Future of Duck Dynasty? News Story here.
The controversy over Phil Robertson’s comments on homosexuality brings a couple of issues to the forefront of our cultural battle ground.
#1 Freedom of Speech. Phil Robertson has the right and freedom to say whatever he wants.
#2 Freedom of Religion. Phil Robertson has the right and freedom to believe and follow his faith without reservation.
Phil Robertson did two things. He gave his opinion about homosexual relationships and that he prefers women. A vagina is far superior in his mind. Second, he quoted the Bible in regard to homosexuality being a sin.
Homosexuality is a sin in the Bible. That fact will never be separated from the Jewish or Christian faith. If a person believes the Bible they will always believe homosexuality is a sin. Is homosexuality any worse than any other sin? No. Sin is sin.
Phil Robertson simply gave his opinion and told the interviewer what the Bible says. He did not condemn anyone, nor say anything hateful toward homosexuals. He obviously disagrees, but that is his absolute right to disagree with their life style living in a free society.
I’m a criminal in light of God’s Word. I accept that, repent of my sin, and do my best to stay away from sin. It does not matter who you are, every single human being on the Earth has the potential to commit any sin, and I pray that God continues to restrain my sinful flesh as I wait on Him to free me.
As a criminal I’m not going to condemn other criminals for criminal behavior (in God’s eyes). That is God’s place, and He will judge all sin according to His law. I personally don’t care what people choose to do in their bedrooms. My simple request is not to pressure me into believing it isn’t sin, and don’t attempt to manipulate my children to believe it isn’t sin. Live how you want, leave me and mine alone. You will answer to God not to me or any other criminal.
Should Christians tell other people that homosexuality is a sin? Jesus has told us to go into the world to preach the good news. Part of that is to preach repentance. People need to repent of their sins and believe. Those are God’s words, not ours. Repent means to have a change of mind and to stop. But, we need to include homosexuality with every other sin out there and not put it into a separate category. Having sex before marriage is as much a sin as homosexuality.
Phil Roberson quoted this scripture:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Who will not inherit the kingdom of God? The unrighteous. That includes fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners. Heterosexual sin is included as much as homosexuality. Where is the outcry from the thieves, drunks, and heterosexuals?
Senator Ted Cruz (Texas – R) responded, “If you believe in free speech or religious liberty, you should be deeply dismayed over the treatment of Phil Robertson. Phil expressed his personal views and his own religious faith; for that, he was suspended from his job. In a free society, anyone is free to disagree with him—but the mainstream media should not behave as the thought police censoring the views with which they disagree.”
Homosexuals are even speaking out on behalf of Phil Robertson.
The Daily Caller article here. Paglia, “Duck Dynasty uproar ‘utterly fascist, utterly Stalinist’”
Time Magazine article here. “The Duck Dynasty Fiasco Says More About Our Bigotry Than Phil’s”
I agree with Phil Robertson and I support him in his freedom of speech and religion. Down with political correctness! Down with the thought police! This is the United States of America.
Merry Christmas! *wink*
Daniel Silas
Hold the Line 
“I agree with Phil Robertson and I support him in his freedom of speech and religion. ”
I disagree with Phil Robertson, but I support him in his freedom of speech and religion.
If I owned a television station that he was on, though, I’d probably fire him too. He’s free to express himself however he wants. And I’m free to not employ him if the message he expresses is one I disagree with.
Private companies firing people have nothing to do with legal freedoms.
You are right in that private companies can hire or fire who they wish to. Let’s take that down to the private company level.
If someone was asked by a coworker and happened to mention their personal views that the person didn’t agree with homosexuality and the Bible says it is a sin in a conversation and then got fired, you would see this in court and the company would be sued for wrongful termination.
It is the same as firing someone for expressing their opinion that they support homosexuality and they don’t think it is a sin.
It is the same as firing someone for expressing their opinion that they are a liberal progressive that believes in socialism. Or firing someone for any political or personal opinion.
Where is the line where people don’t have a right to express their opinions in the work place? Phil Robertson was asked about it, and A&E probably encouraged him to do interviews to support and promote the show.
It’s different when it’s a television show. An anti-gay company could fire a pro-gay star from being on their tv station in the same way.
And when your job is ‘tv star’, your job is to represent the company. If the company disagrees with how you are representing them, they can let you go.
If you work in an office and ‘representing the company’ has nothing to do with your position, then you can’t be fired for expressing your opinion.
It is higher profile than a simple private company, but what about all those messages at the beginning of TV shows that say, “The views expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views of… etc etc.”
All A&E needs to do is say they disagree with Phil Robertson’s personal viewpoint and move on. No reason to fire him.
Could you imagine the outrage if an anti-gay company did the same thing to someone who was pro-homosexual? It would be explosive and brutal.
There is a huge double standard. Pro-homosexuality is politically correct. Anti-homosexuality is politically incorrect.
“There is a huge double standard.”
Not at all. I think we’re talking about two different things.
A TV company, whatever their position, is perfectly within their rights to fire a star because of something like this.
The amount of outrage from the public does not matter at all, speaking legally or in reference to rights.
Sure, there’d be outrage in your scenario. I’m sure there’s outrage in this scenario. But no one has the right to not be outraged, or to not have people outraged against them.