**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.”
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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
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