Phil Robertson: My Two Cents [EXPLICIT CONTENT]

**Note this article does contain sexual content - Reader discretion advised. **

I really try to steer clear of current and possibly controversial events; however, this whole media swarm over Phil Robertson has really proven to be quite eye-opening in more ways than one. I just wanted to speak my mind as well because the last time I checked we still did have freedom of speech in this country; at least for the time being we do.

For those of you who don’t know what all the fuss is about the Patriarch of the A&E hit show “Duck Dynasty”, Phil Robertson, was recently interviewed by GQ Magazine in where he was asked “What, in your mind, is sinful?” That’s a loaded question to begin with and most Pastors’ today wouldn’t answer that with as much conviction as Phil decided to. Phil gives his response of, “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Phil then goes on to paraphrase Corinthians (1 Cor. 6:9); “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.” Within the course of the interview Phil also stated, according to Drew Magary of GQ, “It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”

First and foremost, the purpose of this interview according to Drew Magary was to get a more in depth and candid look at Phil. Which in media lingo terms means he was planning on asking hard-nosed and pointed questions; questions that require a stance? Now in interviews of past prominent Pastors similar questions have been asked but more often than not the interviewee faltered and back-pedaled when these types of questions were asked, the difference here is that Phil was honest. Isn’t it something that in America someone is persecuted for honestly speaking their mind when asked? Flip the coin and look at all the things that President Obama has been less than honest about; healthcare, Benghazi, the IRS, NSA, and Operation Fast & Furious yet he wasn’t “suspended”. Something seems a bit off here.

Drew Magary (GQ) knew exactly what his questioning would bring up and based on the character of the Robertson Family there was a pretty good idea of how Phil would answer. The issue is with A&E putting Phil on “hiatus indefinitely”. Now I can almost guarantee that Phil is not losing any sleep over A&E’s decision and I’m sure they need him more that he needs them. According to Nielsen Duck Dynasty draws in a weekly audience of 14 million viewers which is 2 million more than the audience that tuned in for AMC’s hit Series Finale of Breaking Bad. So to say that Duck Dynasty has been a hit for A&E is an understatement. In the long run I believe the decision to suspend Phil Robertson will hurt A&E more than it helps them. Phil didn’t lash out and just start spewing comments; he honestly answered a question that a media puppet asked. If you can’t handle the answer, then don’t ask the question.

Of course the LGBT activist of GLADD chimed in and slammed Phil calling his comments, “vile.” Additionally, GLADD Spokesperson Wilson Cruz stated, “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.” What really blows my mind that Wilson Cruz (GLADD) claims to know what “true Christian” beliefs look like. This is another case in point where an individual wants to cling to the forgiveness and the come-as-you-are teaching of the Bible, which is there, but fails to read the ENTIRE Bible.

Now to the spiritual aspect of this whole thing; the more corrupt and perverted this country falls the more ousted Bible-practicing individuals will become. Any one of intelligence can read the Bible and logically see where God warned and warned people of impending judgment if they didn’t turn from their ways and time and time again people made the decision to live their lives apart from God and his commands. As a true follower of Christ or a Bible-believing person there are certain things based on past BIBILICAL events one can logically see that God doesn't approve of. The problem is; if we accept one part of the Bible there are others that must be accepted as well. So while most Americans can agree that lying (Exodus 20:16) is morally wrong of those same Americans many will not blatantly say that sex outside of marriage (fornication) is also wrong. Again, most Americans will agree that stealing is morally wrong but hesitate to call same sex intercourse as a sin (Leviticus 18:22). Is it wrong? Well, there is more than one account Biblically where God calls it an “abomination”. He even went as far as to completely obliterate cities that actively practiced these acts (Genesis 19). So answer the question; is it wrong? For me, and my family; YES, absolutely it is. God has put this as a conviction deep within my heart and from reading and logically studying the Bible I can clearly see God’s stance on these two specific topics. So that being said it is wrong for me; and if someone was to ask me either in an interview or face-to-face I would answer the same, yes IT IS WRONG. “Well, that doesn’t sound like a loving God,” I’m sure there are many that will argue that. Perhaps God is prompting me to write this as a warning to you. If you are in any of these categories there is still time to cry out to God and ask Him to help you see things through His eyes. That right there is where you will find His love and mercy.

