Thursday, December 19, 2013

Ducks, Homosexuality, and Jesus....



Last night as I was scanning my Facebook news feed when I saw a link that said:  “Duck Dynasty Patriarch Slams Homosexuality!”  I clicked on the link, started reading the article, looked over at my dog and remarked: “Oh,Tina…  This is going to be a media shit storm.”  Tina promptly turned around three times, and went back to sleep as I headed over to GQ’s website to read the actual interview that started the mayhem.  I knew when I awoken this morning there was going to be a lot of talk about this situation.  What a psychic revelation that was! 

I had a night to sleep on Phil Robertson’s interview before I could write about the subject, and reveal that Phil and I have a lot in common.  Now, I know people are wondering, what does an openly gay, opinionated, farmer have in common with a Bible thumping , camouflage wearing, man from the south?  You see, at first glance it would appear that Phil and I have no common ground.  However, we each have our own morals, and our own ethics.   We each love our family dearly, work hard, and enjoy nature.  But the biggest thing Phil and I have in common?  Phil is my brother, by the same Father.  Phil and I serve the same God.

In the original interview, Phil was asked:  “What in your mind, is sinful?”
  
Phil replies:  “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there.  Beastiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and those men.” 

This statement isn't offensive to me because Phil was asked for his opinion on what was sinful in his eyes.  He didn't just outwardly blast the gay community.  I know as a lesbian in a committed relationship, I am not sleeping around with anyone or anything else.  I don’t have to justify that to Phil or anyone else for that matter.  Truthfully, it sounds to me like Phil really doesn't like people who sleep with animals and people that are promiscuous.  And you know what?  I have to agree with Phil!  I don’t agree with either of those things either.
  
The part that hurt me the most is how the media portrayed Phil as a homosexual hating, monster.  Quoting the above quote over and over, but never mentioning the quote afterwards. 

The quote read:  “We never judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell.  That’s the Almighty’s job.  We just love ‘em, give ‘em the good news about Jesus- whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists.  We let God sort ‘em out later, you see what I’m saying?”

Yes, Phil.  I understand what you are saying and I couldn't agree more.  It is the Lord’s job to judge me.  He is the only person whose opinion truly matters in the end, and I believe He created me to be a vessel of His love.  I have known I was gay since I was 5 years old.  I have to think that God knew exactly what He was doing when He created me.  If He had wanted me to be a heterosexual, then He would have created me to be a heterosexual.  Perhaps He created me to be gay, so we could learn from each other…

As I look through the rift that this media frenzy has evoked, the hatred and judgment that everyone is so quick to pass, I ask you to ponder this…. 

Not once in the Bible does God ask his Christian followers to choose between their compassion and their faith in the Bible.  In fact compassion for others is the fundamental principle that Christianity is built on, and the Bible is the concrete of our faith. 

It saddens me as I watch so called Christians bash their brothers and sisters, stating their actions and words are justified because they have “no choice but to act or believe a certain way because the Bible says so.”  No, it doesn't.  The word homosexual was not added to the English language until 1842, and did not appear in an English version of a Bible until 1946.  What does that mean exactly?  It means that the Bible passages were written about same-sex acts between heterosexual people, not committed gay couples, because the concept of homosexuality didn't even exist when the Bible was written.  (We do know that the Bible condemns promiscuous, excessive, predatory and sex outside of marriage in the heterosexual realm, and can assume God would expect His homosexual children to honor the same set of rules. )  Those are the rules I choose to live by and base my relationship on.

I wasn't upset about Phil’s stance on homosexuality.  I’m not upset because even though Phil and I may not agree on every subject, I respect he has the right to his opinions and beliefs, and I honor him as a child of our Father.  Therefore, I ask you before you judge another human being, to remember this Bible verse: And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.  Luke 6:31  We can trust that we should take God, in this matter and in all matters, at His word.

23 comments:

  1. This has to be the best written response to the entire Duck Dynasty blowup I have read yet.

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  2. I'm assuming you don't know the definition of Sodomy

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    1. You know I normally don't allow negative post that are from anonymous people on my blog, but I am going to let this one slide because I feel like this is the one go-to topic for people who want to condemn homosexuality and claim the Bible says is an abomination of sin.

