Show Notes:
Today it seemed that the world had stopped turning because of Phil Robertson from the famous Duck Dynasty show on A&E. Why? Well, A&E put Phil on indefinite suspension over some comments in a GQ interview. If you ask me, there is a little more at play here than just the suspending of Phil. This is a two-part issue:
- Ideology is at play
- It’s a small publicity stunt
So, where did this all start? Let’s take a look at what was said in the GQ interview. After mentioning many times over that Phil was a bible-thumper – Now, if you didn’t know anything about Phil Robertson you might have been living under a rock.
Here’s a little background. Phil grew up with little to nothing to his name. And, don’t think to yourself that this backwoods, sticks living man is dumb. He’s not! He’s very smart and athletic. Just don’t get in the way of duck hunting. Football at Louisiana Tech got in the way. He was a star quarterback in high school which earned him the scholarship to Tech. Well, he quit playing at Tech because it interfered with the hunting season. The guy that took his spot was Terry Bradshaw.
Now, life for everyone isn’t without challenges. Phil pretty much lost it all early in his married life because of drugs and booze. But after he gave his life to Christ, he begged his wife Kay to come back, and she did.
Anyway, he’s not a dumb backwoods redneck. He is exactly what he calls himself. He is a bible-thumper. Which is alright in my book. So, if you are a fan of Phil you already knew that because you, probably like millions of other people looked him up on YouTube. It doesn’t take a genius to know these things. So how did this get so out of hand today? Let’s look at what he said:
This is from the GQ article titled: What the Duck?
http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson
“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.”
What does repentance entail? Well, in Robertson’s worldview, America was a country founded upon Christian values (Thou shalt not kill, etc.), and he believes that the gradual removal of Christian symbolism from public spaces has diluted those founding principles. (He and Si take turns going on about why the Ten Commandments ought to be displayed outside courthouses.) He sees the popularity of Duck Dynasty as a small corrective to all that we have lost.
“Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong,” he says. “Sin becomes fine.”
What, in your mind, is sinful?
“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
So, what’s up with that? Was that so wrong? Is he not given the right to freely speak his opinion?
It doesn’t seem so. This is the ideological argument to this whole shenanigan. You see, here, let’s look at just a few things at play here:
Taking the Father out of his role.
It’s the role of the patriarch in the family to help. He has helped raise some pretty awesome children who do their part in society. They have given many times over. But, thanks to A&E for taking the father out of his role in the family and suspending any further taping.
Attacking Christianity.
Here is a man, who loves God and Jesus Christ, and not only preached it but lives it. And you attack the very thing that he believes? What kind of message is that? Definitely not one of love. As Godly as Phil is, he would agree with the teaching of Christ when he taught that one should love the person and hate the sin. It’s okay to disagree with people. But, that leads me into the next thing:
The voice of the few speaks louder and trumps that of the majority!
Since when did the few dictate the masses. Look, you can love who you want and even however many you want; but the first time you try to push your agenda on me there is going to be some backlash. That’s to be expected! Again, it’s okay to disagree with people. Why can’t you just turn the other cheek? If you don’t like him and what he says, don’t watch the show and don’t buy any of the merchandise. It’s as simple as that!
Now . . . Let’s look at what we said earlier. It’s a small publicity stunt. Is there any truth to that? Maybe. Why not? The suspended him. Big whoop. But, if A&E really felt so strongly about this, they would have just canceled the show. I mean, why not? Oh, that’s right. It’s the most successful show A&E has ever showed on their network. Take away Duck Dynasty and they have nothing. They would lose out on a LOT of money! That’s what makes some think this could all be for publicity. Draw more attention to the show and the people featured in it so you can keep it in the forefront before the next season starts in January. So, could there be more behind what A&E is doing here? Maybe.
But, in the end, people need to have a little thicker skin. They need to be able to look past things. Move on and don’t dwell on them. Turn the other cheek. You can’t make everyone happy all the time. I agree with Phil when he said, “Never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus—whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out.”