Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  For it is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…”

I’m not a Duck Dynasty fan.  Shock! That’s almost heresy these days! I watched an episode…and just didn’t get into it.  I’m not a fan of reality tv..but that’s ok.  This is America and I’m allowed to have preferences on what I watch and what I don’t!  I do, however, have great respect for the Robertson family.  From day one, they have put their faith in Jesus Christ on display for the world to see.  They are not ashamed of the Gospel and they have been pointing the Way for anyone who will listen.  Kudos!

Now for the controversy.  Patriarch Phil Robertson said some “things” in an interview with GQ Magazine that have been deemed controversial.  And…he’s consequently been fired from A&E’s Duck Dynasty programming.  As a Christian, I don’t think anything he said was all that controversial.  However, the debate is RAGING today! Christians throwing the Bible at the heads of Gay and Lesbian Activists…Atheists defaming the God I adore…it’s really quite a scene.

On one hand, I’m very proud of Phil for standing up for what he believes in…for standing up for truth found in God’s Word (He quoted I Corinthians 6:9…which incidentally lists more than just homosexuality.)  He was not and is not ashamed.

But on the other hand…was there wisdom in his methods?  Here’s where the rubber meets the road! Could this whole thing have been handled differently?  More specifically, “Is the debate that is raging today pointing people TOWARD God or AWAY from God?”  Yes!  Christians are getting some great press-time today.  But is it accomplishing anything?

Jesus in Matthew 7 – the Sermon on the Mount – said, “Don’t judge” and when you read it in context, he was talking to Jews who kept nit-picking each other over useless religious rules.  He said to “Knock it off!” and then he concluded that segment with, “Don’t give what is holy to unholy people.  Don’t give pearls to swine!  They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you!”

My story is that I used to be a “playa!”  My mission in life was to impress girls and get them into bed.  Know what magazine I subscribed to (besides Maxim!)?  GQ.  How to dress.  How to impress.  It doesn’t take much figuring to understand that GQ isn’t going to align themselves with a Christian world view.  “They want to talk to me?  And let me talk about Jesus?!”  Smells like a set-up.  Jesus could handle set-ups pretty well.  Not me.  Was Phil “sinning” by doing an interview with GQ?  No.  But was Jesus right that if you throw your pearls before swine they will trample them and then turn and attack you?  Sure looks like it.

Think on this: Was Phil’s influence better served being a good, moral example ON Duck Dynasty?  Or spearheading a debate that quickly got twisted around to make Christians look like hate-filled bigots? My Christian friends, we are on this earth to shine our light and let the broken-hearted and hopeless people know that there is a God who loves them so much that He sent His Son to make things right!  All around us are sinners acting like sinners.  Homosexuals are being homosexuals.  Drunkards are being drunk.  Adulterers are tearing families apart.  Lives are being ruined.  Hearts are being broke!

We MUST recognize that Paul wrote his letters to CHRISTIANS who said they wanted HOPE in Jesus!  They wanted “love, joy, peace, patience, etc” and knew it could be found in Christ!  They dedicated their lives to and for Jesus!  Paul said, “Ok.  Here’s how:  Here’s what you need to do to protect your heart and live into the Eternal Purpose for which you were created.  And here are the things that will distract and ultimately lead to death!”

Friends, that is where sin ends: misery and death.  We don’t need to tell the sinner they’re miserable! If they aren’t already – they will be!  They need to see in us the Hope of Salvation.  They need to see us and say, “Wow!  If I could, I’d be like them.”  Not because of our money or fame…but because the light that is burning within us is spilling out and showing the whole world that there is something better!  And when they ask, We say “Jesus!”

Notice Jesus never said, “Matthew you vile, corrupt tax collector (as big as sin back then as homosexuality is looked at today).  Quit what you’re doing and then come follow my rules.”  No!  He said, “Follow me.”  No stipulation.  No condemnation.  Only an invitation.

Christians have two schools of thought today: Condone or Condemn.  It’s neither.  It’s love.

Thanks for reading my blog.  You can hear more of my thoughts on this in a message I spoke to the GNCC Racin’ Nation on September 21, 2013 at the Foxberg, PA race. (Click below or download on iTunes under “Chuck Lemaster: Most Famous Verse”)