The casual observer, and many Christians, think about Christianity and The Bible in terms of God's Love: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…." [Jn. 3:16]
Love, however, is NOT the Theme of The Bible. That designation belongs to Redemption. From the very beginning, everything that happens to mankind points toward God's Redeeming the fallen race. Our celebration of Christmas is oriented toward Redemption, as we remember Christ's entry upon this Earth in the likeness of man. He came 'unto [for] you,' a Savior: Christ the Lord. Luke 2
This week, Unbelievers, Agnostics, Atheists and The Ignorant let loose with tirades and epithets against a man who -- when asked the question -- answered it, quoting from The Bible. I speak of the now-famous [or infamous] GQ interview of Duck Dynasty star: Phil Robertson.
I have never seen Duck Dynasty, I refuse to pay the exorbitant fee being charged by my cable provider, for 82 channels I don't want. However, the Robertson family's reputation / testimony precedes them, in large neon letters. They are Everywhere!
What's At The Heart of all this? You might think it's another attempt to denigrate Christians and Christianity. You might think it is the Liberal's continual effort to keep people from hearing and/or thinking about things godly. You would be right. However, there is something much more insidious and destructive in this particular effort.
Cable TV and TBN, specifically, has spread the 'gospel' far and wide, for well over 30 years. Liberals, Agnostics, Atheists and Change-Agents have largely ignored these folks, unless they are laughing at or mocking them. They are no threat! Only the Christian community has been loathe to condemn these false teachers, clowns and mystics.
But, here comes Phil Robertson with another declaration of The Truth! It may not have been expressed elegantly. It may have been off-the-cuff. It certainly came from an unpolished and unsophisticated source. But, listen, now, to how the unbelieving world responded. They didn't laugh. They didn't write it off. They certainly didn't ignore it. They rose up with one voice to denounce Phil and condemn everything he said….with every ounce of energy they possess.
Why? Simply because Phil has a 'bully pulpit!' Duck Dynasty is The Most Successful Reality Show, ever! More people watch this show than almost anything else on TV. What he says is going to be heard! And when he dares to say these people are sinners before God and candidates for eternal judgment, that must not stand!
The Message? We can tolerate the things we see as silly and non-essential, like Church services and Evangelistic Meetings. We know they don't amount to much. Church people are not much different from us. But this? This must STOP!
This what? The declaration that God hates sin, along with a recitation of what sin is; what it looks like; who is doing it. Essentially, pointing the finger at just about every New Social Initiative in the last 50 years and saying: This is what God condemns.
There is an outcry. A&E is on the wrong side of this issue. But, the Entertainment Community, the News Industry, the Educational Community, the Psychological Community and most of Congress and the Judiciary have too much to lose if Phil's pronouncement is allowed to stand.
The road just got a little more rocky. However, it may have just gotten a whole clearer.
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