At one time the A&E network’s “Duck Dynasty” was the number one rated entertainment show on cable TV.
To those who may not be familiar with the program it is a “reality show” in which the “stars” are the extended Phil Robertson family of West Monroe, Louisiana, makers of the famous “Duck Commander” duck calls. The program follows the Robertson family through their various hunting and business ventures, adventures and misadventures.
It is funny family entertainment, and it is also one of the few – perhaps the only – program on entertainment TV where the “stars” regularly pray together as a family and invoke Christian values in their everyday lives.
The program made the Robertson family media sensations and brought their company, the family and their values a great deal of media attention – including an interview with Barbara Walters which patriarch Phil Robertson skipped to go duck hunting and an interview with GQ magazine in which he witnessed for Christ by offering this response to a question about what he finds sinful.
"Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there," he said. "Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men."
Phil Robertson then paraphrased Corinthians saying, "Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers -- they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right."
It is worth noting that Robertson’s remarks weren’t merely his personal opinion or based on ten good ideas from some pop culture self-help guru, they are what the Bible teaches about human behavior, sex and sin.
However, the response from radical homosexual activists and same sex “marriage” advocates was quick, harsh and predictable in its demands that Robertson be removed from the show about the company he founded and the family he led according to Christian values.
And the A&E network’s response was equally as quick and predictable in its firing of Phil Robertson for witnessing what the Bible teaches.
Robertson was quick to try to calm the waters, but not backing down from his embrace of Biblical teachings on marriage, by releasing a statement saying, "I myself am a product of the '60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together. However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other."
So, Phil Robertson, like many before him was exiled for living the Gospel, but that didn’t stop him from continuing his witness for Jesus Christ.
Phil continued to preach and witness at his home church, Whites Ferry Road Church in his hometown of West Monroe, LA, and an Easter sermon he preached in 2014 remains a powerful statement of Christian faith in opposition to today’s post-modern cultural rot. “What's Jesus coming back for?” Phil asked, “To bring salvation to those who are waiting for it. Are you waiting on Jesus? Or are you afraid to see that sky busting, you see him coming?”
Phil Robertson won’t be preaching next Easter, but his message resonates across the years and reminds us that many churches have turned away from preaching the hard truths of the Gospel in favor of sharing feel-good secular aphorisms.
Rest in peace Phil. “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
John 5:28-29
CHQ Editor George Rasley is an ordained Elder of the Presbyterian Church and a member of Faith Leaders for America. The views expressed in this column are his own and not necessarily the views of any denomination, congregation or organization.
- Phil Robertson
- Duck Dynasty
- Duck Commander
- Willie Robertson
- Christian faith
- GQ Magazine interview
- Bible verses
- A and E network
- Phil Robertson controversy
