I’ve never seen an episode of
Duck Dynasty. I’m sure you know by now, Papa Duck Phil Robertson has been all
over the news for stating what he believes the Bible says about homosexuality
in an interview with Gentlemen’s Quarterly
magazine. A&E, the network that airs Duck Dynasty, has suspended him
indefinitely. His picture has filled my Facebook page more than all of those Bitstrip
comics. I want to see photos of my nieces and nephews. Not Phil and his
scraggly beard.
This issue has dredged up so
many things that I’m either just plain tired of, or don’t understand. The first
thing that utterly baffles me is why in the world is GQ interviewing Phil Robertson in the first place? I mean, nothing
says “GQ” more than rednecks in
bandanas and camos. Phil and GQ go
together like People Magazine’s “Sexiest Men of the Year” issue and me.
What I’m tired of the most is
how this has become such a rivalry. I’m tired of all the animosity.
Christians vs. Homosexuals.
Liberal media vs. Conservatives.
Republicans vs. Democrats.
The only rivalries I want to
read about are on the diamond or on the gridiron. Michigan and Ohio State is a
rivalry. A few days ago I saw a news clip about a Republican congressman who is
dealing with the recent death of his son. The senator, Jim Inofe, was surprised
when his democratic colleagues offered him sympathy and condolences. Is this
what our world has come to? We’re dismayed when someone from the “opposition”
acts humanely. I’m tired of it.
Another thing I don’t
understand is why are members of the media so interested in what Christians
believe about homosexuality? Don’t you know by now, Mr. GQ reporter? Is it
because you want to sell issues, and drive ratings, and create a social-media
firestorm? Yeah, I thought so. Nice.
And you Mr. Robertson? What
you said, albeit your personal beliefs, was mean and insensitive. Yes, you can
say what you want. Freedom of Speech, blah, blah, blah. But, as a follower of
Christ, how about mixing in some humility and love? How about quoting some of
James and the Proverbs about taming the tongue and speaking with wisdom. Or how
about not falling for the trap that interviewer set for you with his line of
questioning. I believe you know a thing or two about hunting. Well that
reporter had you in his sights like a duck floating on a pond.
I’m also tired of Christians
and Christian groups waging wars of words with themselves over this issue. I
read a blogger who wrote that Christians shouldn’t be up in arms over
Robertson’s suspension because of bigger issues happening all over the world,
like the 500 people who die in the Sudan every day. Apparently somebody can’t do both. You can’t
voice your opinion about a current news event here in the states, and at the
same time devote your life to rescuing the Invisible Children in Uganda? I
disagree.
I’m also tired of the
self-righteousness of liberal Christian groups thinking they do a better job of
loving the LGBT community and championing its rights and equality. Maybe they
think they’re doing it in love, but often it sounds pompous and comes across as
finger pointing. There’s a group on Facebook that I follow called the Christian
Left. Many times this group uses satire to poke fun at the Christian Right. The
group also blames the Right for the country’s woes and is quick to point out
how wrong the Right is. This isn’t very Christian.
As my dear sister said to me
the other day, it’s time everybody sat down and read the story Jesus told about
the dude with the speck of sawdust in his eye.
The Christian Left Facebook page
recently posted an image of a bible opened to a pair of blank pages titled,
“What Jesus said about homosexuality.” So yeah, Jesus didn’t mention homosexuality.
But He did mention sin. He told a woman caught in adultery to stop. He equated being
angry with a brother to murder. He likened a man looking lustfully at a woman
to adultery. I wonder if that applies to a man looking at a man lustfully, or a
woman looking at another woman lustfully. Seems to me it should.
And when it comes to sin, why
are Christians and the Liberal Media so freaking laser-eyed focused on
homosexuality? Why not just focus on what the bible says about sin in general:
THAT ALL MAN HAS SINNED. Straight or gay, why not worry about all of the other
things that the Bible clearly says is sin: lust, gossip, greed, malice,
slander, debauchery, drunkenness, to name only a few. And don’t forget a few of
those all-important Ten Commandments: lying, checking out your neighbor’s wife,
and drooling over your neighbor’s Lexus.
It seems to me that the only one who should
care about what the Bible says about homosexuality are those who are Christian
and homosexual. If they truly are Christians, then they’re hopefully living according
to what the Bible says about all areas of their lives. And it’s they’re
prerogative to decide how to act sexually. It’s between them and God. This
doesn’t mean that there can’t be debate and discussion on this issue. But the
church, Right or Left of the pew, can no longer be judgmental or superior. The
Liberal Media need to stopping trying to trap Christian celebrities and CEOs.
They need to stop creating social media frenzies. They need to stop turning
this issue into a war between rivals.
Now back to what the Bible
says about sin. We’re all guilty. Everybody. You can buy that or not.
It says the penalty of sin is
death. You can see your need to be rescued, saved, and redeemed from this death
sentence or not.
It says that Jesus came as a
baby, fully God and fully man, died a death that paid for your sins, and rose from
the dead to show his power over death.
It says that anyone who
believes in these things in the core of their hearts can be alive to God and
dead to sin. Born into a new life, freed from the wages of sin. Reconciled with
God. Loved by God as Father loves a son. Anybody.
Left.
Right.
Even an Ohio State Buckeye.
As the Herald Angels sang:
Mild lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Merry Christmas.
