The Real Problem With Anti-gay Comments from Duck Dynasty's Daddy Phil
First, why is Phil Robertson in GQ Magazine? Anyone take a look at how Phil dresses and grooms (or more accurately, 'doesn't' groom) himself? I've been reading GQ for many years and 'Redneck Sheik' has never been acceptable for GQ, so why now? It just goes to show you that GQ is more likely to appeal to guys who are, well, into other guys sexually. Sure there are the few guys who really are 'Metrosexuals', but I've always believed, and have seen ample evidence, that for many the prefixes, "Metro" and "homo" are more likely to be interchangable. But before opening that can of worms further, let's get to the point...
Is Phil Robertson being true to the gospel of Jesus Christ or is he simply another in a long line of hateful religious jerks? Technically, Phil is absolutely right. Homosexuality is called a sin in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. Telling the truth about sin is one things, but we're told in John's gospel the law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17). Am I just bantering semantics here or is there something really different between what God brings through Moses, and what Christ brings when he comes on the world scene as the God/man?
It isn't simply a matter of semantics there is a vast difference between the Law of Moses, and the "...law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus..." (Romans 8:2). With the Law of Moses comes death. The only answer the law gives for sin is death. In Leviticus 18:22 we're given perhaps the most damning of all pronouncements against homosexuality in the Bible. "You shall not lie with mankind as with woman kind: it is abomination." (Leviticus 18:22, KJV). The proscribed punish for breaking the law spelled out in Leviticus 18:22 and again in Leviticus 20:13, is death. "Do not pass 'GO', do not collect $200, go straight to Hell." All the law can do, through Moses, is kill. The Holy Spirit, through St. Paul, explains it to us... "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Simply put, "No one, having sinned, can expect good from the Law of Moses.
Now if we stop at the Law of Moses then Phil Robertson's comments would be perfectly acceptable. Well, Phil's comment would actually be wrong, because all his comments do is cause God's judgment to come upon Phil. Phil by merely pointing out the sin of homosexuality condemns himself. Phil is calling out sin, by pointing to the Law of Moses, but we know that Phil is a sinner himself. Phil even admits he was a sinner, before coming to Jesus Christ for salvation. Was Phil saved by keeping the Law of Moses? He was not saved by through the Law of Moses. Phil plainly confesses that he is a sinner, and alluded to Jesus Christ being his savior. The problem with, or for, Phil is that he's a hypocrite. He points to the Law of Moses when speaking of the sins of LGBT persons while at the same time saying he was saved by Jesus Christ. Either we all live (and die) the law, or when offered, we accept salvation and the lordship of Jesus Christ. Christ followers can't have it both ways. We go with the law or we go with grace and truth. There cannot be grace and truth, through Jesus Christ, for Phil, while Phil pulls out the law on LGBT persons. If Phil gets grace and truth, then so do LGBT persons.
Now someone will say to me, "Yes, but Phil is only pointing out the truth, that God condemns homosexuality." That sounds good and proper, but in the end it doesn't work. First, let me reiterate, the Law of Moses only has one answer for sin: DEATH. Where is the grace in the Law of Moses? There is no grace in the law. Second, we're told in John 1 that in addition to grace Jesus brings truth. Now many will argue that the Law of Moses is truth. How can anyone argue that the Law God gave Moses isn't truth? The Law is for law breakers, that's why God gave the law through Moses. The Law of Moses is sent not to task humans, but to show humans that they are past, present and future law breakers, and completely enslaved to sin, without hope of ever being anything else.
The grace and truth of Jesus Christ are the new law, The Law of the Spirit of Life. The grace and truth of Jesus Christ is eternal life, eternal freedom, and eternal relationship with the triune God, and his born again children. These children are born of the same Spirit who created Jesus' body in Mary's womb. (Jesus has always existed as the second person of the God head, but only as spirit with the rest of the God head).
What does this new law mean for me, a person guilty of abomination, according to Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. The Law of Moses means death to me, but bring the grace and truth of Jesus Christ to this life ending law and suddenly what once gave death becomes something new. Before God drew me to his Son, and the Holy Spirit convicted me of sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come, I was a hopeless and helpless lawbreaker. But when God found me, and by his prevenient grace enabled me to make the first freewill choice I'd ever truly made in my life. When I'd accepted God's forgiveness and grace by faith, then God made me born again, transforming me from a dead lawbreaking slave to a new spiritual creation in the likeness and image of Christ Jesus. The truth of God in Jesus Christ always frees; the truth of God in Christ always brings eternal life; the truth of God in Jesus Christ always brings eternal relationship with God and his new creation children, the Church.
When I was a dead slave to sin, what we might call a zombie today I was an object of destruction. I treated other men as objects of my lust, and objects to be used sexually. I also accepted that I was a thing to be lusted for and used sexually. And like mere objects we were meant to be thrown away after being used up. With the salvation and Lordship of Jesus Christ, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). In Christ The Holy Spirit has made me alive to God. In Christ I am not a thing of lust, I am a beautiful humanized creation enabled to love and serve God. I am free to turn away from lust and the abomination I'd created with my sexual immorality. No longer does Leviticus 18:22 give me death. Leviticus 18:22 is now a continual reminder that God has made me free, that God has overcome me, my sin, my sin nature, and the power of the world to conform me to the life of a slave to sin. There is no death in Leviticus 18:22 for me, now there is the joy of being made new, clean, and free by God.
I cannot agree with Phil Robertson, Duck Commander, or not. Papa Phil isn't telling the truth of God in Christ. For the truth of God in Christ is freedom from sin, not judgment and eternal punishment. Anyone who gives the Law of Moses without the truth and grace of Jesus Christ, is not telling the truth at all. When we give law, but not grace and truth we cover the face of Christ; we bury the truth under a pile of rules none of us can keep; when we give law we deny the slave the face of the merciful, loving, and gracious master who frees slaves and then adopts them into the very family of the only true God. The Law condemns but the grace and truth of Jesus Christ always brings life, hope, peace, and eternal relationship with God.
