Florida Megachurch Removes Pepsi Machines Over Gay Sponsorships
- Posted on September 14, 2009
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- (62) comments
According to Tampa Bay Online:
The last of 10 Pepsi vending machines were wheeled out the door this week at Bell Shoals Baptist Church and replaced with Coke machines, but the switch wasn't spurred by a taste test.
Terry Kemple, a member of Bell Shoals Baptist and president of the Community Issues Council, said the church's decision to boycott Pepsi products came after months of failed discussions with the soft drink company.
The council, formed "to promote and protect Judeo-Christian values" according to its Web site, and church officials asked the soft drink company to curb its support of groups, events and legal issues that "oppose traditional family values," Kemple said.
The company, Kemple said, sponsors major gay pride parades and events across the country.
"This year, they pumped millions of dollars into organizations that opposed California's same-sex marriage ban, Proposition 8," he said. "There are a lot of corporations that have diversity programs, but Pepsi goes far beyond."
The council meets with about 50 churches each month to discuss issues that conflict with traditional Christian values. Other local churches participating in the Pepsi boycott include Kings Avenue Baptist Church in Brandon and Plant City Church of God.
Kemple said more churches are expected to join the effort he hopes will send a strong message to corporate America.
What do you think? Boycot Pepsi over gay sponsorships; or drink more Pepsi to protest the churches that are protesting Pepsi.
Why/Should we expect our drink manufacturers or our car companies or any company we purchase from to have/hold our Christian convictions? What's your take?
Comments
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Peter Hamm on Tue, September 15, 2009
Jon,
It’s this simple.
If you ask the average non-Christian what Christians believe, you will get a list of issues and agendas and you might not even hear about what we believe about Jesus and God’s story of redemption.
I want it said of me that I follow Jesus. I work towards that. If I’m only defined by those handful of issues… it’s a problem.
I’m done…
Tye Male on Tue, September 15, 2009
@Jon said: “I also believe its obvious how God create marriage - and I don�t think you have to make your life�s purpose to protest homosexual marriage in order to protest it”
Why would we want to protest gay marriage? We don’t do this with someone who is a drunkard. Hopefully we don’t do this with those who have had an abortion. How do you think the woman who has had an abortion feels when she sees christian bumper stickers proclaiming pro-life? Probably not very loved.
We don’t do this with people who do other things that Bible clearly teaches is wrong. You see, while I am protesting any of these things I make it nearly impossible to reach them with the love of Jesus Christ.
Does this make sense?
Jon on Wed, September 16, 2009
@TyeMale - No. It absolutely DOES NOT make sense. AND, you are incorrect about what other things we do this with. Both as a Christian culture and an American culture we DO protest alcholism, among other sins.
How do you think the money changers felt when they were WHIPPED and driven out of the temple? Probably not very loved. But were they loved? Yes. Its not all about ‘feelings’.
You see, when you are bending over backwards to make people feel loved, its nearly impossible to stand up for what is right.
Does this make sense?
rbud on Mon, September 21, 2009
I don’t drink soda, so even a taste test has no meaning for me. But I find the whole concept of boycotts on social issues troubling for a church. Is there some reason why this church cannot maintain their Christian family values with Pepsi in the frige? Are they as vigilant about corporate greed and fraud, or political corruption, or religious dishonesty? Do they check out their paper supplier, their electric company, their church bus manufacturer, their gasoline stations? Or, are they just picking on gays to make their collective straight psyches feel better? In the diversity of our culture, how could any church be consistent in such endeavors? Sounds arrogant to me, and we all know how God views arrogance.
Yes, Jesus rebuked errant religious leaders, but then, Jesus has that right. Curiously enough, Jesus didn’t rebuke the harlot, only the religious leaders. We are called to be discerning, but not judges of other people. In this issue, the larger question to me is, how will this church minister and evangelize people with whom it has openly and publically alienated itself? Sounds like a two-edged sword that has already swung in both directions.