      I can only assume by your comment that you are talking about The Story of Sodom in Genesis 19, so let's get down to discussion.

      In these societies sexual acts between men did happen, however they happened as a way for one group of men to show dominance over another group of men, such as when one group won a war. It had nothing to do with homosexuality. It is vital to remember this fact when looking at the Sodom and Gomorrah.

      When you read the story about the city of Sodom, the men of Sodom want to "yadah" the foreigners who came to Lot's house. In essence they wanted to rape them in order to show social dominance over them.

      The story is not a condemnation of homosexuality, it is a story about rape and in-hospitality. There is further evidence of this fact in Ezekiel 16:49 and Luke 17:28-29. Sodom's sin were pride, failure to help the poor, lack of hospitality, and the obvious: rape.

      So while you assume I don't know the definition of Sodomy, I assume you know will go back through and re-read this passage in the Bible. And if you want to further this conversation (which I am happy to do with you....) please don't write me negative things from an "anonymous" name. That's a cowardly thing to do....

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  3. This says it all. THIS should go viral!

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  4. The Reluctant Farmer and I are amazed at the fact that this post has received the attention that is has today. Over 5,000 people have viewed this post, and that is humbling as a writer. If you would like further discussion or to see what other people are saying, there is a lot happening with this post on our Facebook Fan page. Feel free to click on the link at the top of the blog and head over there if you wish.... xoxo, Emily

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  5. I agree with your whole commentary. It is the best written piece ive read all day...and ive read them all! To bad a&e might not have read it. They surely have stepped in it this time.and to think this is basically abt money. Hopefully they will change their tune once they realize how popular Phil is!

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  6. I’ve spent the week contemplating my knee jerk reaction of “This is wrong and I have to stop the mob before it reaches the castle” feelings that I had over the Phil Robertson thing. I realize that my inability to keep my head down and let them pass could get me burned, but I can’t help myself when the attack seems so wrong down to my toes. One of the big things that define our country is our freedom of religion. As a child of a religion that has been historically hated, I appreciate and protect that freedom. A man was asked about his religious beliefs and he was bold enough to answer honestly. I respect that. Whether I agree is irrelevant. It’s his right to believe and interpret as he will. No laws were broken. One of the things that I love about this decade is that everyone says they are more tolerant. It broke my bubble and my heart to see that it still only extended to what people find comfortable, popular or widely accepted. I hope we can swing back around from this to remember that we agreed to let people be free to practice, preach and worship or religion however they felt is right without fear of being mobbed down, fired or harmed. This one event has raised so many emotions in so many people and I hope what comes of it is not that people should fear and persecute unpopular beliefs, but that we can allow everyone their freedom of religion without taking is as a personal attack on our own. I know his words stang people who have fought so hard for acceptance of homosexuality and my heart goes out to that pain, but something that I have grown up believing is not to let someone else’s belief belittle my own and that I don’t have to attack anyone else’s beliefs to defend my own. I hope we as a country can take a collective breath and forgive. Please, put down the torches and remember that tolerance that people are trying so hard to build in our generation. I think it’s worth fighting for.

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  7. Have you seen his sermon in PA where he said “Women with women. Men with men. They committed indecent acts with one another, and they received in themselves the due penalty for their perversions. They’re full of murder, envy, strife, hatred. They are insolent, arrogant God-haters. They are heartless. They are faithless. They are senseless. They are truthless. They invent ways of doing evil.”? The statements in the GQ article are nothing compared to watch he preaches as "gospel" in sermons across the country. I would suggest a little research on other comments he has made before you declare he does not show hate towards the homosexual community. Yes this one time was fairly vague and only shows implications of how sinful he things us gay people are, but like I said, there are other quotes, in other places, that are equal to things that Tony Perkins has said.

    You also left out the part were he said “It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.” I can see how that can be taken as demeaning to gay men, implying that there is somethign wrong with them for not preferring a vagina over a mans anus.

