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Shopping At LGBTQ Supporting Businesses Biblically

Biblical texts and theological traditions offer various perspectives on economic interactions, particularly concerning whether one should engage in commerce with those whose practices or beliefs are considered contrary to one's own. While the Bible does not directly address modern concepts like "LGBTQ supporting businesses," principles regarding association, indirect support of disapproved practices, and the nature of commerce can be drawn from various sources.

One significant area of discussion in ancient Jewish tradition concerns commerce with idolaters. The Babylonian Talmud records differing views on whether it is permissible to buy from stores that indirectly support idol worship. One view permits it, arguing that indirect support is not prohibited by Torah law [1, 2]. However, Rabbi Yoḥanan argues against this, stating that even if stores are adorned only with fruit, one should not buy from them. His reasoning is an a fortiori inference: if deriving benefit from idol worship is prohibited, then causing benefit to idol worship (by financially supporting it) should be even more so [1, 2]. This highlights a tension between direct and indirect support, and the degree to which one's economic actions implicate one in another's practices.

Christian theological traditions also touch upon principles that might inform this question. The Catholic tradition, as articulated by Aquinas, emphasizes that the religious state is directed towards the perfection of charity, primarily love of God and secondarily love of neighbor [4]. While this primarily concerns the internal disposition and vocation of religious persons, it underscores a broader principle that actions should align with the pursuit of charity and God's will. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes the revelation of God and the call to holiness [3], which implicitly guides all aspects of life, including economic choices.

Reformed theology, as seen in the Heidelberg Catechism, addresses economic ethics through the lens of the Eighth Commandment, forbidding not only outright theft but also "all scheming and swindling in order to get our neighbor’s goods for ourselves" [9]. This includes fraudulent merchandising and any means forbidden by God, alongside a prohibition against greed and pointless squandering of God's gifts [9]. While focused on fair dealing, this broader ethical framework suggests that economic activity is not morally neutral but subject to divine standards. John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion extensively discusses Christian life and ethics, emphasizing that all aspects of life are to be lived coram Deo (before God) [7, 8, 10].

Biblical narratives also provide examples of economic interaction across cultural and religious divides. The prophet Isaiah speaks of "the labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia, and of the Sabeans" coming to the church, interpreted by John Gill as a prophecy of the conversion of people from these nations who would use their wealth to support the interest of religion [6]. This suggests that wealth generated in various contexts can be repurposed for God's purposes. Similarly, Paul instructs believers to "receive her in the Lord" and "assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you," referring to Phoebe, a deaconess [5]. This highlights the importance of supporting fellow believers in their practical affairs.

