Patronizing Vendors with Alternate Lifestyles

Maybe it is a concern if you consider your purchase somehow a "show of support". In some small way, I suppose it is, but if you are getting value for the money, then it is more or less (IMO) a product you purchased and worth the money, no matter who you buy it from and less a "show of support". I don't consider myself "not showing support" when I choose to walk past a store without going in. I just think "I don't need anything today". If I buy something at an inflated price in order to give them extra money (like Christian school candy bars), then that, to me, is a "show of support."

If there were two equal items and I wanted one of them, I'd probably choose to purchase from the one who is a Christian (if I knew it). However, apart from that, I'm not about to go about deciding who is the worst sinner and needs to be avoided. I am not sure how you can begin to be consistent in your application.

But of course, if you want to show care and concern even though you don't buy from them, then go ahead. Think how nice it might be to get a chance to befriend them and possibly leave a testimony, however, due to your presence as a customer. If someone is openly antagonistic to God, I'm not sure what I'd do. I'd probably avoid their booth altogether unless I was feeling a bit feisty myself.

I would not support someone who abused their ife. Ever.

Seriously, I don't consider being a customer to be 'contributing' to someone's sinful lifestyle. I find that patronizing the local farmer's market, craft store, and hair salons gives me an opportunity to connect with and witness to the lost. I would probably never otherwise have the opportunity to witness to my hairdresser Karen- we live very different lifestyles, and where else am I going to talk to her- unless of course I do it the old-fashioned way, which is to knock on her door and ask her if she knows where she'd go if she died.

If I have a choice between two similar vendors, I don't pick one if he or she is a "Christian" rather, if they hold to views closest to mine with regard to establishment principles which means there are plenty of non-Christians that hold to appropriate principles of establishment. But usually our family reserves this for substantial purchases such as a house, car, major appliances (and then we select a sales person we desire to benefit), and home repair/remodeling, so that the profit is directed toward supporting those like us, hence helping sustain and expand, through indirect financing, a society more reflective of establishment principles, thus benefiting our family and our community. So I cannot say on every dollar spent such a detailed audit is made but sometimes it is and sometimes to a much lesser degree. For example we eat at a certain restaurant that has superior service and good food, which is exactly what they should have, thus we eat there often because I want that restaurant rewarded. As well we get sandwiches from 1 of 3 local Quiznos because the owner insist the service is excellent with well mannered employees. It is an extra 3 miles but worth the drive to reward that business.

My point is many (though not on this thread) seem differentiate between drunkards and homosexuals (male and female).

Susan,

You have a valid and thoughtful message in your recollection.

Thanks.

Is it just me, or does anyone else not really know the people you buy products from? The only person I know is my barber, and that is only b/c I go to my wife's salon and see the same one every time. But when I went to Great Clips, I had a different person every time.

I agree with Susan on this one.

I would also suggest we look to Christ's example while he was on Earth. He did not discriminate against those who lived in sin. In fact He seems to seek them out intentionally. So my feeling would be that we live our lives with love toward others and use any opportunity to show them the love and grace of Christ in our own lives through our words and deeds.

We should avoid confusing cultural and Biblical criterions for sinfulness. Sin is sin because it "misses the mark" of Christ's righteousness, not because we may find it distasteful. In this respect, homosexuality is no more or less sinful than adultery, lying, or blasphemy. In much of fundamentalism and broader evangelicalism we err by denying compassion to homosexuals because our culture finds it worse than other sins. This reflects poorly on who we say our Christ is.

Let me give you a personal example. My Christian high school had an annual retreat to a Christian camp for the senior class. One night during that trip the boys and the girls split up to have separate testimony/confession times. In the guys meeting we had a wonderful time of confessing sin toward each other, laying our sin burdens at the Cross, and exulting in Christ. A guy would get up and say, "I need to ask Tim's forgiveness for always picking on him." Another kid would say, "I need to confess my struggle with pornography so I can get your help with accountability." But then one of the guys stood up at the microphone and said, "I struggle with feelings for other guys." The room became dead silent. The mood changed. We all became really uncomfortable.

That night we did a disservice to a brother in Christ. Looking for help and friendship, he had confessed a sin that was no worse than ours. Yet we gave him the cold shoulder, whispered about him behind his back from then on, and rebuffed his plea for support. We need to live conscious that we each are the "chief among sinners." We are to be conduits of God's grace to one another and yet we who deserve justice instead withold mercy.

I agree that one "White" lie is all that it takes to doom a person, I'm not so sure I agree that all sin is the same.

Jhn 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power [at all] against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Notice the Lord did not say that Pilate did not sin. He did say that "he that delivered" hath the "Greater sin"

Again, I know and understand that as far as salvation goes, All have sinned. And so are under the same condemnation. But the Bible says

Exd 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it [is] abomination.

Lev 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it [is] confusion.

Lev 20:12 And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood [shall be] upon them.

Lev 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.

And then there are other sins

Lev 19:11 ¶ Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.

Notice these are not called abomination or confusion and as far as I can tell, people were not put to death for them.

So there are big and little sins. And while I understand the point being made I don't agree with whats was offered in Jay's post

"After they left, he raged to God about their wicked lusts, and then God smote him about his own wicked heterosexual lusts and what they looked like in God's own sight, rhetorically asking if Harris was really any different from the gays in God's eyes."

Some or most of you will likely not agree but I say it is quite clear that there is difference in the two types of lust. I find it hard to believe that any one of you would think it a sin to lust for your wife or husband ( as long as it is not a same sex marriage ) But to lust for someone of the same sex ? Is it EVER not a sin ?

And while there are examples of heterosexual lust that may be just as wicked, The point remains. And I think we as Christians should draw lines. Notice I did not say point fingers. But where does this "PC" way of thinking end ? Do we end up with husband and husband teams standing in the pullpit ? Or a man who has his son's wife ? And if we end up allowing that how can we say no to a letter carrying member of "Nambla" ?

This isn't to say we aren't to witness to them. But should there not be lines drawn ?

And what about big companys that openly support gays etc ? Is it ok to do business with them ? ( I am thinking of a big Communications company that did just that a while back )

I agree with much of what Susan has been saying - it is important to realize that we live in a fallen world and that we can't expect unsaved people to act in the same ways that we do. They have no reason to. That being said, it does not, for this discussion, matter whether or not homosexuality is worse than other sins. They're not Christians; they are already damned. It is our responsibility to them to show them that we love them, and we want what's best for them, which means belief in Christ for the remission of sins and also helping them in the here and now. People don't usually feel that you care about them as an entire person (body and soul) too much, if you're not willing to pay attention to their physical needs. To be clear: I am not saying to help support someone's business who does a bad job - that's not really helping them as a whole person - but we should support good businesses and get to know the people who serve us. I think it's pity that most Christians don't bother to be friendly with the people who serve them in grocery stores or restaurants or hair salons. If you actually take the time to notice someone, it will surprise you how often you see them, and it gives you a context within which to strike up a conversation again when you happen upon them in some other place.