Posted on 12/26/2013 7:35:26 AM PST by Kaslin
The outrage industry was in high dudgeon just before Christmas over remarks "Duck Dynasty" family patriarch, Phil Robertson, made to GQ magazine about homosexuality. Outrage is the primary ingredient for political fundraising and political power. One must always have an enemy.
Let's go down the "I Take Offense" checklist and make sure all the boxes were "ticked" before considering a larger point.
-- Liberal New York writer goes slumming among the hayseeds in Louisiana and deliberately creates a controversy by asking a Bible-loving Christian to define sin. Check.
-- Bible-reading Christian quotes from that book and is condemned by those who don't read or believe what it says, or have a different "interpretation" (same thing). Check.
-- The A&E Network, on which the highest-rated cable TV show is shown (up to 14 million viewers), quickly issues an apology and "full support" for the LGBT community. Check.
-- Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal issues a statement noting that the twerking Miley Cyrus gets laughs, while Phil Robertson is put on indefinite hiatus. Check.
-- The right to free speech is defended amidst allegations that quoting the Bible promotes hate and violence against gays. Check.
-- Various high-profile Christians, among them former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, denounce the "double standard" when it comes to their beliefs and the tolerance, even promotion, of beliefs and practices anathema to them. Check.
-- Both sides send out fundraising appeals that ask for contributions to (pick one) fight the intolerance, hate and bigotry of the fundamentalists and their Republican allies (liberals), or keep America from sliding into the moral and cultural pit from anti-God Christian bashers (conservatives). Check. Check.
There. Now, does everyone feel better? Has everyone had their say? Has anything changed? It might, if the Robertson family carries through on its implied threat to "walk" from the show if Phil is not allowed to continue on "Duck Dynasty." I don't know what their contract allows, but if it permits them to leave, or if they are fired "for cause," they are likely to "walk" their hit show and its huge audience to another network.
Now to the larger point. Christians who read the Bible, as Phil Robertson does, should be aware of verses other than the ones that list people it says can't enter God's Kingdom apart from faith in Jesus, who changes behavior and forgives the past. That list, by the way, includes "all liars," which should put the fear of God into most politicians. (See Revelation 21:8)
Other passages say Christians should expect persecution, even hate, because Jesus said they would. "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first" (John 15:18) and "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33).
Christians should not "demand" respect and "tolerance" for their beliefs when their Leader said to expect the opposite. Sure, they can point out hypocrisy (it is something in which they occasionally engage), but they should be known less for what they are against, than Who they are for.
Condemnation ought not to be the first words out of their mouths when it comes to the beliefs and lifestyles of others. Quite the opposite. Phil Robertson must be familiar with this verse: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17)
Here's a New Year's prediction: "Duck Dynasty" will be back with Phil Robertson, either on A&E, or another network. When it returns, the ratings will be even higher and the profits larger. As Sy Robertson might put it, "and that's a fact, Jack."
Religious belief is not to be ridiculed or suppressed.
Good one!
I didn’t hunt ducks, either, until one day my wife said she wanted one.
Now I’ve got 4 goats, 6 ducks, one chicken - maybe 3-5 cats (hard to spot them all at once.)
Perhaps I need a duck call, for the only time they want to come in at night is if they see or hear me with some food for them.
So good!
Ya sure that’s FOAM?
And yet...
1 Corinthians 9:11
And that is what some of you were.
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
WHAT!?
It seemed MIGHTY clear to me!
(Of course, I went to the source to read what he alledgedly told the reporter.)
I don’t think Phil is an ordained minister (his son Alan is), but he’s about the next best thing. Here’s a link to where he was speaking (preaching?) at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, last July — definitely worth watching: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyL1xha_1aU&feature=youtu.be
If not, go to WallyWorld and get your own!
Yesterday, for Christmas, I got a...
1. Bandana
2. Long sleeved t-shirt
3. Hunter Orange shirt over that with a DD saying or two on it.
4. DD stocking cap
5. Suspenders - US flag patterned
Some is...
He has done some ‘preaching’.
He is NOT an ‘ordained’ preacher.
Hopefully, ALL of us professing Christians have done some ‘preaching’.
.
The problem is ... that God has shown it directly to them, and they have rejected what God has directly and plainly shown them.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
The result? Or rather, what is the judgement for this sin in verses 18 and 19? It’s the following ...
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
And so ... we see that God’s judgement for them SUPPRESSING what God told them directly ... is for them to become homosexuals.
I have such a license myself, albeit from an organization which disbanded years ago (FIEC, not to be confused with the UK organization of the same name; mine was a purely American group.)
He might have, but like I said I couldn’t find anything on it.
I saw the "DD" episode where he "presided" over his parents' religious wedding ceremony. Went to the WFRCoC web-site and saw where both Phil and Alan are listed as elders in that church.
I did see that one too
AMEN
You have 4 goats a baaaaing 6ducks a quacking one chicken crowing 3-5 cats meowing AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE...if you sing it to the tune it sounds good...:O)
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