Tye Male on Mon, September 21, 2009
@rbud - you’re being way too common sense-ical about this! <grin>
Kirk on Mon, September 21, 2009
Duh… this is a no-brainer. Pepsi makes Mt Dew. As long as Starbucks and Mt Dew are available there should be no problem.
Seriously, the problem here is that if you look into any company, half of you will find something objectionable. I get into this discussion all the time (I still don’t know why) and I simply ask if they drive a car. Every car manufacturer has something in their portfolio that someone would disagree with. So if you want to be (fill in the blank) then at least be consistent. Pepsi, Coke, what’s the difference? Just think back to John Belushi on SNL - “No Coke, Pepsi.”
zad on Mon, September 21, 2009
When I read this ridiculous back and forth I am reminded of Jesus words… “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
What troubles me more is that when a dividing line has been drawn here and sides have been formed. I see those who claim to be Christian brothers siding with those who are clearly attacking the call to holiness and being different from the world.
It has been posed should Christains boycott, and some have argued that its ridiculous to boycott pepsi when coke is doing worse things, or to buy gas from companies who do worse.
All I know is Pepsi has chosen to spend its money supporting the gay agenda of promoting homosexualilty as normal. For now I have decided that I will not give them my dollars so they can continue to support these family unfriendly causes and continue to promote wickedness. For me this isn’t about “expecting Pepsi to be Christian” for me its about choose to say to Pepsi, do what you want with YOUR money. Support what you want. However I will not partner with you by giving you my money, no matter how much I have enjoyed your products in the past.
As for you and your house, you can choose who you want to serve and partner up with…
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
1John 3.
Z
Tye Male on Mon, September 21, 2009
@Z: The article states: “The council, formed “to promote and protect Judeo-Christian values” according to its Web site, and church officials asked the soft drink company to curb its support of groups, events and legal issues that “oppose traditional family values,” Kemple said.”
This is the discussion, not whether or not an individual should choose to have a coke over a pepsi at the corner convenient store.
If we follow this council’s logic to its end, we would have to review every single article found in the church to determine whether or not the company supports the “gay agenda.” Is it really possible to be THAT separatist? (ooh boy)
Z - if you want to “not” buy certain products for conscience sake, then by all means do, well, not. Some of us believe that in an effort to “send a strong statement” to Pepsi we wind up losing the ability to share the precious gospel with them while we condemn behavior that can only be changed and transformed by the gospel.
btw, I prefer cherry coke when I have a drink. Does Coke support anybody evangelicals would disagree with?
rbud on Mon, September 21, 2009
Tye has expressed the matter well. Zad, you should not purchase Pepsi if Pepsi offends you or your sense of values. I’m in total agreement with you on that. That is your personal choice. However, I see the church institution differently in its role here. It’s not making choices to please itself for its own sake. Its ministry goals are the priority. Stop using Pepsi machines, if you must, but I wouldn’t be making a public fuss over it.
This is an extremely difficult matter to evaluate, and impossible in my view to offer any sense of consistency or honesty. For example, would you refuse hospitatlity to a visitor in your home if they were drinking a Pepsi? Would you refuse to administer a life-saving antibiotic if you knew that the same pharmaceutical company manufactured anesthesia products used during surgical abortions, if you are opposed to abortons? There’s a can of worms here that can be neither counted nor contained.
zad on Mon, September 21, 2009
@Rbud
It occurs to me that the gospel is USELESS. Useless to those who have not understood the law first. The gospel is good news because we realize we need a savior. (I think Paul said that first.)
@Tye, your logic is flawed. I don’t have to review everything to know some things are flat out wrong. When it becomes apparent, and I’m pretty sure this has come to light now… THEN it is incumbent upon us to act. If I know Pepsi stands for something evil, and gives millions to support pornographic parades of men having sex with men in front of children - well then I’m pretty sure I don’t need to review much else on top of that to pull my money from them or to encourage brothers who stand for holiness to do the same.
