Since my previous, brief Hobby Lobby post got only a few comments, and since I was thinking again about Hobby Lobby's situation this evening, here goes:
The CEO of Hobby Lobby wrote this heartbreaking letter, which I've just now read. Take a couple minutes to read it. It says,
My family has lived the American dream. We want to continue growing our company and providing great jobs for thousands of employees, but the government is going to make that much more difficult. The government is forcing us to choose between following our faith and following the law.
Christians in America today rarely have a villain put a literal gun to their heads and ask them to deny Christ. For almost any compromise one might be called upon to make, one can find plausible excuses. And for almost any challenge that might be laid upon one's heart spontaneously, one can argue that it isn't actually religiously required that one accept that challenge.
Jesus no longer walks bodily by the seashore among us, pointing to each of us, calling us by name: "Come, follow me." That makes it easy not to recognize those defining moments when we really must stand up and be counted. In fact, we might easily wonder if there are any such defining moments in our quiet lives.
David Green believes that such a moment has come for his company and for himself as its leader, and he is willing to abandon all that he has built for the sake of the call. May all of us have ears to hear when our moment comes.
Comments (5)
Lydia,
I normally don't bother with economic boycotts or using my purchasing power to support worthy causes, but I need to make an exception for Mr. Green. This is serious business and he needs our support. I have a Michael's store about five minutes aways from my house (my girls are into arts and crafts) but I will go out of my way this weekend to drive to a suburb that is probably 30 to 40 minutes away to take the girls to Hobby Lobby, which we've never been to, to show our support.
That's the only thing I can think of at this point -- that and prayer.
Posted by Jeffrey S. | January 7, 2013 1:30 PM
I hope this blows over, but I know that isn't the trend. Hobby Lobby has been a good business and there is one not too far from where I live.
Posted by Anymouse | January 7, 2013 1:59 PM
Hobby Lobby has a website for those of us not near a store---I think it's mostly an East Coast thing. I've encouraged my crafty wife to check them out.
Posted by Jehu | January 7, 2013 3:16 PM
There is one in South Texas, I know.
Posted by Anymouse | January 7, 2013 7:11 PM
Folks can find their nearest Hobby Lobby here:
http://www.hobbylobby.com/StoreLocator/
I know that this is easily googled, but I hope that an available link will make things easier for those who do not think to check.
Posted by J. W. | January 8, 2013 2:17 PM