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I admit right upfront: I’ve never watched a second of Duck Dynasty. So that makes me very unqualified to talk about the faith the Robertson family projects on the show. But what I can talk about is the storm that has blown in since GQ released some quotes from their interview with Phil Robertson.
But what are we really talking about here? Some people (and specifically GLAAD) are very upset with Phil Robertson over his quotes about homosexuality.
Based on Robertson’s comments, I’m not sure why this is such an issue. But what I do know is that this is going to become incredibly divisive and speak loudly in our culture. There are rational responses to what he said from both sides, but people are going to take this to extremes (at least the ones who have platforms on television and internet).
I don’t have any really good, concrete answers for either “side”, but what I do have are some questions:
Why would anyone who identifies as a LGTBQ care what this bearded, duck call makin’, country boy has to say about homosexuality? I’m not going to pretend I know what it’s like to be ostracized in this way, but if Phil Robertson was quoted as saying things against middle-aged white guys who live in the midwest I honestly wouldn’t care one bit.
Why has Phil Robertson become an official representative for Christianity? If I’m going to really dig into issues of what the Bible says about homosexuality and sincerely try and wrestle with this issue that is dividing churches and denominations, I’m not going to Phil Robertson for exegetical commentary on Leviticus or any of Paul’s letters.
Can’t Phil Robertson be entitled to his opinion? Yes. We all are.
If Phil Robertson believes something deeply as a Christian, should he hide that? No. We live in an incredibly over-reactive society and this topic is proof of that. Whether you agree with him or not, don’t we all want people who are willing to stand up for their beliefs? Isn’t that the same exact thing that GLAAD is doing against him?
I can see all the sides/angles to this story. And personally, I wish Phil Robertson wouldn’t have said what he said. I wish he would have stopped after he said: “if the human race loved each other and they loved God, we would just be better off.”
I think we should start at love, continue with love, and end with love. I think Christians should be an inclusive people, a loving people, a people who look past what some believe are the sins of others in order to focus on love, reconciliation, and restoration.
And I also wish we could be people who aren’t so reactive and instigative. Who really cares what Phil Robertson has to say?