The big box craft store Hobby Lobby famously places full-page, Christian-themed ads every Easter in newspapers in the markets where it has stores. They also make this message the centerpiece of their Web site during the period right before and after Easter.

Sarah tells Consumerist that she noticed this when she visited the chain’s site to print out a coupon, and wrote to the company to tell them that she was offended. A Hobby Lobby representative answered that he was sorry that she was offended, but the company believes that it would conversely be “truly insensitive” not to share their religious message with all customers, Christian or not.

I, a non-Christian, visited Hobby Lobby’s website to print off a coupon before visiting their store. But after seeing their home page (image attached), I felt maybe I ought to go someplace else. And after contacting them about it (thread to follow), I was sure of it. Enjoy!

[Sarah’s original e-mail:]

As a non-Christian customer of Hobby Lobby, I find these messages to be very exclusive and insensitive. I feel quite alienated and today I’m taking my business to Michael’s, where the staff isn’t concerned with my spirituality, but with my satisfaction as a customer.

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your email. I am sorry that you felt our message was exclusive and insensitive. That is not our intention. We feel that we are being inclusive and very sensitive; let me explain why.

In John 14:6 Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” There is only one way to Heaven and that is Christ alone. We would love for everyone to come to a saving knowledge of Christ; we do not want anyone excluded. That is why we share the hope that Christ freely gives.

Since we know that Christ is the only way to heaven; it would truly be insensitive for us not to share Christ with the world.

I am sorry that you feel alienated.

[V.]
Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

That was the most judgmental and closed-minded response I could have hoped for. I am taking my business away from Hobby Lobby entirely. Asking to be accepted for who we are shouldn’t be too much from a customer. You can’t have another dollar of my money and I hope for your sake, you can learn to open your hearts and be truly kind and loving people, not the preachy ignorant ones you’ve proven yourselves to be.

Sarah

Sarah,

I was hoping to be able to have a civil exchange with you and explain why we do what we do and answer your original email which you chose to send in. We do have “open hearts” and are “truly kind and loving people”; once again, that is why we do what we do. If we didn’t have open hearts and were kind and loving we would not tell anyone about Christ.

Let me use an analogy. Let’s say I am standing on a street corner and the person next to me (who I don’t know) steps out in to the street because they have the ‘walk’ signal. I see the walk signal BUT I also see a speeding car that is running the red light and headed right for the person next to me. Why would I not warn them? How much would I have to hate that person not to tell them of the danger they are stepping into?

We share Christ because we see the “speeding car” and want to warn people. Christ truly is the answer and he is Kind, Loving and has an open Heart. At no point in my emails have I had a closed heart, been unkind or loving in my answers to you. If you feel I have, I apologize.

If you ever in the future want to know more about Christ, please feel free to contact Need Him Ministries at 888-Need-Him. They are not affiliated with any denomination, They are people who truly Love Christ and love people.

[V.]
Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.

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