Ok, so I have seen just about enough hatred on the issue with Duck Dynasty Patriarch Phil Robertson. I think it is about time that we take a Christian stand on the issue, which ultimately, if you actually have taken the time to read the article, was the message that Phil was trying to share.
2 Timothy 4:1-8 lays it down for us, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
I feel that we as Christians do not need to become the problem. Phil was doing what this scripture commands us to do, “Preach the Word”. He presented an honest answer to a question that was asked of him, giving his interpretation of a scripture that he felt was relevant to the question asked of him, “What, in your mind, is sinful?” I think we should all take a moment to answer this question for ourselves.
We as Christians are called to do two things: love God and love people. I think if you have taken the time to read this article you will see this played out in the words that Phil Robertson was ultimately trying to share. “We’re Bible-thumpers who just happened to end up on television,” he tells me. “You put in your article that the Robertson family really believes strongly that if the human race loved each other and they loved God, we would just be better off. We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let’s get on with it, and everything will turn around.”
I think what we need to do right now is this: As Christians, REAL Christians, we need to stand up for God…look at what he said, Love each other and Love God! We do need to repent for the ways that we have handled things, including this situation. How are we supposed to save the lost when all we do is condemn them to hell? How are we supposed to show them the love of God when all we are doing is focusing on the huge “problem” we seem to have with them. For years I have heard, “Love the sinner, hate the sin,” and I feel that we must apply that in the best way we possibly can today.
You may not agree with the way someone lives their life, but the way to approach it is not to attack and condemn, it is to love and forgive, and ultimately show the love of Christ to the world; in the hope that the example you are setting will allow someone to see Christ in you!
I ask each of you today to pray for this family, but also to pray for the executives who have had to, in their mind, make a difficult decision. We must today take a stand…not for Phil Robertson (because I’m pretty sure, based on his own words, that is not what he would want) but for God as His children. We should take a stand for Christ and show His love for the lost to each one.
John 3:16-17 will show you what God feels for each one of us…”For God so loved the world that he gave is only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him, will not perish, but will have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.”
He didn’t send Christ to condemn, so what right do we have to do so? He came to save, and love is how Christ came to save the world. He loves us, gave his life on a cross, and rose from the grave to defeat death so that we would have the chance to share his love with others. Please, take a stand for God, but do it in a loving way that shows others the true meaning of why Jesus came…stop with the hateful messages and images, that is not what Jesus would want done.
The Glory of it All 