Jun 6, 2008

Religious Chic

Holy Chick-fil-A!

The success of the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain can be attributed to some basic principles. They are ones found in the Bible, said Darryl Lesure, senior purchasing supervisor and speaker for the Atlanta-based chicken eatery.

“That’s really the foundation of our business,” Lesure said. “(Cathy) sees no conflict to biblical principles as it relates to running a business. Our view as a church is life is life. It’s not segments. Values are values,” he said. “Belief and behavior go together.”

That’s the way Chick-fil-A operates, not as a Christian business but as one that is based on those biblical principles, Lesure said.

Cathy bases his life on the verse Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”

In other words, it’s better to have integrity than a lot of money, Lesure said.

“Money fades, but your reputation lasts forever,” he said.

Cathy first opened the Dwarf Grill, which was later renamed the Dwarf House, in 1946. Then, in 1967, he opened the first Chick-fil-A. Today, the restaurant is the second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States, based on annual sales, according to the company’s Web site. I suppose that Dwarf is the approved non-offensive word that was used in the Bible? I'm just trying to keep stories straight here.

Chick-fil-A workers employ such principles as the Golden Rule, Lesure said. They show others respect, dignity and hospitality, he said.

Stewardship and servant leadership also are important attributes, he said.

“We’re not out there preaching to people, but we do it through our influences,” Lesure said.

And where in the Bible is it okay to kill people with your food?
790 Calories
33g of fat
17g of sat fat (85% of your daily recommended intake)
Oh, you're speaking to employee/customer relations, not so much the golden rule overall. Okay, just trying to keep it clear.

“We are in this to make money. We are a business,” Lesure said. “But we’re also in it to give back.” To "give back?" does that mean you stole something?

Giving Back Sidebar

You know gang, I'm getting really sick of the use of the words "Give Back." Now, if you're Kenneth Lay's wife, or family - the use of Give Back would be perfectly acceptable and good news to the people they stole from.

But for charities asking regular, law abiding 8th Amendment practicing folks to "Give Back" I'll toss them a finger.

Giving back is rapidly becoming my "Under the Bus" hated phrase of the year.

But back to the issue at hand...

What of other businesses that follow the golden rule? Have you gotten spectacular secular service from these companies? Here's the list I can come up with.

Amway
Hobby Lobby
Interstate Batteries
In and Out Burger
(most) Mexican Restaurants
Las Palapas
McCoys
Southern Maid Donuts
Book stores that are not Borders or Barnes & Noble - ones with statues of praying children, books you've never seen, and that play music you've never heard over the speakers.

Please give me more - For some reason, no one seems to put that information right out in the open for people like me...

There is a larger issue - does a company that follows Biblical Principles tithe their 10% of gross or principle? Do they always close on Sunday? The Sabbath is sundown Friday... (semantics)
What are the hiring practices and labor relations for non-Judaic Christian folks at these enterprises? And if you're not, why would you work there?

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