I have
never watched Duck Dynasty. I don’t have
a problem with the show it just does not interest me. What I do find interesting is the response to
Phil Robertson’s remarks. There has been
a double standard placed on Christians from every corner. Christians can be called a host of names, can
be demeaned, and persecuted by nonbelievers and it is okay. There seems to be this understanding that you
can say anything you desire about a Christian and they must simply sit back and
take it. Yet, if a Christian makes a statement
about their faith that you do not agree with then it is a no holds bar dirty
fight to the death. When did this double
standard begin? Has it always
existed? Is it the media that has
brought it to the fore front of our lives?
I have
read the comments made by Mr. Robertson.
I have read comments from both sides of the argument. Mr. Robertson did not choose the most elegant
of words and phrases to express his thoughts, but they were his views. I do not believe they were anti-gay, but
anti-sin. He paraphrases scripture
saying, "Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the
male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the
slanderers, the swindlers — they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right."
We can
look at a few statements and see him discussing homosexuality and make it into
an attack or we can look at the totality of his statements and see a man
crudely discussing sin. I did not ever
see him judging those who are Homosexual.
I saw a man trying to understand why.
He even went so far as to say in the article, "We never, ever judge
someone on who's going to heaven, hell. That's the Almighty's job. We just love 'em, give 'em the good news
about Jesus — whether they're homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort
'em out later, you see what I'm saying?"
He is
not placing judgment on homosexuals he was stating that the Bible states it as
a sin, and that he does not get why people are homosexual outside of the fact
that it is a sin and, “sin: It's not logical, my man. It's just not
logical."
24 Therefore God gave them over in the
sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their
bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth
about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the
Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.
Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In
the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were
inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men,
and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:24-27)
The articles out there being written are not attacking Mr. Robertson, they are attacking Christianity and trying to paint it as ignorant and intolerant. There are even some that are trying to twist the facts on what the Bible says. Wilson Cruz, a spokesman for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said, “Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil's lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe.” Well, I am a true Christian and I believe it is a sin.
I had a friend in High School who was gay, and I know people who are gay. I do not like them any less. Much like Mr. Robertson I don’t understand it, but I do not judge them. Sin is in our nature and the Bible says all sin is equal in the eyes of God. So, this Christmas season when I participate in Gluttony and over eat, or participate in Envy or Lust over something a friend has received, or Greed for wanting more, I will be no better than any other sinner. We all sin, and it is not our place to judge, but it is our place to know what the Bible says and what we as “True Christians” believe. We should not allow ourselves to be bullied and back down from our beliefs. This being said in the future when discussing a topic of this nature be more careful of the word you use than Mr. Robertson.
By: Chris Gates
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ReplyDeleteJust a few short verses after the well-known John 3:16, Jesus continues with "the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
ReplyDeleteI sure don't hear screams and crys from the "adulterers, the idolaters, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers" who were also mentioned in Phil's comments.
I Corinthians 9:11 goes on "And such some of you were once. But you were washed clean, purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin, and you were consecrated, set apart and hallowed, and you were justified (pronounced righteous), by trusting in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit of our God. (Amplified Bible)
Phil includes himself by stating his sin in the 60's, but then shows way out, through Jesus Christ.
Dean Harder, CC'84