Basically I see folks that do this all the time. They take a simple easy to see truth and try to complicate it by asking loads of questions or trying to complicate it with other issues that are always supposedly “worse.” I can’t help but wonder what Jesus reaction would be to that? I do remember one time he took some religious folks who were doing something similar and told them they looked a lot like their father. And it seems that is what he did in Gen. 3.
David Buckham on Tue, September 22, 2009
@Zad,
You said Tye’s logic is flawed. You also said “If I know Pepsi stands for something evil”. Pepsi supports and gives money to the homosexual agenda, but does that mean that Pepsi stands for something evil or supports something evil?
Pepsi makes sugared bubbly water. If they stand for anything it would have nothing to do with homosexuality.
I am not for or against Pepsi (I don’t drink any types of soda anymore), but I felt it was important enough to point out since you are speaking with very broad strokes.
all about Christ,
David
rbud on Tue, September 22, 2009
@zad, I don’t understand your point when you say the gospel is useless unless you first understand the law. The comment seems out of place in this discussion. More to the point, I disagree. In Romans, Paul addresses the issue of the gospel for those who do not know the law. It was useful to him, it’s useful to others with or without the law.
Tye Male on Tue, September 22, 2009
At issue here is, whether or not the church, or a council of churches, should encourage the boycotting of certain products because they give money to causes we disagree with. Today the argument is specifically giving money to the gay agenda.
1. Does pulling vending machines out of your church accomplish anything, other than as one @rbud put it, “are they just picking on gays to make their collective straight psyches feel better.”
2. Jesus never rebuked the local secular guys. A couple of you have cited that he did, but never provided a text. Jesus purifying the temple is NOT a stand against a secular group. It is a stand against people who were THE religious group of the time.
3. How can the church share the gospel with people who need it while demonstrating AGAINST the very people who’s lives can ONLY be changed if they intersect with the gospel?
4. If you are going to take a stand against Pepsi, then you had better check your insurance carrier, Gatorade (owned by Pepsi), Captain Crunch, Aunt Jemima syrup, and Quaker Oats. How about the company who built the church? Copiers? Toilet paper?
Can you see how extremely difficult it is to be a good “boycotter” and not wind up being hypocritical in the process?
Tye Male on Tue, September 22, 2009
One last thing. I am reading a book by Andrew Marin (google it) titled “Love Is An Orientation.” I strongly recommend it.
I’m done.
zad on Tue, September 22, 2009
It never ceases to amaze me at the misunderstanding of Jewish culture and this issue of homosexuality. You all DO know this was an offense punishable by death right? The LAST thing Jesus needed to address was this issue, it was WELL known what the law said of this. And it was NEVER publically practiced. Furthermore, Jesus DID address it the proper way by giving us the IDEAL that God had in mind in the garden. “Therefore shall a man leave his mother…” He did NOT make allowances for a man and man relationship.
What Jesus DID address was true hypocrisy. Those who claimed to follow God but while applying the law, they missed the heart (or spirit) of the law.
I see no need to continue repeating myself. Its only an indication that others have made up their minds and have no desire to be teachable.
However, again, people always seek to complicate the simple truth. Listen, if I buy pepsi from you and you take the profits and use it to spit on the blood of Jesus by encouraging evil… then I should stop giving you my money… period. Even IF my electric company is doing something else evil that I don’t know about it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t act on what I DO know. (to him who knows to do good and does it not…)
@David…. Pepsi DOES stand for something more than bubbly sugar water. When they give away millions in a culture war to support the cause of the enemy (satan) then yes, it does make it clear what they stand for. Jesus said, “where your treasure is…” So that would mean if I KNOW they are doing this and I continue to give them my treasure… well you can draw the conclusion.
@TYE, you say"3. How can the church share the gospel with people who need it while demonstrating AGAINST the very people who�s lives can ONLY be changed if they intersect with the gospel?”
Good question. I suppose we should do it the way God does. How does he demonstrate AGAINST sin and yet try to reach them?
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