Chick-fil-a feeds people during Atlanta snowstorm

The Onion, a digital news satire organization, published the following spoof news article a few weeks ago.

January 3, 2014:
Local Church Full Of Brainwashed Idiots Feeds Town’s Poor Every Week
MACON, GA—Sources confirmed today that the brainwashed morons at First Baptist Assembly of Christ, all of whom blindly accept whatever simplistic fairy tales are fed to them, volunteer each Wednesday night to provide meals to impoverished members of the community. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in town who have fallen on hard times and are unable to afford to put food on the table, so we try to help out as best we can,” said 48-year-old Kerri Bellamy, one of the mindless sheep who adheres to a backward ideology and is incapable of thinking for herself, while spooning out homemade shepherd’s pie to a line of poor and homeless individuals. “It feels great to share our blessings with the less fortunate. Plus, it’s fun to work alongside all the members of our [corrupt institution of propaganda and lies] who come out each week.” As of press time, the brainless, unthinking lemmings had donated winter clothing they no longer wore to several needy families and still hadn’t opened their eyes to reality

During the SnowLanta crisis this week, The Onion's headline came true, sort of. The Universal Free Press published the following real news article this week:

Guess What Chick-Fil-A is Forcing on People Now!
As we can all recall, Chick-Fil-A was the center of controversy as they were accused of “forcing their religious views” on others when president Dan Cathy made his political leanings known regarding gay marriage. You’ll never guess what the once demonized business is now forcing on others now – FOOD. Yep, that’s right, food. According to Fox News, a local Chick-Fil-A came to the rescue as a rare snowstorm in the South left citizens stranded on icy interstates and highways, including Highway 280 in Birmingham, Alabama. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of the restaurant employees and owner, Mark Meadows, a good number of stranded motorists were able to find food and shelter from the storm.
Birmingham, Ala. Chick-Fil-A owner Mark Meadows (Courtesy Lauren Dango)
Stranded drivers were surprised by the free sandwiches and grateful for the hot meal. Why didn’t Chick-Fil-A choose to make some extra money during the storm? They had a captive crowd of customers, unable to go to another restaurant, so why did they choose to give the food away? Audrey explained, “This company is based on taking care of people and loving people before you’re worried about money or profit. We were just trying to follow the model that we’ve all worked under for so long and the model that we’ve come to love. There was really nothing else we could have done but try to help people any way we could.”

The world will never understand the Light that is in a Christian, but that is why it is so important to keep sharing it, no matter what the reaction. Serving humanity in the name of Jesus and through the Spirit will affect untold many, even if we don't see it. It is a revolutionary act.

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God
Creative Commons, "Feet" by stacyjeanxo
and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
(John 13:3-5)

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:12-17).

To trudge through the snow and hand out bags of food, to open a place of business and exchange no commerce but only offer for free, to sacrifice...these things are revolutionary. Love your enemy, slaves are brethren, Samaritans are good. These things are revolutionary because they are of Christ.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

Christ has set the example, as Gill's Exposition says,

For I have given you an example,.... Christ is an example to his people, in many things; not in his miraculous performances and mediatorial work, but in the exercise of grace, of meekness,
humility, love, patience, ...


Lord, give to me a servant's heart.
Flickr cc, by Kevin Dooley

Comments

  1. Chick-fil-a is awesome! CVS also did something recently that was praiseworthy, giving up $2 billion in annual sales in order to do the right thing: http://wisdomsreward.com/2014/02/cvs-makes-a-move-that-is-worthy-of-praise/

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