“A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs. The predominant usage in modern American English refers to persons hostile to those of differing race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, various mental disorders, or religion.” – Wikipedia
“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” – Jesus, John 7:7
This may be controversial. You may disagree with me; but I have read the articles. I have tried to examine both sides of the story. Now, let me throw in my two cents (and maybe a third).
Do you ever have to purchase supplies for your home or business such as , let’s say, lumber, lighting, plumbing, or painting products? If so, then you have probably made the choice to go to The Home Depot, at least once. You have to admit, they draw you in with the big, orange sign, don’t they? Well, you may also be aware that there are several other places you could go to purchase the same products. Home Depot is not the only shop in town. I would advise you to consider other options. Let me tell you why.
Wait, before I go any further, let me say that privately owned businesses have every right to decide how they want to spend their money, write their employee dress code rules, and to what degree they want to support a charity or cause. Therefore, it is perfectly fair that The Home Depot is taking advantage of every right available to them. With that in mind, because they are exercising their freedoms, I believe that it should be acceptable to exercise our free right to choose where to shop…especially if there is an option to shop at another business which does not promote gay marriage and the redefinition of traditional marriage.
Whoa now, partner! Get off that sawhorse!
Am I saying that everyone should stop patronizing The Home Depot because they treat homosexuals with equality? No, of course not. What I am saying is that everyone who believes that marriage, as defined by the Bible and current social norms, not to mention natural observation (yeah, I’ll stand by that), should exercise their privilege to shop at places that don’t, as a matter of company policy, stand at odds with said beliefs, norms, and observations. The Home Depot is NOT a neutral player in the current culture war. So, if you believe that there comes a time when one must take a side, The Home Depot has provided the rainbow-colored fence.
Oh, you may say that if I am going to take the stance of not shopping at The Home Depot, then I might as well stop shopping anywhere for anything, right? What company does not involve itself with homosexuals? Few, I would imagine. Sadly, there is evidence that multiple companies with which I have to do business support LGBT events and market advertising towards gays and lesbians. Coke was one of two “Rainbow” sponsors (the other was Bud Light) at the 2010 Gay Pride parade in Atlanta. Suntrust bank was a minor sponsor, also (at least they provided t-shirts to one group in the parade). Then there was Ford who, in 2005, produced an add for gays, then pulled it, then reinstated it a week later. If I were to disassociate myself from every company that had anything to do with homosexuals I would have to dig a hole and live in it. I understand that. In this case, however, with The Home Depot, I am choosing to draw a line. Why, because more than just trying to make a buck, as typical companies, The Home Depot has more in mind.
Recovering Legalist Teaching Moment Alert!
I understand that not everyone will choose to do what I do. Each person must feel convicted in his own heart about such
decisions. Some may have family members that work at The Home Depot and have families to support. It would be foolish to ask them to walk off their job, especially if they felt God put them there. Sometimes people have to purchase items from places which aren’t the perfect choice. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do – that is what grace is all about.
The legalist would say that if you now know that all these places give money to gay organizations, you should never give them your patronage. If you do, they would argue, you would be committing sin and risk banishment. Grace doesn’t work that way. At times, the only good decision is the one that is better than the other – neither may be perfect. Sometimes you may have to get your water from a bar. One day you may find yourself having to “eat the showbread” from the temple (1 Samuel 21:4-6). All God asks is a heart and mind that seeks after Him first. To Him only do His slaves answer.
Now, back to the main article.
For a while now, The Home Depot has been very involved in supporting the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) lifestyle. Recently, The Home Depot has financially and materially supported numerous Gay Pride parades and activities* (see links below); the most controversial being the youth activity tents. Hey, “go for it,” I say! Support whoever you want, Home Depot! But guess what, I support the defense of traditional marriage and the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. If you, El Depot, are going to choose to actively support and encourage a lifestyle that actively seeks to destroy the culture and belief system I defend, I am going to choose to go elsewhere. Choice works both ways (I just don’t GO both ways). I don’t want your version of plumbing.
If The Home Depot wants to provide new closets to replace the ones the gays “came out” of, then hey, that’s the way the rainbow arches. However, I can decide where I want to spend the gold at the end of my rainbow. If you want to allow some employees to decorate their aprons with slogans and emblems which offend the God of heaven, while denying others the right to wear a pin which says “One Nation Under God,“* then I don’t want to give my dollars, with the prohibited slogan printed on them, to help you. Thanks, but no thanks.
God has made me a steward of His gifts. He has given me the ability to work and earn an income. He has called me to be a witness and an example of His mercy and grace. But because He has made me a steward, it is my responsibility to use His money (it all belongs to Him) in such a way that reflects His holiness. Because of this, I don’t think He would be pleased with me using His money to support, almost directly, the destruction of the family, as HE defines it, by supporting gay and lesbian causes championed by Home Depot.
You know, we do live in a fallen, sinful world.
It would be impossible to totally remove ourselves, as Christians, from every aspect of life that rubs shoulders with things we object. We have to choose our battles, though. We may have to eat at places that sell alcohol to drunks. We have to get help at hospitals that have to perform abortions. We put fuel in our cars that probably came from Christian-killing, Muslim sheiks in Saudi Arabia. We buy clothes from the same manufacturers who’s designers are probably ALL gay. So, we can’t totally get away with boycotting everything – but we can make smarter choices. We could choose to pay more and buy local, for one thing. All I am saying is pick one battle, at least. Then, pray the prayer of Peter Marshall:
Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for — because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.
Check out the links below to find out more on this subject. Feel free to check out both sides of the story, too. But do this: If you are a Christian, or if you care about TRUE fairness and equality in the workplace, then let your voice be heard on this subject, and others like it. Don’t sit back and think that it is going to go away or get better. There is a battle going on out there for the hearts and minds of future generations. The LGBT crowd is doing all they can to become mainstream and accepted by all, regardless of religious or personal convictions. While there is still hope, take a stand, bear your cross. If you need the wood to build one, well, why not go to Lowe’s? Heck, “Ace is the place with the helpful hardware person,” and that should be enough.
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another…” – the Apostle Paul, Letter to the Romans, Chapter 1
*Links for your further consideration:
The American Family Association’s take on the matter. http://action.afa.net/item.aspx?id=2147496231
Change.org’s (Gay Rights) opinion. http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/home_depots_pac_gives_liberally_to_anti-gay_politicos_dont_tell_the_afa
The Home Depot’s own words (see Affinity Groups). https://careers.homedepot.com/cg/content.do?p=diversity
The Recovering Legalist 