Hypocrisy Over Duck Dynasty

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Hypocrisy Over Duck Dynasty

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The controversy over Phil Robertson’s comments about homosexuality remind us of the consequences of a public figure speaking their true thoughts about modern morality. It also shows us the selective nature of censorship. Here’s how.

Robertson is the CEO of Duck Commander company and one of the family stars of the popular television series Duck Dynasty. He is a Christian and like many of his Southern neighbors is not ashamed or afraid to state his beliefs in clear language. While giving an interview to GQ magazine he quoted from 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 where the apostle Paul clearly showed the consequences of not only homosexual behavior but other sins. Here is what the passage says. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Paul runs the table on sinful actions in this passage. There’s enough there to offend just about everyone. All immorality including adultery and fornication (sex before marriage) is sin. Greed, theft, alcoholism and even loose lips can get us in trouble with God. But the media uproar and Robertson’s suspension from his television show is because he made remarks about gay morality and in today’s sexual oriented culture that’s taboo. Robertson could have rightfully shown how this scripture applies to tax fraud and no one would have blinked an eye. But today, if you take on the gay agenda in a prominent public manner you are open to immediate retribution.

This is shameless hypocrisy!

Pope Francis graces the cover of Time magazine as their Person of the Year. Pope Francis accepts the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, which is that it is a spiritual sin condemned by scripture. Yet no one is screaming against Time for naming the Pope the most prominent person of the year. But the Pope is not a Southern white male representing a rather gender specific pasttime like shooting cute birds out of the sky.

I read the GQ article. It profiles the kind of man I have met many times through the years. A baby boomer product of a post World War II America who self-corrected his life after a series of mishaps. Robertson, like many other men of his time, deeply believes he “found God” after many years of dissolute living. His redemption extends to doing good works where he can and promoting values he sees as vital to the survival of the America he once knew. He believes he is right. His advantage over others is his money and notoriety give him a large tree stump on which to stand and promote his ideas. No one can fault him for that. It’s the American way.

Here is what Phil Robertson, GQ magazine, gays, thieves, drunkards and all the rest of us should stop and consider. Unless we all repent and believe the true gospel of Jesus Christ we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Unless we submit ourselves to the personal rule of Jesus Christ in our life we stand in danger of the exact judgment Paul describes to Christians in Corinth. Robertson, his fellow born–again evangelicals and the clever sophisticated mavens of popular culture could look deeper into the Bible to understand the transforming impact of the gospel.

God is not selective in His censorship of sin. Neither should we be.
 

