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.