Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the A&E Duck Dynasty family, reality, TV program, is in the news. Phil was recently interviewed by Drew Magary of GQ Magazine. Given the fact that Phil Robertson is not a GQ kind of guy, it makes the intended purpose of the interview suspect. After all, what did Drew expect Phil to say.
During the interview the subject of sin arose and Drew asked Phil, “What in your mind is sinful?” Phil in his characteristically straightforward manner said, “Start with homosexual behavior and morph out from there, bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.” Adulterers and animal lovers (when it comes to bestiality we are talking about more than sentiment here) did not say a word, but homosexual activists let out a howl that could be heard by arctic wolves in Alaska.
As support for his Christian viewpoint, Phil paraphrased First Corinthians 6:9-10 which reads, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” To his credit, Phil did not share what in his mind is sinful, but what the Bible says is sinful. Somewhere in the cultural debate of what is right and wrong, we have lost sight of what our Father God has said, and replaced it with what we think.
The A&E channel has suspended Phil indefinitely from the show. A&E said, “We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series Duck Dynasty. His personal views in no way reflect those of A&E networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely.”
The family has issued a statement saying, in part, “We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right. We have had a successful working relationship with A&E, but, as a family, we cannot imagine our show going forward without our patriarch at the helm.”
A&E and the Robertson family are disappointed, for different reasons, and the fans of Duck Dynasty and homosexuals are mad, for different reasons. Phil believes in Almighty God, and A&E is probably concerned about the almighty dollar. A&E has supported the LGBT community because it is politically correct, and let’s not forget profitable. But now their top-rated moneymaker is politically incorrect and Duck Dynasty is a “retail powerhouse” according to one article.
A&E has a dilemma on its hands; how do they get a man who is satisfied with a squirrel supper to eat crow for some angry homosexuals. I think A&E is more concerned about losing Phil, than Phil is concerned about losing A&E. Truth be told, it is not Phil who is homophobic, it is A&E that is afraid of what the homosexuals will do. After all, they suspended Phil to pacify them; they said so in their statement.
A&E’s quandary would be comical if it wasn’t for the serious nature of the issue. So, let’s get some things straight, pun intended. Phil has been mercilessly lambasted for his views, but they are not his views. Everything he has said is taken directly from the plain meaning in the Scriptures. They are not his views, they are God’s views.
Although some passages in the Old Testament were fulfilled in Christ and no longer applicable, common decency and morality do not have biblical expiration dates. Homosexuality is condemned in both the Old and New Testaments (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:24-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-11, et alia). Only a textual contortionist will twist the clear meaning of the Scriptures to salve the homosexual psyche.
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” Matthew 5:17-18.
I do not know what Drew Magary’s intentions were when he interviewed Phil Robertson. I just know that when Phil was asked what he thought was sin, he didn’t duck.
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