Was Phil of Duck Dynasty Out of Line?

Now that the flap over Phil Robertson’s comments about homosexuality and race have abated, ending with A&E reinstating Phil, I thought I’d throw in my two cents.

There was no doubt how this would turn out. Have you walked through a Wal-Mart lately? Every turn reveals a new Duck Dynasty themed product. The powers that be weren’t about to kill the goose that laid the biggest golden egg in history over principles, be they right or wrong. A&E definitely had a huge stake at risk and also surely got pressure from high rollers with money invested in those products.

As to Phil’s comments, if he did get off base a pinch he brought it back to ground zero with, “I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.” Why didn’t that get more press?

The Bible is the source of wisdom. It should be studied and sinful behavior should be avoided. However, we believers are not charged with the task of pointing out other’s faults and sins. Rather, we are charged with bringing others into the fold and letting them work out their own relationship with The Lord. If something isn’t right in their life He has a way of bringing it to the forefront and sifting it out. Our intervention isn’t needed. Or wanted.

Over 2,000 years ago Jesus said plainly, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Nothing’s changed.

My favorite book of the Bible is 1st John. It takes maybe 5 or 10 minutes to read, but invest the time and you’ll put it down a better person than when you picked it up. If I read it seventy times in the next year it will be too few.

Written in approximately A.D. 85, through the ages John speaks directly to us:

“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God our love grows more perfect.”

Jesus, The King of Kings, the only king that never took physical territory, only hearts and minds, and likely the only king that ever washed the feet of his subjects said to us, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

With those five words Jesus laid out his Plan A Gospel Template; our mandate is simple: Love others unconditionally as we are loved unconditionally by Him.

There is no plan B.

b. e. watson