Tim Wildmon
AFA president
October 1997 – Do you ever wonder why there are so many Christian denominations? I have, a little, although I don’t spend a lot of time on it.
Jesus prayed that his followers would be one even as He and the Father are one. I’m not sure I understand the full meaning of that particular prayer, but I find it impossible to believe that (as long as human beings have independent thinking capabilities) there will ever be complete unity in the Christian church. And I don’t think Jesus would have asked his Heavenly Father for us to do the impossible, so I’ve got to believe what Jesus meant basically was that Christians must have a spirit of love, charity and grace even when they have sincere and strongly held differences. My guess is you have theological or doctrinal differences among good people in your own local church, whatever the denomination. I know that’s the case in my church.
I was raised in the United Methodist Church, but now attend an independent evangelical church and on matters of doctrine – although I have evolved and migrated somewhat – I am basically aligned with what the Southern Baptist Church believes. However, I have friends, colleagues and family in a variety of different denominations and when I talk with them, most are very articulate and convincing about why they believe the way they do. I like to pick their brains and see if they can defend what they confess. Almost every time, I’m surprised. One day I lean Presbyterian and the next day I tilt charismatic. No wait a minute, I like what the Episcopalians say about this and what John Wesley said about that. I remember talking over several doctrinal issues with a Catholic friend. I threw him a few Protestant hardballs just knowing I’d have him stumped since the Pope was nowhere around and it was just him and me. I don’t remember all the details, but I do remember thinking he had some very reasonable answers to my questions. He even cited several biblical references to back up his explanations.
I try to listen, learn and understand whenever I talk about religion with others, even if they’re not Christian. This doesn’t threaten my faith in Jesus Christ, but it does serve to challenge my presuppositions and make me a better student of the Bible.
With all the different branches of the Christian tree – and I am certainly one who believes that doctrine is important and that we should all search and study the Holy Scriptures to know what is true and right – it really blesses my heart when I see Christians of different stripes working together on a common project in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Recently Northeast Mississippi hosted a Franklin Graham crusade in my hometown. It was a great community effort and a wonderful evangelistic outreach.
On a national scale, I have been absolutely thrilled to see the many denominations and pro-family organizations coming together in one voice of moral objection to the mighty Disney corporation. Disney, as has been well documented in the AFA Journal for over three years now, is the leading company in America pushing the homosexual social agenda in addition to many other immoral and occultic products and practices.
This summer the Southern Baptist Convention got national attention as their messengers voted for a boycott, joining the AFA. Last year the Assemblies of God did the same. Others boycotting include The Catholic League, Catholics United for the Faith, Congregational Holiness Church and Free Will Baptists.
In addition, The Church of God of Cleveland, Tennessee, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, Association of Independent Methodists, Presbyterian Church in America, General Association of Regular Baptists and Church of the Nazarene have all formally expressed concern over the direction of the Disney company.
Also, pro-family groups including Concerned Women for America (Beverly LaHaye), King for America (Alveda King), Christian Financial Concepts (Larry Burkett) and Focus on the Family (Dr. James Dobson) have all endorsed the boycott of Disney.
Why this togetherness? Number one, there is a mountain of evidence against Disney. They are truly out of the closet. (In fact, they’ve busted the door down.)
And secondly, the Disney company has chosen to spurn these denominations and organizations because Disney thinks it is too big to be impacted financially. Basically, that’s what it comes down to. One Disney executive called our movement, “A gnat on an elephant.” Dumbo no doubt.
Well, we shall see. Granted this is the biggest challenge the traditional values movement has ever taken on. There’s no doubt about it. However, I can’t remember the last time so many Christians joined together in a concentrated effort to boycott one company.
Will it work? In time, I think so. How long before Michael Eisner and Disney come to their senses? For their sake,I hope soon. You see, it has been AFA’s experience that boycotts can – and often do – snowball. Not always, but many times this is the case. And once people’s buying habits change because you attack their fundamental moral beliefs so often, it is very, very difficult to get them back in good graces even if you do stop producing offensive material.
Because AFA has been a leader for 20 years in the effort to restore the moral value system that made America great, it is indeed refreshing to see such a unified stand in the Christian community. Let’s work to see that the boycott is successful. And let’s pray – as only those who trust and follow Jesus Christ can – that God might change the hearts of those in leadership at Disney. What a great, great testimony that would be, my brothers
and sisters. 
