Decency Advocates Urge Christians to Patronize Pro-Family Businessesby Ed Thomas
January 5, 2007
(AgapePress) - - The Michigan-based American Decency Association (ADA) has developed a "National Shopping List" of businesses that it says are Christian-based or family-friendly in their practices. At present, the list is short; but the cultural watchdog group says it's just providing a place to start for people all over the U.S., who should go on to make their own lists concerning businesses in their own communities.
ADA maintains notices on its website of corporate retail chains that sponsor indecent programming on television or support questionable causes. Ministry president Bill Johnson says with so many nationally known businesses out there, he feels it is important to make a priority of patronizing organizations that appear to have an acceptable, pro-family business approach.
In examining companies' business practices, Johnson notes, ADA looks at "the kinds of programs [on which] they advertise," as well as whether businesses are "staying away from the promotion of homosexuality, and so on." Some of the commendable companies that have been listed on the "shopping list" are Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A, and Bob Evans.
The watchdog group's spokesman says Christians need to investigate the companies with which they are considering doing business and should support those whose values are in line with the consumers' own. And, he warns, "I believe that it does sometimes mean that rather than getting a cheaper buy here, [you may end up] spending a little bit more over there."
But the important thing, Johnson adds, is "lining your dollars in a way that's honoring to God." Christians, he asserts, should be willing to make the sacrifice of a little higher price or a longer trip in order to be pleasing to God in their purchasing.
ADA's president encourages pro-family consumers to be proactive about investigating companies and letting others' know which are worthy of pro-family support. "We need to spread the word around, let other people know," he says, upon discovering "a place where we really ought to give our dollars."
Meanwhile, Johnson says, pro-family consumers should be aware of businesses that do not deserve patronage and "take our moneys away from places like [for example] Yum Brands, ... Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell and KFC." Such companies are among the corporate sponsors of all kinds of "trash," he contends. "We ought not to be giving our money to companies like that."
The ADA says its National Shopping List is unofficial, but it can still be a useful resource for Christians who want to honor God in the spending of their retail dollars. And, Johnson reiterates, the list can also be used as a model for pro-family shoppers as they compile their own local and regional shopping lists.
Ed Thomas, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
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