Sources

  1. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 13a.1: but it is permitted to cause benefit. Although by buying from the store one indirectly supports idol worship, as a portion of the sales are given to support idol worship, this is not prohibited by Torah law. And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Even if the stores are adorned only with fruit one is also prohibited from buying from them. This is derived by an a fortiori inference: If it is prohibited to derive benefit from idol worship, is it not all the more so prohibited to cause benefit to idol worship?”
  2. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 153b.25:1: but it is permitted to cause benefit. Although by buying from the store one indirectly supports idol worship, as a portion of the sales are given to support idol worship, this is not prohibited by Torah law. And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Even if the stores are adorned only with fruit one is also prohibited from buying from them. This is derived by an a fortiori inference: If it is prohibited to derive benefit from idol worship, is it not all the more so prohibited to cause benefit to idol worship?”
  3. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, 24. (part 1): 24. 20 Cf. DV 3. 21 Dt 28: 10; Roman Missal, Good i Friday, General Intercession VI; see also Ex 19:6 22 Cf. Is 2:2-4; Jer 31:31-34; Heb 10:16 23 Cf. Ezek 36; Is 49:5-6; 53:11 24 Cf. Ezek 2:3; Lk 1:38 Previous - NextCopyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText HelpCatechism of the Catholic Church IntraText - TextPART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITHSECTION ONE "I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"CHAPTER TWO GOD COMES TO MEET MANArticle 1 THE REVELATION OF GODIII. Christ Jesus -- "Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation"Pr”
  4. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Those Things That Are Competent to Religious, Art. 2: Article: Whether it is lawful for religious to occupy themselves with secular business? I answer that, As stated above (Question [186], Articles [1],7, ad 1), the religious state is directed to the attainment of the perfection of charity, consisting principally in the love of God and secondarily in the love of our neighbor. Consequently that which religious intend chiefly and for its own sake is to give themselves to God. Yet if their neighbor be in need, they ”
  5. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 16:2: Receive her in the Lord--that is, as a genuine disciple of the Lord Jesus. as--"so as" becometh saints--so as saints should receive saints. assist her in whatsoever business she hath--"may have" need of you--some private business of her own. for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also--(See Psa 41:1-3; Ti2 1:16-18).”
  6. Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 45:14: Thus saith the Lord,.... The following words are said not to Cyrus, nor to Christ, but to the church, as the feminine pronouns show; and Kimchi observes, they are directed to Jerusalem: the labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia, and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee; a prophecy of the conversion of many in these nations, who should join themselves to the churches of Christ, formed among them, and make use of their riches, got by merchandise, labour, and industry, for the support of the interest of religion; and had its accomplishment ”
  7. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:2 1:26 1:27 1:31 2:7 2:7 2:17 2:18 2:23 2:23 3:7 3:9 3:12 3:15 3:15 3:15 3:22 4:4 4:7 4:10 4:13 6:3 6:5 6:6 6:18 7:21 8:21 9:6 12:12 12:17 14:18 14:18 15:1 15:1 15:5 15:17 16:9 17:7 17:7 17:10 17:10 17:13 17:15 17:27 18:2 18:23 20:3 20:7 21:1 21:12 21:24 22:1 22:8 22:16-18 23:4 23:19 24:7 24:10 26:27 27:28 27:38-39 28:12 28:20 29 30:2 31:19 31:20 31:40-41 32 32:10 32:13 32:29-30 33 34 36:22 37:18 37:28 37:33 38:18 42 43 43:14 45:5 47:9 47:9 47:29-30 48:14 48:16 49:5-6 49:18 Exodus 2:12 3:2 3”
  8. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 24:14 24:24 24:24 24:30 24:45 25:4 25:21 25:21 25:23 25:29 25:29 25:32 25:34 25:34 25:34 25:34 25:40 25:41 25:41 26:11 26:26 26:26 26:26 26:26 26:38 26:39 26:53 26:75 27:3-4 27:46 27:52 27:66 28:5 28:6 28:18 28:19 28:19 28:19 28:19 28:19 28:19-20 28:20 28:20 28:20 28:20 28:20 Mark 1:4 1:4 1:10 1:14 3:28 5:9 6:13 6:15 8:38 9:24 9:43 10:9 10:30 11:24 12:18 13:32 14:22 15:28 16:9 16:15 16:15 16:16 16:16 16:19 16:20 Luke 1:6 1:15 1:19 1:26 1:32 1:32 1:33 1:34 1:35 1:43 1:55 1:72 1:74-75 1:77 1:79 2:34 2:37 2:52 3:3 3:3 3:3 3:8 3:14 3:”
  9. Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. What does God forbid: Q. What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? A. God forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law.1 But in God’s sight theft also includes all scheming and swindling in order to get our neighbor’s goods for ourselves, whether by force or means that appear legitimate,2 such as inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God.3 In addition God forbids all greed4 and pointless squandering of his gifts.5 1 Ex.”
  10. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 15:5 15:6 15:10 15:16 15:16 15:16 15:19 16:2 16:7 16:7 16:12 16:12 16:13 16:13 16:20 16:26 17:3 17:3 17:3 17:3 17:5 17:5 17:6 17:9 17:12 17:12 17:15 17:19 17:19 17:19 17:19 18:36 18:37 19:33 19:34 19:36 20 20:5 20:17 20:17 20:19 20:22 20:22 20:22 20:23 20:23 20:23 20:23 20:28 20:31 21:15 21:15 21:18 Acts 1 1:10 1:11 1:23 2:4 2:21 2:23 2:23 2:24 2:24 2:33 2:37 2:37-38 2:38 2:39 2:41 2:42 2:42 3:6 3:6 3:15 3:21 3:25 4:12 4:12 4:18 4:28 4:28 4:32 5:29 5:31 5:41 6:2 6:3 6:3 6:6 6:10 7:21 7:30 7:44 7:48 7:48 7:55 7:56 7:59 8:13-18 8:14”
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