    PS. I am not personally offended by what he said in this article, but I am not going to defend someone with a history of intolerance and hateful words because this one time they were ok. I think that having all of the information of what was recently said and comparing it to what he has a history of saying is important as it paints the full picture, not just a snapshot.

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    1. Hi Sarah,

      The point of my article was simply that I was not offended by what he said in this interview and that even though he and I have different opinions and beliefs, I still respect his right to his opinions. I respect his opinions for two reason:

      1) He is entitled to his own beliefs even though they are not the same as mine.

      2) I don't feel as a lesbian, that I need to defend myself or my lifestyle to Phil. I know how I live, what God I serve, the values my house and children are raised on, and there is no self-proclaimed Bible thumper going to rock my boat.

      I did see his other sermons the day after I wrote my article (I wasn't surprised by them.), and if I cared about Phil Robertson's view on my lifestyle, I would have been hurt. But, I don't...

      It is my opinion that the only way to combat hate is love, and even though the words and his thoughts are untrue and vile, I am taking the high road on this one.

      Best, Emily





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  8. My reaction to his comments was how sad for teenagers that have to deal with knowing so many people cannot accept that people are made differently. How sad that so many people are ready to support a "belief" that actually hurts people. If I'm feeling hopeful then I see a learning experience here.

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  9. The fact that you agree that his words are "untrue and vile" shows that there is plenty of room for people to be offended by what he said. You personally may not be, but plenty others could be. It stands to reason that A&E does not desire to have someone that is a public figure on their network spreading "vile" comments around.

    I agree he has the right to his opinion but I also agree that A&E has the right to disagree with his opinion and separate themselves from him if his opinion is not what they are looking to represent and he chooses to voice that opinion openly to the world in a mass manner. They are not in the business of allowing a "vile" man to represent them.

    Sincerely,

    Christopher Shull

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  10. It matters not what we as a people think...feel..preach..and argue with one another..because one day we will be judged by a higher power. But it is a sad day when we suddenly lose the freedom of speech that our armed forces has fought and died for.and continue to serve. It matters not what neighbors do behind closed doors because it becomes..NONE of our business. Thanks to Emily I see we still have intelligent people willing to listen to others. Good job Emily.

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  11. Mrs. Browning, you need to go back read the whole bible...Not just the parts that fit your way of life...Please understand, I'm no better then you, I have sinned over and over, and asked God to forgive me, and justified to myself that I was saved...But, I was wrong, because I kept right on living in sin and fulfilling my fleshly desires, not my spiritual need...This, is where most people get lost in reading the Bible, they put their fleshly desires over spiritual...In other words, I would get drunk on Saturday night, sleep around and then go to Church on Sunday and ask forgiveness...It doesn't work like that...You can ask all that you want to, but if you truly don't believe in what you are asking and truly want to change your life and stop the sinning, then it won't happen...How do I know this because I would go right back to drinking and sleeping around on Sat. and then go to Church Sun. and ask, over and over and over...It wasn't until I put my spiritual desire ahead of my fleshly desires...It was Jesus that made these changes in my life not me, myself...As for your comments about what the bible says, you are doing the same thing that hundreds of thousands of people, do everyday...Take what they want out of the bible and make it fit their fleshly way of life...How do I know this, because once again that used to be me...It clearly states in the Old Testament Leviticus 19:22-24, 22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself there-with: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: These are not my words but words of God from the Bible that you say you live by...There are several more versus in the New and the Old Testaments... You can put your play on words to fit you and your life style, but those versus are directly talking about homosexuality and beastly behaviors, does it use the word homosexuality, no, like you said someone put that word in later... But, you nor I can change the meaning of those versus... Your are right, it's my place to judge, it's God's...I still love you and I will be praying for you...

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    1. You say, "But, you nor I can change the meaning of those versus...", and you are right, so please stop manipulating the Bible versus to make yourself feel better by negatively attacking people who don't share your views. The Bible and word of God was not intended for those purposes....

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    2. Emily goes too easy on you for eating shellfish and pork. Way to cherry-pick your Leviticus, 'Anonymous'!

