Written on Monday, January 6, 2014 by David L. Goetsch
The decision by humbled, embarrassed executives at the
A&E Network to reinstate Phil Robertson, patriarch of the popular
and profitable “Duck Dynasty” program, bucked precedent for cases of
this sort. In fact, it was this precedent that A&E executives were
counting on when they made their ill-advised decision to suspend
Robertson for stating the Biblical position on homosexuality. It is not
uncommon for public figures to make statements that offend someone or
some group. In fact, in contemporary America it is difficult to say
anything that won’t offend somebody, and being offensive has become a
worst crime than murder. “You offended me” is fast replacing “you are a
racist” as the worst charge that can be made in American society.
Consequently, the misguided executives at A&E can be forgiven for thinking that Phil Robertson would do what most public figures do when the views they express threaten their positions or livelihoods: cave in and deliver a scripted apology to all those who might have been offended by what was said. I doubt the A&E executives who oversaw the “Duck Dynasty” debacle have ever even met an individual who is willing to sacrifice fame, fortune, power, and perquisites to stand by his beliefs. They have now, and I hope the A&E executives involved learned a lesson. More importantly, I hope that Christians across America who watched this epic David-and-Goliath battle unfold learned a lesson or two from it.
One important lesson Christians should take away from the “Duck Dynasty” debacle is that there is power in the concept of sacrificial resolve. Phil Robertson won because he was resolved to stick to his beliefs even if it meant sacrificing fame and fortune. For Christians, the lesson here is simple: Do not be silent and do not be cowed by the anti-Christian views of vocal secular humanists who despise what you stand for. Know what you believe and be willing to stand up for those beliefs. Christ sacrificed his life for us. The least we can do is be willing to sacrifice some of the security, comfort, and convenience we enjoy as blessings from Christ.
Another lesson to be learned from the “Duck Dynasty” debacle is that there is strength in numbers. You would not believe it from watching the nightly news or reading the morning newspaper, but there are many more Christians in America than LGBT advocates. The reason the LGBT community has been so successful in cowing networks like A&E and American society in general is that it speaks with one voice—loudly. We Christians, on the other hand, tend to remain silent in the face of opposition or spend more time arguing with each other over doctrinal issues than arguing against those who spit in the face of God.
Almost 75 percent of Americans claim to be Christians. Applying this percentage to America’s population of approximately 314 million people reveals that there are more than 235 million Christians in this country. If professing Christians spoke with one voice on any issue and in any election, America would be a much different and, need I say, much better country. Unfortunately, that rarely happens. It happened sufficiently in the case of Phil Robertson’s suspension to change the mind of weak-kneed television executives, but this was an unfortunately rare instance of Christian unity. For example, since 75 percent of Americans claim to be Christians, it is a mathematical certainty that Barack Obama could not have been elected or re-elected without substantial support from the Christian community. He has rewarded the Christians who put him in office by favoring the Muslim religion and turning his back on Christianity at every opportunity.
If Christians really want to obey the dominion mandate and influence American society in a positive way, they can do so. All that is necessary is to save our doctrinal disagreements for arguments within the family. When dealing with the public on socio-cultural issues we should speak and act with one voice, and that voice should reflect our common beliefs. What are those common beliefs? According to Joshua Harris, author of “humble orthodoxy” they are as follows:
Phil Robertson won his battle with A&E executives because he was willing to sacrifice for his beliefs and because Christians spoke with one voice in support of him. Christians who texted, emailed, called, and otherwise contacted A&E did not ask Phil Robertson for his views on escatology or whether he had been immersed or sprinkled. It was enough that he was a professing Christian stating a broadly-held Biblical point of view. This is the model we as Christians should apply when fighting the battle of the public square. If we will do this, all Americans—Christians and non-believers—will benefit.
Consequently, the misguided executives at A&E can be forgiven for thinking that Phil Robertson would do what most public figures do when the views they express threaten their positions or livelihoods: cave in and deliver a scripted apology to all those who might have been offended by what was said. I doubt the A&E executives who oversaw the “Duck Dynasty” debacle have ever even met an individual who is willing to sacrifice fame, fortune, power, and perquisites to stand by his beliefs. They have now, and I hope the A&E executives involved learned a lesson. More importantly, I hope that Christians across America who watched this epic David-and-Goliath battle unfold learned a lesson or two from it.
One important lesson Christians should take away from the “Duck Dynasty” debacle is that there is power in the concept of sacrificial resolve. Phil Robertson won because he was resolved to stick to his beliefs even if it meant sacrificing fame and fortune. For Christians, the lesson here is simple: Do not be silent and do not be cowed by the anti-Christian views of vocal secular humanists who despise what you stand for. Know what you believe and be willing to stand up for those beliefs. Christ sacrificed his life for us. The least we can do is be willing to sacrifice some of the security, comfort, and convenience we enjoy as blessings from Christ.
Another lesson to be learned from the “Duck Dynasty” debacle is that there is strength in numbers. You would not believe it from watching the nightly news or reading the morning newspaper, but there are many more Christians in America than LGBT advocates. The reason the LGBT community has been so successful in cowing networks like A&E and American society in general is that it speaks with one voice—loudly. We Christians, on the other hand, tend to remain silent in the face of opposition or spend more time arguing with each other over doctrinal issues than arguing against those who spit in the face of God.
Almost 75 percent of Americans claim to be Christians. Applying this percentage to America’s population of approximately 314 million people reveals that there are more than 235 million Christians in this country. If professing Christians spoke with one voice on any issue and in any election, America would be a much different and, need I say, much better country. Unfortunately, that rarely happens. It happened sufficiently in the case of Phil Robertson’s suspension to change the mind of weak-kneed television executives, but this was an unfortunately rare instance of Christian unity. For example, since 75 percent of Americans claim to be Christians, it is a mathematical certainty that Barack Obama could not have been elected or re-elected without substantial support from the Christian community. He has rewarded the Christians who put him in office by favoring the Muslim religion and turning his back on Christianity at every opportunity.
If Christians really want to obey the dominion mandate and influence American society in a positive way, they can do so. All that is necessary is to save our doctrinal disagreements for arguments within the family. When dealing with the public on socio-cultural issues we should speak and act with one voice, and that voice should reflect our common beliefs. What are those common beliefs? According to Joshua Harris, author of “humble orthodoxy” they are as follows:
- We believe in one God who created all things.
- We believe that God is triune: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- We believe that the Bible is God’s inerrant word.
- We believe that Jesus is the virgin-born and eternal Son of God.
- We believe that Jesus died on the cross as a substitute for us so we can be forgiven.
- We believe that Jesus rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
- We believe that Jesus will one day return to judge the world.
Phil Robertson won his battle with A&E executives because he was willing to sacrifice for his beliefs and because Christians spoke with one voice in support of him. Christians who texted, emailed, called, and otherwise contacted A&E did not ask Phil Robertson for his views on escatology or whether he had been immersed or sprinkled. It was enough that he was a professing Christian stating a broadly-held Biblical point of view. This is the model we as Christians should apply when fighting the battle of the public square. If we will do this, all Americans—Christians and non-believers—will benefit.
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