I felt the need today to revive my old blogger account. I haven't used it in a long time because I really haven't felt inspired to say much aside from occasional quips on Facebook.
The inspiration came from the story saturating the interwebs about one of the cast members from the "reality" television show Duck Dynasty. I know only a little about the show and have never watched it aside from a few clips on YouTube, because I don't have cable. It is my understanding that the show is about a family that is very open about their faith in Jesus Christ. I believe some of the Duck Dynasty family members also do public speaking and preaching of the Gospel beyond the realm of the show.
This of course would be contrary to every single other thing on television.
For some reason, this reminds me of the account of Daniel-just prior to his being thrown into the Den of Lions. Daniel as you know was a God fearing man. He was also good at his job, so much so that the king had promoted Daniel up and up until he was basically second in command after the king. The Bible says that "[Daniel] possessed an extraordinary spirit". Daniel had risen to the top of his field, placed there in fact by God and for God's Glory. Eventually Danny was set up by his inferiors. They knew that Daniel would never replace Jehovah with another god. Enemies of Daniel and Jehovah conspired to steal from Daniel the things that they could never have-Honor, Faith, and Integrity.
We all know how Daniel's story played out. He refused to renounce his faith and was martyred for it. Or at least it was attempted-martyerdom. God delivered Daniel by spending the night in the den with him and keeping the hungry lions at bay. Additionally, those who set up Daniel, met their demise in that very Den of Lions. This theme actually runs through the Bible. Check out the lives of Joseph, Mordecai, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and you will be amazed at the continuity of the Book. Of course, the point of these Biblical accounts isn't just that God protected His people physically (we know that that doesn't always happen) but that God protects His people spiritually. The promise is found at the end of the Epistle of St. Jude, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His Glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be Glory, Majesty, Dominion and Authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
Make no mistake, I am not making Phil Robertson out to be a saint. He said things that should not have been said for sure. Personally, I don't think it's very becoming of a Christian to be in GQ magazine to start with. This periodical is essentially soft porn. Having said that, I can't help but wonder what the citizens of Rome and Corinth said when the Apostle Paul told them the same thing (without the crudeness of course.) Don't be fooled, sexual deviancy in Ancient Rome was more common/mainstream/accepted than it is in our culture. Ever heard of Nero?
I have read on the interwebs that the Bible was written by primitive people and that it doesn't apply to our modern society. And that Christians claiming the relevancy of the Bible today were in fact holding back the advances of humanity. The comments I am referring to were clearly written by a scholar, lots of foul language. (Insert sarcastic eye roll here.) Even the most pedantic look into Biblical scholarship or Roman culture reveals that, a) the Bible was not written by cavemen and b) it was fairly commonplace among Ancient Roman high society to engage in sexual activities that would make even the staunchest liberal shudder. Ipso facto: It is as relevant as when it was written, very little in fact has changed with humanity-we are still desperately in need of a Savior.
So why am I adding to the plethora of garbage about this current outrage?
A few thoughts for the Christians in the crowd:
1) Don't let all this stuff distract you. Stay focused. We are so easily swept up in the latest attack on Christianity. We shouldn't be. Jesus said, "If they hated Me, they will surely hate you". This has been going on for the past 2000 years, even longer if you go back to Joseph. Our mandate was made clear by our Lord, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." At no time did our Lord command, "Defend yourselves against those who don't love and know me and my commands." We need to focus on the Message.
2) Pray that God would be glorified over the course of the next few weeks as this is discussed and hashed and rehashed both with the cast of DD and A&E and with the every day Joe at the water cooler or on the interwebs or whatever.
3) Pray for Phil Robertson-that he would make it through this trial with his faith intact and that he would repent of anything that needs made right with his Maker.
4) This is Christmas people. Let's share the Joy, Love and Peace that Emmanuel has given to us with a world that desperately needs it.
