For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
James Kraft
As christians we always seem to go to far one way or the other. Many christians believe that using tobacco or alcohol is sin. (although the bible does not teach that). Never the less, if you boycott places that sell them you would have to quit buying groceries as almost all grocery stores sell them. You could also not work in one.
I have money in a k401 plan with the company I worked for and have no choice in what it is invested in. I do not believe I am in bondage to take it out. Others may dissagree.
A church I use to go to picketed a new porn store that moved to town. They said they prayed about it and the store would be gone in a month. That was 10 years ago and the store is still there.
We have to remember that our ways are not His ways, and His ways are not our ways. Everything we pray and hope for must be in His will not ours.
We cannot change the world. Only God can change people from the inside out. Buy what ever you need or want wherever you want, and leave it to the Lord for the rest. We are not under bondage on such matters.
One other thing is that some christians do picket places and boycott them, and it becomes a source of pride and self-righteousness. That is a sin in itself.
Walt Pryor
The question is really about our character. Are we Good People by the standards God? Do we know Right from Wrong? Are we able to discern what is Righteous and what is not Righteous? I think most of us have enough wisdom to support what is Godly and what is not Godly.
This is hard for Believers of God because the Bible is all about Salvation and a Personal Relationship with God. But that relationship is based on knowing evil from righteousness!
Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Law who will be declared righteous.
Should we ignore evil? What is evil? Does the Bible say anything about Good and Evil? Should we just ignore what is harmful to people?
Matthew 5:15
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
This light is our actions in supporting God and His Word. Yes, even though the Bible does not directly mention being politically active. The Bible doesn't have to talk about this. We should know! We should have the character to know.
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how
can it be made salty again?
1John 3:12
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brothers were righteous.
What happens to people when Christians do nothing or very little to change the World?
What about abortion? What about the spread of sexual diseases? Are we Christians giving tacit approval of these acts by our silence? Is life precious in the eyes of God? I think so.
As Christians, we should do everything we can to support God's standards. We should do all we can do peacefully to preserve life.
We cannot ignore evil and pretend we are serving God.
Danny Hickman
Mr Pryor I'm still waiting for you to say what we are to do to stop the practice of "abortion and the spread of sexual diseases."
We were told what our mission is: read Matt 28: preach the gospel, make disciples of the nations, baptizing...
Nothing is said about boycotting in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I'm not saying that I as a citizen of the United States won't get involved with a boycott. I will. But it'll be because of politics, not religion. The church as a body should not meet for political reasons. I'm a part of the church and I support liberal political causes. Others who are part of the church support conservative political causes. A house divided cannot stand. Mk 3:25
Nothing divides like political views. I have to pray about praying for the current president. My prayer life will get easier when he is no longer in office. God loves him, so I'm expected to love him too. It's not easy. It takes lots of quiet time with the Lord to get in the right mindset to ask God to bless what this man is part of. Politics is poisonous to praise.
It's like what James kraft said; if you start boycotting businesses for "religious" reasons you'll come out better if you just become a mennonite or some other faith that has nothing to do with secular society.
Danny Hickman
Mr Pryor,
There are 4 words that are summarily ignored in Matthew 5 concerning the Law. You quote Romans 2 that says doers, not hearers only of the Law, will be justified. Then I say to you that no one will be justified by keeping the Law (Romans 3:20) The just are justified by faith (in Jesus fulfilling / keeping the Law on their behalf) Gal 3:11.
Jesus preached that He didn't come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. (Remember that, He came to fulfill the Law) "Until Heaven and Earth pass away not one iota of the Law will pass from the Law UNTIL ALL IS ACOMPLISHED (Matt 5:18)
Those 4 words are not under a bushel but are on a lampstand, and they give light to all who are in the house. Jesus either fulfilled the Law or He didn't. He either lived out the dictates of the Law on behalf of those who believe in Him or He didn't. Believers say He did. So believers believe ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED. So believers believe that He "made us alive with Him, having forgiven [us] all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it away, having nailed it to the cross (Col 2:13,14).
Believers touting a return to law keeping FOR JUSTIFICATION is a big problem to the gospel. The gospel says to the world (who some of us want to separate from by boycott and other such divisive practices) Come to Me all who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28). He is the Way, not the Law.
James Kraft
There are a lot of things to consider. What about these companies that may have believers working for them? Should they leave that company?
Some believe that even working in a grocery store that sell tobacco and beer should leave and find another job. Neither of which is in the bible by the way. Colossians 2:13.
When you go to the hospital for surgery, do you ask if the surgeon and all those attending the surgeon are believers?
When your house is on fire, do you ask the fireman if He is a believer before he try's to put out the fire?
The truth is we are all sinners. First John 1:8. The only difference between us and them is John 3:18.
God hates our sin, but He loves sinners so much He paid the sin debt of everyone in the world so that sinners could be saved. First John 2:2. John 3:16.
So it is up to believers how we interact with the world.
The one thing we know we are to do is preach the gospel in season and out of season so others can be brought into the kingdom.
First Corinthians 15:1-4 That Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that He was buried and rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures.
First Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us who are saved it is the POWER OF GOD. First Corinthians 1:21 For after that, by the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
It was the Pharisees who rejected Jesus as their Messiah who trusted in them selves and looked down on everyone else.
Matthew 7:21-23 Only those that have done the will of His Father in heaven are saved. John 6:40, and John 6:29. John 3:18.
If you over think all these things it will drive you crazy. We can not tell if another person has trusted Jesus as their savior or not by how they are living or what they do.
You cannot see the Holy Spirit who is our guarantee of eternal life in another person. Ephesians 1:13-14. Ephesians 4:30.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, and we all sin, First John 1:8, and we all die, but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You cannot tell a book by its cover, and you cannot tell a believer from an unbeliever by how they live or what they do.
John 3:18. So if you want to boycott a business because of their promotion of sinful activities, it is up to you. But no matter what we do, we cannot keep from helping unbelievers.
I worked for an athiest for years. Joseph was second in Egypt next to Pharaoh.
Personally, That might work on the local level. As Paul said. If a believer is living in sexual sin, First Corinthians 5:5, then we are not even to associate with them.
We can warn them that God does chasten his children. Born again believers. But you cannot tell another person what to do. And God may just take them home before their time. First Corinthians 3:15. They are saved but will have no rewards in heaven. John 3:18.