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God’s Not Dead (The Movie)
“Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully and not remember me or think about me? Because I have been silent for so long, you are not afraid of me.” – God (Isaiah 57:11). I remember the apprehension I felt when I registered for Philosophy 150, World Religions Class. I knew what I was potentially getting myself into. (Out of the frying pan and into the fire.) I expected to be tried and tested in that class, but I signed up anyway. Thus six months ago, when I saw the preview for the movie “God’s Not Dead”,[1] I was very interested in seeing…
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Did Phil Get it Wrong? Is Homosexuality Sin?
In one of the biggest social media flaps since social media was invented, Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson openly said that homosexuality is sinful. Then the cyber world blew up in a clash of worldviews—the progressive, whatever-floats-your-boat perspective of A&E, the cable network that profits greatly from the Robertsons’ TV show, against the traditional biblical view of sin and sexuality. A lot of people think that Phil’s old-fashioned morality is not only antiquated but unfair. Is it? Is homosexuality a sin? If people are born gay, why would God condemn people for being the way He made them? What kind of God would do that? Let me answer those questions in…
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Duck Dynasty: Should Your Belief Cost You Your Job?
Is it really cause for suspension or termination if when you are directly asked "What in your mind is sinful?" you refer to the Bible and include homosexuality in your response? Gay activists (GLADD) say YES. But their power to shape the national dialogue on the rightness or wrongness of homosexual behavior has been broken this week, or at least dialed down, by an unlikely fellow with a long beard in camo, Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson. The way gays suffered and cared for their own during the AIDS epidemic of the 80’s infused great moral authority into their struggle for acceptance. But those lessons seem lost in the…
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Ducking the Duck Controversy
Bursting onto the season of “peace of earth, goodwill toward men” comes a new conflict bent to destroy the emotion of that peaceful scene. Were there even any ducks in the manger? What about you? How can we respond to this new debate in a way that represents the spirit of the Savior during this of all seasons? Several observations from my perspective: First, I am amazed at the level of biblical illiteracy revealed in this debate. Over and over, in print and image, the words of scripture are dismissed as only the homophobic opinion of Phil Robertson. One newspaper article attributed the reference to the Old Testament. If you…
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Duck Dynasty. Reinforcing the Backwoods Redneck Stereotype of Christians?
On a Kansas visit a few years ago my husband Jack joined some friends to go hunting. They introduced him to their friend, Willie Robertson, a guy with now-familiar long hair, beard and bandana and an easy-going smile. While they were all out hunting, my friend Patty told me stories she’d heard from her son who had been down to Louisiana to go duck hunting with Willie and his Dad, both guides. Her son had heard that these men were excellent guides, but out in the dark woods with all the long hair and beards and shot guns he felt just a tiny bit nervous. It didn’t help that…