So you’re telling me that sex outside of being married is wrong? Yes, according to what the Bible teaches it is. Let me add to this, I myself actively engaged in this act of sin countless times before I was married and believe me, I now see why God never intended us to have countless sexual partners. God ordained things to be a certain way because He knows the pain and complications that result from doing things our own way.  Within intercourse there is a connection that is made, besides the obvious physical one, which should only be shared between a husband and wife. Why you say? With each and every casual encounter you give a piece of yourself away emotionally, physically and psychologically; you may not think so and you may not want to but it does happen. Then by the time you finally find “the one” there isn’t much left to give. “Whatever…you’re so full of it!” I know some of you are saying this or something very similar right now but believe me; I still experience the aftershocks of my past choices. I know God has forgiven me but there are still things I go through that had I followed His instructions I would have never had to have experienced, but how’s the saying go, “some people have to learn the hard way.” God can and will repair the damage we inflict on ourselves but He’d rather us follow His instructions and do things His way because He knows best.

Now does this mean that I can freely place judgment on people that choose to live their lives contrary to the Bible; NO, absolutely not! It’s not my place or even Phil Robertson’s place to do that and most true Bible-believing Christians know this. I don’t believe he (Phil) was doing this within the context of this interview. He was merely answering a question based on his own BIBLICAL conviction/opinion. Now there are those out there who claim to be Christian and they do think that they are supposed to pass judgment on everyone but I believe these types of “Christians” to be more the exception and not the rule.

I may catch some heat for this but I just had to say something.

Take Care & God Bless,

-E

Quit your belly-aching!

How often do you complain about things? I don't know exactly how many people that read these blogs are professing & practicing followers of Christ, but I would assume that if you've been here for a while there must be some level of Biblical morality within you to some extent. That being said, as a follower of Christ and doer of the Word of God (James 1:22); how much complaining do you do on a daily basis? Let me add to that even a bit more; how much obeying do you do based on what you see in the scriptures?


Here's why I ask, I was recently reading in Exodus (15:24 - 16:5) and was flabbergasted by the ungrateful and whining attitude of the Israelites. First they moaned and groaned about not having water, then God provided that then they started up the wahmbulence again about not having food, and again God provided exactly what they needed for each day. Again I stress, God provided what was needed for each day, He didn't give them a pantry stocked to the top with food, though He very well could have, He gave them what they needed. Again, not what they wanted but what they needed. How often do we ourselves fall into this mentality we tend to get our wants and our needs mixed up? I know I find myself here more often than I care to admit.

You see the Israelites wandered in the wilderness far longer then they needed to. It's believed by some Biblical scholars that the journey should have only taken about a week and half; yet it took them forty years!? They'd complain about something, God would provide then they'd complain about the provision or they wouldn't obey how God had instructed them to handle the provision. This wilderness mentality isn't something that is isolated just to the Children of Israel back then, it's something that even today we too walk in from time to time. Think about your close net group of friends, colleges or family and try to view things from an unbiased point of view and really look at how much complaining goes on. You'll be shocked by what you uncover.

This mentality infects all aspects of life if you allow it, in marriage, family, business and even in churches. If you look at it like this; in each of the mentions groups there is generally a common goal in mind. Such as, in a marriage you are looking to have peace and harmony and grow together as one where your marriage reflects God's love. Well to get to that point it requires a journey, very similar to the journey the Israelites made from Egypt to the Promised Land; we're trying to get from one point to the next. Along the way there will be needs that come up that we shouldn't complain about all we should do is trust that God will provide for those needs and leave it in His hands. This remains true in families, businesses and even in the church, there is always a common goal that requires a journey, but it's our attitudes within the journey that I believe directly dictates the length of the processes. Will you make to your destination in a week and a half or will it take you forty years?

So if you feel that you have been round and round the same issue (wilderness) for some time now, STOP! Just stop, already and really examine what's been going on around you. Are you or those around you stuck in the cycle of a complaining wilderness mentality? If so just recognizing that it's happening is a great start and when you do realize it just ask God to help you and forgive you. Forgive me, you say? Yes, because when you start complaining about something you feel you need in some way you are saying that you don't trust that God is going to provide for that need. Which according to Scripture just isn't true. His Word clearly states time and time again that He will provide all our needs (see Philippians 4:19) all we have to do is trust that He will, and stop complaining. 

Take Care & God bless,

-E