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Comments

  • Skip Miller
    Hello John, I hear the voice of reason in your reply. But I am also certain that Darris McNeely was in no way coming close to being a Pharisee. Without going into a deep discussion I will still call your attention to these scriptures: Matt 7:21-23 Evidently some people who call Jesus Christ "Lord" ; preach in His name ; cast out demons and even work other miracles will not be welcomed into the Kingdom, at least not at the exact moment when Christ returns. Why? Perhaps Jesus Christ has revealed knowledge that you and your "brothers in the faith" have not yet really understood. The Father & Christ are working out a plan. It has rules.
  • Sabrina Peabody
    I see the point being that it is odd that people didn't get upset about all the things that they probably are doing on a regular basis (fornication for instance) and yet focused on the issue of homosexuality. That is shocking! Are they blind? Some other thoughts, if someone is preaching God's Word for good, then let them be! Mark 9: 38-40 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us." I think it is not good to put down others (I don't think that was done in this article--just a admonition to look into the Bible even more). There is a difference when you are pointing out an issue that needs to be addressed to reach a deeper level of godly understanding (keeping of the commandments etc) vs. just being critical and judgmental. I think with proper religious upbringing in families, you see that you can have discussions about issues and work through the whys - why you do or do not do something and what you use as a measuring stick (the Bible). People who did not have strong families seem to quickly jump to saying, you are being judgmental or critical. Well, we need to be critical thinkers--learn what is godly discernment and use it!--and of course always acting and discussing these critical issues in love. As a basis, start by defining what love is according to the Bible (1 Corin. 13, John 14:15). Perhaps that is what Mr. McNeely is getting at--get plugged into your Bible App!
  • John Klassek
    I'm wondering whether Darris McNeely's article is written from the perspective that our evangelical brothers, including Phil Robertson, aren't genuine followers of Jesus Christ? If that is the case, then we run the risk of replicating the work of the Pharisees -- creating burdens and judgemental standards we're not entitled to. For example, I've heard some assert that "keeping the Sabbath and holy days" are used as a test of fellowship and a requirement for salvation. If that is the case, then we have failed to discern where and how God is working. I have many brothers in the faith, across a spectrum of denominations, and like the demographics in the Churches of God, wheat and tares seem to equally exist across most if not all the fellowships. We are all sinners. The "old man" still exists in degrees in all of us. We all fall short of God's righteousness, but the bill has been paid in Jesus' blood. Phil Robertson's words and warning originate from his love for Jesus, his total repentance and conversion, and motivated by God's Holy Spirit, clearly exhibits a willingness to carry the cross in this evil world. All the prophets of old God sent to his people were either killed or chased out of town. Phil seems to have entered their ranks today! So let's not be too harsh or judgemental towards our evangelical brothers. Their following of Jesus must never be brought into question.
  • PaulainVA
    Well, I don't know how I feel about this entire discussion. The idea of speaking ill of people who cannot help, nor did they have any choice in the matter, how they were made seems very harsh to me. I never read anywhere of Christ encountering homosexuals during his lifetime; and I imagine he must have. His life and His example was about acceptance and love. I do believe it is for God to judge, not man; and I just don't have it in me to hate anyone.
  • Skip Miller
    Hello Is the 144000 a... , I didn't hear his comment. Can you quote it? Or at least give it a close paraphrase?
  • Is the 144000 all Men
    What about the comments he made regarding Blacks? what is your stand on that?
  • Michael51
    I find myself agreement with Mr. McNeely and three comments given ahead of mine. Sometimes the views of the WORLD is so much like the Corinthians but more of it around this time of this world.
  • Harold
    I'm going with Phil instead of A&E. He is right.
  • luvgirl
    Yes, those "woes" send a chill up my spine. To call "Evil" GOOD and GOOD "Evil" has become the "norm" of today. All have sinned and fallen short, even the "Heteral Sexual's" and we are not up in arms when we are told we are sinning, so why do "Gay's"...I'm just sayin.. Should all the "Heteral Sexual Adulter's" now have "Heteral Sexual Adultry Parades"?? "Heteral Sexual Fornicaters Rights"..
  • michael9776
    Hello Mr. McNeely, As a Christian man who has been struggling to cope with homosexuality for many years, I understand the human reaction of the gay activists regarding Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ magazine. What is happening with the gay rights movement is a result of long-term cause-and-effect conditions that started decades ago with the breakdown of the traditional family - and especially the diminished role and presence of involved loving and affectionate fathers. Most of the people dealing with homosexual issues probably "grew up gay" - like me - becoming aware of their same-sex attraction as children entering puberty. It is very difficult to deal with the distressing emotional conflicts between "religion" and pronouncements about “what the Bible says” and the homosexuality that seems like a core part of one's identity. It's painful. Yes, the gay activists are wrong in their defense of a lifestyle that God condemns. But, I feel compassion for them. The gay activists feel like gays are targeted for attack – so they are striking back with “immediate retribution” in what they feel is justified defense. Most homosexuals know that traditional religion condemns them... so they don't trust. Instead, many are following what seems and feels right to them... and want to loved and be loved. Traditionally, religion has condemned - but not helped them. So they don't trust. One has to be highly motivated in order to endure a struggle against homosexuality... which at its root is driven by a yearning for same-sex love that was never received as a child. The accounts of Genesis 19 and Romans 1 don't tell the full real-world story of this issue in our modern society. (I know from my own struggle that this is true.) And just like everyone else, homosexual people yearn for validation and acceptance of their human value. With mistrust of religion - what did they do? They began the gay rights movement to try to protect themselves from mistreatment. Although, I understand that the Church of God has a moral and spiritual responsibility to preach and teach God’s standards – and warn of God’s judgment - as part of proclaiming the good news of God’s coming Kingdom to this earth, I know from the personal anguish of conflicted struggle that only the mercy of a returning Jesus Christ will truly heal the emotional wounds at the root of this issue. Michael
  • Michelle Smith
    I'm saddened to see UCG denigrating the religious beliefs of a man who is standing up for one of the same biblical values you promote in the same blog post. It's questionable at best to tear Mr. Robertson down after stepping into his media spotlight for purposes of self-promotion. Recent comments from UCG leadership indicated that the organization would be backing away from the long-time Church of God practice of running down other religious organizations that shared some biblical values. Many were inspired by those comments and I know they are disappointed to see business as usual here. At the same time, you make a good point. God is not selective when it comes to sin, and none of us can fully comprehend the size of the debt we all owe. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
  • Janet Treadway
    Wow. And thanks for taking a stand and saying what many people feel. Your blog reminds me of this verse; Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness,who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
  • Eric V. Snow
    This incident documents once again the amazingly hypocritical intolerance of the liberal left. The same people who constantly lecture others to be tolerant don't practice what they preach when it concerns an assault on their own values. They demand that people of various carefully chosen groups not be offended, yet they often delight in offending Christians of various denominations. For example, very offensive, anti-Christian art has been displayed in art museums and sometimes even financed by the federal government. So their claims that people should never be offended is completely one-sided. They enjoy offending Christians and "shocking the bourgoisie [the middle class]," yet if their chosen groups are offended (legitimately or otherwise), they hypocrically "have a cow." If it's wrong always to offend others, then this standard should be applied to all criticisms of Christians of whatever group as well. Of course, as Christ's denunciation of Pharisees in Matthew 23 shows, sometimes it's necessary to speak truth strongly and straightly to others who are sinning. If a Pharisee told Christ after that speech, "I feel offended," I don't think that would have cut any ice with Jesus. Robertson's words when trying to define sin weren't exactly sophisticated, carefully chosen, or fully accurate. After all, to define it broadly, sin is the transgression of the law. (See I John 3:4; Romans 3:20, 5:13, 4:15, 7:7-9,11, I Cor. 15:56, James 1:25, 4:17). But it speaks to the intolerance of the liberal left when they can't tolerate a Biblical verse that condemns homosexuality being quoted in their hearing. May we pray that no anti-hate speech laws protecting gays get passed by our government, or otherwise preaching against this sin will be censored here just as it is in Canada already.
  • jmparkhill
    Despite what the nominal Christianity stuff, he is absolutely right. He quoted scripture. But the whole thing boils down to our beliefs also, when we will be persecuted for what we believe. This is just another stepping stone for Government Control to censor and to remove our right to worship God and to obey Him as God tells us to obey him. This must be a wakeup call for all of us in God's Church. Government intrusion in private citizens in how they worship. Where it will lead us, we don't know. But we need to be aware of Satan more and more every day, and his minions of demons trying their best to not only destroy this country, but to destroy us also who believe in God, His Laws and the Kingdom to Come. Satan hates God and mankind.
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