Phil Robertson, A&E, and Free Speech

I would go even further than this article and question the wisdom of Christian individuals to throw their lots in with secular media organizations in the first place. It is really just asking for trouble and playing with fire. It is giving non-Christians the opportunity to poke fun of Christianity.

You Have Been Warned—The “Duck Dynasty” Controversy

Those are usually the kind of preferences Al Mohler tries to keep inside his head. Surely he has no idea what makes a good TV show/good network PR and ought to leave that to people who know what they’re doing.

There are a lot of things going on in this story that i think a lot of the show’s fans are missing in their haste to show support for Phil.

1. A&E may be playing everyone. stir up fake controversy to get free advertising and placate opposition to show. then after everything has quieted down let Phil back in. Surely they authorized the GQ interview and knew what they could get.
2. Scriptures about meddling in unbeliever’s affairs:
   1. I Cor 5:12–13: “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.”
   2. I Pet 4:15: “If you suffer, it should not be as a… meddler.”
   3. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon comments on ἀλλοτριεπίσκοπος (meddler): “The writer seems to refer to those who, with holy but intemperate zeal, meddle with the affairs of the Gentiles – whether public or private, civil or sacred – in order to make them conform to the Christian standard.”
3. Crassness of Phil’s comments is hardly becoming of a Christian (Eph 4:29)
4. Not at all a first amendment issue. Phil said his piece; now A&E have said theirs. No government oppression.
5. Racism in other parts of same interview
6. Do his comments about sin being illogical have any scriptural basis? Wouldn’t it be God’s revelation that determines things and not our own wisdom?
7. (Hopefully the rest of these items can avoid being crass) The mode of sex that Phil focused on is used by some heterosexual couples and not only gay men and not all gay men employ this method. What do his comments say about lesbian attraction?
8. The squealing pig scene in Deliverance is probably the first thing to come to mind after hearing “gay” and “hillbilly”.

[DavidO]

Those are usually the kind of preferences Al Mohler tries to keep inside his head. Surely he has no idea what makes a good TV show/good network PR and ought to leave that to people who know what they’re doing.

I don’t understand the problem you see in Mohler’s article. Granted, I read very quickly and may have missed something. The biggest problem I have so far is the unequivocal acceptance being granted Robertson and the rest of his clan as Christians. My understanding is they are Church of Christ folk. Church of Christ teaches water baptism is an essential part of salvation. While I certainly believe the Robertsons are religious, at this time I don’t have any reason not to include them in the same religious, moral, “good-guy” group as Mitt Romney - but not as Christians.

Not sure if the Dynasty crew are Christians in the Fundamentalist sense of the word. Baptismal regeneration?

If they are believers, not sure they helpful to the image of the church.

Our speech is always to be with grace. The duck guy’s speech was very crude. Glad A&E gave him a time out. Wish A&E / Disney would do more to remove vulgarity from the limelight.

http://www.davecrabb.com/2013/12/19/should-christians-defend-phil-robertson-of-duck-dynasty/

Listen, Duck Dynasty is everywhere this Christmas, and they have to be making a ton of $$ with deals with Hallmark, etc., etc. They will be fine. They are also overexposed. When there are that many people hanging on what you say, it is very hard for something stupid not to come out. I would have to say the crudeness of his expression is what some would find offensive, though he is definitely dealing with the professionally offended at this point.

If the Robertson family values their Christian testimony, will they stand behind Phil? He did offer an apology of sorts, it appears. What if they are following the “any publicity is good publicity” mantra that the world seems to have embraced and chose to be controversial on purpose? It could really backfire on them and the Christian community if we go chasing after them. They are big boys and girls, and they have enough leverage that they can take care of themselves.