THE DUCK FLAP

For a week, the news has been about the Duck Dynasty leader, Phil Robertson.  Since the controversy is all about freedom of faith, I ought to comment on it.  I’ll do my best to bring to light some details that have been left out of most reports.  After listening to several news stories covering the interview Phil had with the GQ  reporter, I suspected that we weren’t getting all the facts.  It appeared that the reporters had not read the article, but were commenting on small quotes.  I looked up the article and read the whole thing.  Almost all the reports were done by people who were ignorant of what was really said.  For example, Bill O’Reilly of Fox News spent the lead time on two broadcasts criticizing Phil for “condemning a group of people to damnation” and “judging others”.  If he had read the article, he would have discovered that Phil said the same thing.  Phil knows he isn’t supposed to condemn or judge anyone and he says so.  So, here are some observations you may not see on the news:

1.        Phil wasn’t sharing his opinion about homosexual activity.  All the commentators were debating if he had the right to share his “opinion”.  What he said about homosexuality was not an opinion.  The statements that are being attacked were quotes.  He was quoting a Biblical passage from I Corinthians 6:9,10 as his answer to a direct question of the reporter.  It says, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived.  Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God”.(from the NIV version of the Bible)  The Apostle Paul wrote the passage.  Phil just drew attention to it.  As Christians, we believe Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write what he did.  Therefore, the condemnation isn’t from Phil, it’s from God’s Holy Spirit.

2.       The issue of bestiality also arose.  Phil is accused of comparing homosexual behavior to bestiality.  Actually, it isn’t Phil who makes that connection.  It is President Obama.  In the letter from the White House to the Pentagon ending the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy restrictions, the President also ended restrictions on bestiality .  The two activities are listed together in the letter… in the same paragraph.  And he uses the same rationale to remove the restrictions on both.  A report on the discussions at A & E said that the comparison Phil made between the two activities was the main reason he was suspended.  So, why didn’t they ban any appearance by President Obama on A & E?

3.       The most important observation is that no one read past verses 9 and 10.  The key verse is 11.  It says, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”  Later in the article, Phil pointed out these truths.  The Bible has pervasive themes.  God does the condemnation of sin by His Holy Spirit.  We respond with repentance, confession, and belief.  Then God forgives, regenerates, and restores.  Everyone is focusing on the condemnation and nobody but Phil is focusing on the rest of the themes which are the good news.  He shares that his life is a living testimony to the verse 11.

The tactics being used by the homosexual lobby to silence Phil and any other voices are not unusual.  (See my article entitled “The Ruse” at http://freedomoffaith.blogspot.com)They have used the “fear the smear” weapon since the late 60’s.  Obviously, people are getting tired of their propaganda myths and iron boot tactics to suppress the free expression of faith.  Just look at the enormous reaction supporting Phil and his family.

 

 

 

THE ANNUAL WAR ON CHRISTMAS

 

 

Every year as Christmas approaches we see the war on Christmas surge to the surface.  Christmas carols are banned from school programs.  Store employees are threatened if they make statements such as "Merry Christmas".  Even decorations are screened according to the preferences of the thought police.  Everyone is walking on eggshells afraid of offending someone who is part of organizations that thrive on bashing people of faith.  So, government agencies are forced to make policies that prohibit the free expression of faith by anyone except secular humanists.

 

But, to the dismay of secular humanists, in 1961, the Supreme Court ruled in Toraso v. Watkins

(367 U.S. 488) that secular humanism is a religion.  In fact, the IRS has given tax exempt status to secular humanism as a religion.  That means that any prohibition a government agency imposes on people of faith also applies to secular humanism!  Think about the implication of that fact.  That would mean schools, universities, government agencies, etc. that have regulations restricting the presentation of materials deemed too religious would also have to ban secular humanistic materials as well.  This has driven secular humanist to insane conclusions.  They are trying to argue that they are a religion in free exercise clauses, but not in establishment clauses.  They want to be a religion when it is of benefit to them, but not when it is restrictive.  The result is they have the blessing of being tax exempt, but they don't have to abide by restrictions on their beliefs like other religions.  That has led to inconsistent and confusing court rulings.

 

There is a better solution.  We need to return to the era of free speech.  When free speech is enacted, all groups can say what they want.  They can promote, educate, explain, discuss, and persuade to their hearts content.  Free speech is self governing.  Everyone knows that if they present absurd propositions, there can be rebutals that would expose irrational or destructive comments.  As it is currently, only certain politically correct positions are allowed.  The current educational system has become more indoctrination than education.  What is taught is controlled by a small group of people with very limited beliefs who have the warped impression that they know what is best for everyone.

 

As for holidays, let people celebrate in the way that is meaningful to them.