Pluralism. It’s a product of a multicultural, diversified society. In theory it means that multiple cultures, beliefs, and special interests can live side-by-side and flourish in one common civilization (Merriam-Webster.com).

It really sounds like a good idea. If you leave me alone, I will leave you alone and we can live in peace. Sadly, in action, it doesn’t work out that way.

De-‘Duck’-ed from television

I think we would have to have been completely unplugged this week to miss the media storm about Phil Robertson, the leader of the family that stars in the “Duck Dynasty” series produced by the A&E cable channel in the United States. He has been placed on indefinite leave from the show because of his Bible based comments condemning homosexuality.

The Robertson family espouses traditional Christian beliefs, and patriarch Phil gave a perhaps inelegant, but basic citation of the list of habitual, unrepentant sins that can keep a person from eternal life in the kingdom of God (listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) during an interview with the men’s magazine GQ.

So, what does the bible say?

“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 homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God,” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NKJV).

These scriptures make what is considered a sin quite clear. But the following verses show that among God’s people, to whom the apostle Paul pastored, were those that had repented and rejected all of those lifestyles. 

Also, notice that the list of sins doesn’t just single out homosexuality, but includes adultery, fornication, theft, coveting, drunkenness, and blackmail… among other things.

Truth, or not?

Which brings us back to pluralism. Is God’s way of life pluralistic? Can you and I and the next person believe various shades of the truth and still be obeying God?

The simple answer is, no. Truth is exclusive, various “versions of the truth” are more accurately called lies. Someone has to be right, and that someone is God.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” (John 14:6, NKJV).

Throughout the Bible, God inspired the definition of how life should be lived successfully, resulting in resurrection and eternal life in the family of God. That definition does not fit in with the way of life that swirls around our media and “pluralistic” societies, militant secularism.

As evidenced by the media kerfuffle around the “Duck Dynasty”/Phil Robertson situation, a pluralistic acceptance of multiple viewpoints defining morality will soon be silenced. One way will be accepted and other voices will be cut off. In our case, the truth of God will become more difficult to speak freely.

“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men,” (Acts 5:29, NKJV).

The challenge to us is this: Do we change our beliefs to fit the legal and peer pressure of man-made society, or do we stay true to the Truth?