or her true identity in Christ. Romans 8:1 lovingly says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

My faith in God and my understanding of this serious issue might just be a grain of sand on the beach of knowledge of CEOs, stockholders, activists, politicians, civil rights movements and world leaders. This topic is very complicated and painful for me to write about, but for now all I can really say is, Goodbye, Burger King. Goodbye, Starbucks.