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."
true
“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) “
No NOT the point of this; and NEVER is. We are all sinners and bound for hell except for Christs saving grace.
What the homosexual lifestyle choice promoters do; is insist that we accept their behavior choice as equal to God’s plan.
It’s not. Homosexuality is sin just like lying, adultery; the list goes on.
Individual homosexuals are no greater sinners than any of the rest of us.
But when they insist that their sin be normalized and accepted; that is the problem.
Here in the Heartland, you have nailed it.
Imagine telling someone in 1993 that in December 2013 the media coverage and outrage over two actual states of the US being black-robed into accepting ‘gay marriage’ (despite one of them having an actual state constitutional amendment defining marriage) would be absolutely dwarfed by the media coverage and outrage over the star of a cable reality TV show getting fired/suspended for relating that he believes homosexual acts are gross and sinful.
That’s pretty mind blowing, at least to me.
Freegards
He is a half tenth cousin once removed and several other ways related to me.
He is also an Ivins descendant, making Molly Ivins (d.2007), a sixth cousin, once removed to him.
Phil's and my common ancestor, at least the first one I found, was Thomas Fuller, b. 13 December, 1571 in Redenhall, Norfolk, England
I don’t hunt ducks.
I have never hunted ducks.
I am going to buy a duck call made by the Robertsons and wear it around my neck to display my support for Phil & family.
How many can do the same?
I am not amused with Cal Thomas sarcasm this morning
He must think he’s so precious
Mitt Romney, 13th cousin.
And I thought Molly Ivins was bad.
Although other parts of Scripture have been quoted on this Duck Dynasty issue with A&E, the following in Romans, chapter 1, is a key part and understanding ... as to how God’s wrath plays into this ... and why this is unique and that it is actually a judgement.
In Romans 1 ... it says
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
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.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
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;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
THAT would certainly be “dynamite” to LGBT-types ... :-) ...
I’m sure they are “foaming at the mouth” at this part ...
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 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.
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; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness ...
Also, in reference to what someone else said about homosexuality being another sin - just like all the sins listed in the Bible ... I’ll have to point out that it’s QUITE UNIQUE in comparison to other sins. I said the following in another posting elsewhere ... AND ... this shows how God’s wrath plays into it.
The unique thing about what God said in Romans 1 — is that this particular sin is actually a “judgement” from God in that He has them debasing themselves in such a way. THIS (what the LGBTs promote) is actually God’s judgement upon them in that they are to do these things to themselves. They, therefore, receive god’s judgement in the “here and now” for clearly rejecting what god has made clear to the,.
SO ... while these are all sins - fornication, adultery, thieving, drunkenness, slandering, swindling - and will not be allowed into Heaven ... none of these are, in and of themselves - a condition which God imposes upon people for their rejection of what God has made clear to them,
On the other hand — the LGBT lifestyle is a specific condition and judgement of God Himself - upon these people,
AND THEREFORE, God has put upon them the absolute worst of the worst sin possible in a human being - in order to thoroughly DEBASE them to the ultimate extent in THIS LIFE, in the HERE AND NOW and not upon “Judgement Day”.
LGBT-people are a “walking advertisement” of God thoroughly debasing someone to the maximum extent possible, in a human being. They are walking around with a “neon flashing sign” — saying — “Look at me! God has not even waited until Judgement Day to judge me!”
AMEN!!
Homosexuals should know that they are created and loved by God. But God does not accept their sin.
What they are doing is sinful; and they need stop doing it. As Jesus said to the woman; go forth and sin no more.
Fair enough.
Phil Robertson probably should've made it clearer that he included himself in the list of those who God calls sinners. For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Which makes us ALL in need of a saviour.
Homosexuality is being accepted by many people who should know better.
Homosexuality is a mental illness, it always was until a group of Psychiatrists got together and claimed it wasn’t.
I suppose because their ranks were growing so rapidly.
But increasing the people that are sick does not cure the sickness. There never was Adam and Steve, it was Adam and Eve.
I am just thankful that because of Phil Robertson, sane people are fighting back.
With the country swirling down the toilet, Cal Thomas’ take on the constroversy here is a bit too cutesy and detached for my current mood, to put it mildly.
Thomas used to be one of my favorite columnists back in the 1990s, but he seemed to get beltway-itis a few years back. I specifically remember losing a lot of faith in him back in 2009 when he totally “bought into” some ludicrously concocted, liberal-media smear on Palin, during a FoxNews appearance. He was downright sneering in his condescention, and it was a totally phoney-baloney story. Then, the very following week, he was going into glowingly rhapsodic conniptions over Jeb Bush and the whole Bush family.
At that point, I just stopped paying much attention to him.
I ordered some Duck Commander clothing. Do you think I’ll ever get it?
Good idea about the duck call. I’ll order one of those too.
BA
They don’t insist that their sin be “normalized and accepted”; they insist that their sin be celebrated.
Well, our family line intersect at least through Noah. So we are related...
The worse thing in all this is that by the culture and majority population accepting homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle, it appears to vindicate homosexuals in their sinful lifestyle. People ignore the Lord's commands and focus on man's views. Which are wicked every day according to scripture. Satan hates God and attacks his precious creation (man) and wants to take as many people with him to hell as he can. When someone speaks truth from scripture as Mr. Robertson did, it sets off the Enemy who tries to double back with more deception and lies. He is the 'prince of this world' who stands condemned (John 16:11) and Satan wants people reprobate. He's been trying since the Garden of Eden.
The Lord wants to save them from their sins (John 3). Individuals have to choose if they want light or darkness. Eternity is waiting...
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