I kind of wish I had stayed away from FB today (though that would be a first) because this Duck Dynasty stuff keeps running through my head. I've liked a lot of things of seen, and then wished I could go back and unlike them all. I even shared one article. Then I deleted it.
Obviously my feelings have been mixed. I must empty my brain of this nonsense so I can sleep so here it goes; my thoughts are as follows...
-As my sister-in-law posted and I thought earlier today, we do have freedom of speech but that does not free us from the consequences of the things that we say. Period. Whoever you are, that's the truth.
-I've seen in a couple of places that GQ excluded part of the interview. If what I am seeing is in reference to this interview, then the part left out was pretty important. It said that the DD guy and his family don't judge and that they tell everybody about Jesus no matter who they are. That's the short version. Again, whether it's true or not, I don't know, but it changes things somewhat I think.
-I have to say personally, that some of the things I read in the interview made me squeamish. I didn't like the language that he used. You can quote the Bible all day in a respectful, loving way but much of what he said was far from that. A true follower of Christ needs to speak words that are God honoring or just not speak at all. As a friend asked me earlier, do you think Jesus and his disciples would have spoken the words that Phil spoke in that interview? I think not and I would guess that those of you who read the actual interview would agree with me. As Christians, our main goal in life should be to walk in love and in that interview, Mr. Phil missed the mark by far.
Don't get me wrong now. I agree with what the Bible says about homosexuality. Yet condemnation has never drawn a person to the Lord. Only love can do that.
-Now for some perspective...regardless of whether or not this suspension is permanent, he is going to be fine. Maybe he'll just have more time to hunt and do the things he loves. It sounds like they're pretty much financially set for life. So why the big uproar.
How consequential is any of this in the grand scheme of life? It is essential to put our energy and thoughts toward things that are worthy of them.
Speaking of that, do any of you remember Pastor Saeed? He is an American pastor imprisoned in Iran for the TERRIBLE crime of being a Christian, for telling others about Jesus just as the Bible teaches us to. He has two kids and a wife praying for his release so that he can come home to them in Idaho. He's been tortured mentally and physically and has endured more than any person should ever have to, and all for the cause of Christ.
So how many of you shared my posts about that? A day was set aside for rallying people to write their congressmen and the president to advocate for this man's release. How many of you went to the website and sent even one e-mail on his behalf? How many have prayed for him and his family?
It's far easier to click share on here and to blab out our opinions on every subject under the sun. It's much harder to actually stand for something real and to serve others in practical ways.
Keeping the main thing the main thing is tough, but there's little that will bring greater meaning to our lives and the lives of those around us than that.
Obviously my feelings have been mixed. I must empty my brain of this nonsense so I can sleep so here it goes; my thoughts are as follows...
-As my sister-in-law posted and I thought earlier today, we do have freedom of speech but that does not free us from the consequences of the things that we say. Period. Whoever you are, that's the truth.
-I've seen in a couple of places that GQ excluded part of the interview. If what I am seeing is in reference to this interview, then the part left out was pretty important. It said that the DD guy and his family don't judge and that they tell everybody about Jesus no matter who they are. That's the short version. Again, whether it's true or not, I don't know, but it changes things somewhat I think.
-I have to say personally, that some of the things I read in the interview made me squeamish. I didn't like the language that he used. You can quote the Bible all day in a respectful, loving way but much of what he said was far from that. A true follower of Christ needs to speak words that are God honoring or just not speak at all. As a friend asked me earlier, do you think Jesus and his disciples would have spoken the words that Phil spoke in that interview? I think not and I would guess that those of you who read the actual interview would agree with me. As Christians, our main goal in life should be to walk in love and in that interview, Mr. Phil missed the mark by far.
Don't get me wrong now. I agree with what the Bible says about homosexuality. Yet condemnation has never drawn a person to the Lord. Only love can do that.
-Now for some perspective...regardless of whether or not this suspension is permanent, he is going to be fine. Maybe he'll just have more time to hunt and do the things he loves. It sounds like they're pretty much financially set for life. So why the big uproar.
How consequential is any of this in the grand scheme of life? It is essential to put our energy and thoughts toward things that are worthy of them.
Speaking of that, do any of you remember Pastor Saeed? He is an American pastor imprisoned in Iran for the TERRIBLE crime of being a Christian, for telling others about Jesus just as the Bible teaches us to. He has two kids and a wife praying for his release so that he can come home to them in Idaho. He's been tortured mentally and physically and has endured more than any person should ever have to, and all for the cause of Christ.
So how many of you shared my posts about that? A day was set aside for rallying people to write their congressmen and the president to advocate for this man's release. How many of you went to the website and sent even one e-mail on his behalf? How many have prayed for him and his family?
It's far easier to click share on here and to blab out our opinions on every subject under the sun. It's much harder to actually stand for something real and to serve others in practical ways.
Keeping the main thing the main thing is tough, but there's little that will bring greater meaning to our lives and the lives of those around us than that.
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