Phil Robertson's Detractors Advance His Message
For days now, the nation has been subjected to hearing gay activists, atheists, hypersensitive liberals, and First Amendment rights-defenders engaging in biblical eisegesis. The histrionics began when Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson was quoted in a GQ interview where, in defense of his biblically based anti-homosexual-lifestyle views, he loosely cited 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:
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.
Unabashed in his enthusiasm about the saving power of Jesus Christ and his denunciation of the sinful life he openly admits he was delivered from, when explaining why he rejects the gay lifestyle, Papa Robertson also referred to female and male body parts as if he were reading out of a public school edition of Human Sexuality for Fifth-Graders. Hearing the words "vagina" and "anus" caused quite a stir with the set that approves of live sex shows being part of a college curriculum.
Liberals who are determined to force kindergartners to use clinical terms for genitalia are now saying Phil Robertson's comments were crude. Aren't these the same individuals who love to hand out Planned Parenthood pamphlets with a section that gives kids detailed instructions on how to masturbate?
Yes they are! And now it's the masturbation enthusiasts who are dipping their toes into the biblical interpretation waters and expounding upon their hollow theological insights.
Liberals interpret both the Bible and the U.S. Constitution similarly. Generally they reject both, but they are the first to expose their ignorance when opining on how those who do believe in both the Scripture and our founding documents err in the proper understanding.
Now, in the aftermath of the Duck Dynasty controversy, disapproving unbelievers and biblical know-nothings are elevating themselves to the seat of authority and, on behalf of the gay community, are determined to iron the insensitive wrinkles out of the Scripture.
On the supposedly more conservative end of the spectrum, you have "Christian" pundits like Bill O'Reilly questioning whether Phil Robertson took it too far when he quoted the Word of God, which, Bill is well aware, condemns all sin, including homosexuality, bestiality, fornication, and adultery.
As an unapologetic Christian Bible-thumper myself, it initially disturbed me to hear Scripture being analyzed by people like gay Democrat pollster Bernard Whitman, who attempted to use the Bible to bludgeon a man I consider a brother in Christ. What Whitman and others like him fail to realize is that their criticism actually helps Phil Robertson further his message.
In the 55th chapter of the book of Isaiah, verses 10 and 11, the Lord informed the prophet that:
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Secular eisegetes are oblivious to the fact that their level of belief or lack thereof does not impact the intrinsic power of God's Word to accomplish its purposes!
The more time the left spends vocally ruminating over what Phil Robertson said, the more the Word of God, which never comes back void, goes forth and impacts lost and hurting lives. A&E and GLAAD may not realize it, but thanks to mutual religious intolerance, they've assisted Phil Robertson in getting out the message that he was originally denounced for expressing. Let's not forget -- as with Balaam, if God has something to say, He will get a donkey to say it. And at present the message being sent clearly condemns homosexuality, but with it also comes the hope of God's unconditional love and forgiveness, and the free gift of salvation.
One can't help but compare the modern-day predicament of Phil Robertson -- unruffled by the furor, firm in his faith, and unwavering in his commitment to Christ -- to that of the Apostle Paul.
When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was imprisoned. The overriding theme of Paul's letter was that despite his captivity, his evangelistic work had not been hindered. Instead, those who tried to thwart the spread of the Gospel unwittingly helped hasten its propagation.
For personal gain, phony preachers questioned Paul's good character. Paul was unmoved. Imprisoned in a jail cell, the writer of the epistle ignored the allegations and focused on and rejoiced in what was of utmost importance to him: the advancement of the Gospel.
In like manner, as an unintended consequence of Phil Robertson's comments, while the patriarch of Duck Dynasty remains unyielding, unlikely suspects on the left are successfully moving forward the very message that they themselves find objectionable.
Just as it is now for Phil Robertson, it was for Paul of Tarsus nearly 2,000 years ago when he wrote these words to the Philippians: "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached." And because truth is eternal, all Christians should join together with "Happy Happy Happy" Phil Robertson and rejoice.
Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com.