The world is in an uproar over Phil Robertson’s anti-gay statements and his role in Ducky Dynasty being suspended. In case you missed the news yesterday & this morning here it is from CNN:
(CNN) — Phil Robertson, a star of A&E’s “Duck Dynasty,” has been suspended indefinitely after slamming gays in a magazine interview. We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series Duck Dynasty,” the network said in a statement Wednesday. His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely.”
I don’t like it either but for goodness sake let’s not be jerks about it. Here’s an example of what I mean. This is a comment from a Christian? in response to the Duck Dynasty issue in a comment thread that received lots of comments from the LGBT community.
“If you gays and lesbians think you are hated let me remind you it is the sin that is hated. What you are doing is not natural and is against the BIBLE. However if you repent of this sinful nature you can have eternal life says the word of GOD. Nof said.”
Why this is a Christian jerk statement:
- starting with “you gays and lesbians” is the first overwhelming scent of disgust communicated in this statement that is supposedly proclaiming there is no hate towards the LGBT community personally.
- yelling the word BIBLE and GOD (that makes me want to get to know the God of the Bible how ’bout you?)
- end with “Nof said” because they just got told by a Christian jerk. If this was a girl speaking I picture a quick turn of the head and hair swishing back as she struts off all puffed up in her self perceived rightness.
It’s when people like this represent “Christians” that make me want to crawl under the pew and say, “I’m not with them.” Here’s the weird thing though. I agree that homosexuality is wrong and unnatural. I agree that if we all repent of our sinful nature we can have eternal life and that’s what God’s word says. And that’s exactly what this guy said but the way in which he said it is just as unnatural for a Christ- follower, who is walking in step with the Spirit, as the man sleeping with another man. Both are unnatural and sinful.
I’m dodging imaginary things being thrown at me right now. Yikes. Did I really just say that and am I right for saying it?
Let me clarify what I’m attempting to say. I might be wrong but I think I can see this in scripture. There are different consequences to sin but sin is sin. We can see in scripture the severity of how God dealt with certain sin to get a clue as to the fact He really really hates sin. All sin. But would I be wrong to point out that it wasn’t the sin of gossip that got Sodom and Gomorrah completely destroyed? It was sexual sin. This doesn’t diminish or excuse my own personal sins of anger, a lack of self control or an untamed tongue. Those sins hinder my relationship with Jesus and there are consequences to those sins. The reason God hates our sin so much is because it separates us from him and his glory. God loves us and he wants to be in relationship with us and to have his name lifted up. And all sin hinders our relationship with Jesus and the ability to lift up his name in worship.
So in conclusion, let’s be honest about our own sins and confess it to Jesus and in doing so maybe we will have more compassion on those around us who also sin and stand in need of forgiveness.
P.S. I apologize for calling this man a jerk. Sigh. Nothing like your own blog post to cause personal conviction.
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