Something's Stirring in the Duck Blind

Duck Dynasty has been a household word for the past couple of years.

Recently, Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the Duck Dynasty family set off a firestorm of conversation touching everything from first amendment rights to hate speech to how tolerance/intolerance works in America.  It has been interesting to watch the banter over his remarks.

Setting aside the debate about the “wording” of his remarks for the moment, it has been fascinating to analyze this event as the blogs, tweets, radio and talk shows allow opinions to collide on the national stage.  It’s not about freedom of speech.  He exercised that freedom.  It’s really about the theology and ethics represented in his remarks.  By now it should be dawning on us as a nation, and Christians in particular, that the ground of meaning and dialogue is shifting beneath our feet because of how the winds of tolerance blow. 

Secularists have vehemently opposed the faith motif that is sewn carefully into each episode of Duck Dynasty.  More to the point, they have turned up the volume on expressing their disdain for the show hoping that syndicates would come to their senses and “pull the plug.”  The real issue fueling the “presenting concerns” has been nothing more than a hatred for Christian ideas.  And now, on the heels of this most recent event, a platform has been built from which the entire enterprise can be hung and neatly discarded. 

As the proverbial snowball of outrage hurls down our cultural hill, it is fascinating to watch all the things that the big ball picks up on its way to the bottom of the hill.  What is more, the “issues” that people will bring up in favor of sending the show as well as the family’s public appearances into oblivion will not be the real issues.  They will bear similarity to other moments in late and recent history that have contributed to the demise of a person, group or entity that made them think about how they live their lives. 

 

Do you remember the charge the chief priests and scribes brought against Jesus?  “He forbids people to pay taxes to Caesar and claims to be a King.”  Jesus’ accusers believed wholeheartedly that the messiah, would indeed put an end to the Romans and give Caesar notice that he was not “in charge.”  They were convinced Jesus was not the “One.”  In fact, he ran at counter-purposes with the ruling Jewish bodies and their traditionalism.  When he is arrested, it happens as the culmination of a strategic process that had been ripening for some time (Mark 3:1-6).  They rejected him because he claimed to be the messiah and was amassing a great following.  And Pilate knew that to be the case.  “For he was aware that they delivered him up because of envy” (Mark 15:10).  But savvy legalists in their number knew the “real beef” with Jesus wouldn't be enough to get a decree of execution from Pilate.  So, they brought pressure to bear.  “They stirred up the crowd” Mark says.  Pilate, being the politician that he was (no ruler in Judea in those days wanted political flash fires burning here and there), tried to pawn Jesus off on Herod who sent him back to Pilate for “processing.”  Pilate, ingeniously, draws on a Passover tradition:  “Here’s two criminal types – you pick which one dies” (Mark 15:6-15).  The crowd screamed, Pilate heard them, he washed his hands, and Jesus was neatly sent away.  Pilate restored peace.  The Jewish leaders got their execution.  But, shortly after breakfast that morning, God’s purposes moved forward undetected by the vast majority.

Do cultural “moments” like this most recent one rank up there with the trial and death of the Savior?  No.  But, it reminds us once again that righteousness is often destroyed under a different name.  I think we are witnessing, again, the trampling of righteousness in the name of a lot of things because of a confronted conscience choosing anger and arrogance over repentance and humility.

Retailers, talk shows, syndicates, booking agencies….the whole lot will likely feel the pressure.  Ultimatums will challenge the profit bottom line.  Decisions will be made.  That’s the business part of it.  But, that’s not the real story.  It never is.

I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Romans in Romans 1:18-21:

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

In fact, read all the way through verse 32. 

Jesus words can serve us well, too.

¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth (John 17:13-18).

Father, give us wisdom to know how to speak in each moment so that your word and the Lordship of your Son are honored.  Give us the courage to speak what we need to speak with no thought of what man may do to us.  May our words and lives honor you above all things.  For from you, through you,and to you are all things.  Amen. 

Randy Daugherty, Stephenville, Texas