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  12. Ok, if I don't agree with you and show support, then you don't print my views...You are the one that printed your statement and then accepted comments: Oh, but only the comments the make you feel good about your fleshly desires... At, least I know that you read it, by you not publishing it tells me that I touched you and that you are thinking about it inside...That's really I can hope and pray for, still love you and I'm still going to pray you...Jesus loves you, in the end I pray that He touches you to where you love him for your spiritual needs and not your fleshly ones....

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    1. It's obvious that I have not moderated any comments off this blog. I have posted everything that was written despite if people agreed with me or not. (After your biblical lesson given in the comment above this one, and the rant that this comment is attached to, I am done and will not post anything more from you though because you are being aggressive and I will not tolerate bullying on this blog...) I don't need everyone to agree with me, because the point of the article was that everyone has their own right to believe what they want! It seems you are the one that is upset because I don't share YOUR beliefs. I will pray for you....

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  13. I appreciate your willingness to post this and respond to people who disagree with your lifestyle. I grew up in a church that had gay and lesbian pastors, but was not a bible believing church. They didn't believe that the bible is the inerrant word of God, they are "pro-choice," they don't even mention that we are sinners saved by Grace through the death of Jesus on the cross. They don't believe in Hell. Anyway not really a Christian church to say the least. Anyway I moved away form home, was saved, met my hubby, and now we have 2 boys..(everything didn't happen that fast) anyway my hubby grew up in a conservative Christian home and believes that homosexuality is vile and one of the worst sins. I have had the conversation that sin is sin, to put one above the other is not for us to judge. I still struggle with conflicting ideas with him on the subject but that's not why I'm posting. One question that I had after reading your post is how can you be a practicing gay and a Christian? Or are you like my old church where you pick and choose what you want to believe form the bible. (I'm sure that came off bitchy but was not intended to be so.) I recently watched this clip by Ravi Zacharius and was wondering if you would please watch it and let me know what you think. What is your reaction to what he says. Thanks again for your original post and I look forward to your feedback on Ravi.

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    1. Hi Megan,

      Thank you for writing me and I did enjoy the video clip, I don't know that I agree with all of it but I do appreciate some of his views.

      I am blessed to be a member of Ginhamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio. It is the 4th largest UMC in the US. It is a church that believes organized religion is not to about beating people over the heads with a Bible. They understand that the true teachings and word of Christ is not using the Bible as a weapon to hurt people.

      You asked a question: "Are you like my old church where you pick and choose what you believe from the Bible?" Isn't this what ALL organized religion is guilty of? God never said in the Bible that he was against homosexuality. WE did. God makes it very clear that he loves ALL people. I often want to ask this question back: What makes YOUR way of believing the right way, and my way the wrong way? Do you acknowledge that YOU are the one who is choosing what you believe to be right from the Bible? I think that is the primary problem with organized religion. People take what they want from the Bible and work it around what THEY think it says. It is easy from people to scream: God hates gays! He says so, in Leviticus and bam, bam, bam! But really that is up for interpretation and who are these people that assume they are interpreting the Bible correctly? I can tell you who thy aren't! They aren't God, and honestly on Judegment Day I don't think it will me that has to do a lot of heavy answering. I think it will be them.

      Is it possible to be a Christian and be gay? Yes, absolutely. I know God upholds me to the same standards that he holds any heterosexual couple. Meaning, the relationship I am in is monogamous, we tithe 10% of our income, attend services regularly, and raise our children in the church. Most importantly we try hard to be true Christians with our hands as well: volunteering in many areas to help less fortunate either at the animal shelter, soup kitchen, helping people that we see in our community that need our help, etc.

      The true meaning of Christianity does not reside in someone's sexuality. The word of God is SO much bigger then that. It is so much more important than that! I am not sure why we as His Christian followers are still arguing about it, truthfully.

      I'm going to leave you with this link: http://ginghamsburg.org/sermons/resources/1595
      This link was from the Christmas Eve service and I think Pastor Mike nailed it on the head. Hope you enjoy!

      Best, Emily

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  14. Forgot to post the link...
    http://gnli.christianpost.com/video/why-does-god-forbid-homosexuality-dr-ravi-zacharias-18731

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