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.