Here we are today in week 3 of our Advent 2013 season… and I see that all over Facebook is the reaction to Phil Robertson’s A&E ban from Duck Dynasty… my question is for those who profess to be believers… Why so shocked?
This candle #3 of Advent was to represent Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for rejoice. In this week we are to remember that we are to rejoice in all things.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.
The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:4-5
What happened to the rejoicing this week?
Persecution should give us reason to shout and rejoice… not grow angry and stiff-necked.
…after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Acts 5:40-42
Once again it just seems like a whole bating thing to me. Let’s get them “christians” all worked up and mad over stuff that don’t mean jack, Jack! Please… is this not the whole Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays all over again. The Black Thursday vs Black Friday. The Abercrombie & Fitch distraction away from the abortionist trial. With common core, obamacare, cutting our military, and all the other political foolishness that is trying to get pushed through in this presidency… our backs should not go up against the wall over Phil. Let’s stay focused here people. I dare say that Phil has not once asked for anyone to get behind him and support him… however I would guess that he would indeed love for you to get behind his Christ. Follow Him… and boast in Him and His cross… and be willing to come behind Him carrying your own.
How easily we forget that we forfeited our “rights” the moment we died in Christ.
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
John 15:18-20
Our nation has been polluted for too long with a false christianity… and well persecution does an amazing job of weeding out the weeds.
I remember when I was in high school and trying out for sports, one of the ways the coach would make first cuts would be to run us like crazy… those who really didn’t want to be on the team would not show up for another tryout date. However those that truly loved the game and were willing to give it all they had would persevere through the tryouts.
It’s been pretty darn easy to be a Christian here in America for the last 200 or so years. It’s been so long since we have known what persecution was that we find ourselves standing with mouths gaped open over the ridiculousness of what is happening in our nation. We should not be so surprised…
Perhaps God is ready to begin vomiting the lukewarm out of His mouth. Here in America we have become better at marketing Christianity than actually living it. We don’t have to share the gospel with others, we just need to by the t-shirt. We don’t have to do what Jesus would do… just wear the bracelet. We don’t actually have to go to church in our cars… just put a fish magnet on the back.
It’s easy to say you love Jesus when the crowds shout Hosanna… but when they shout Crucify… that’s a little different now isn’t it.
I read the GQ article… I had too skim through the language… the writer was much more rude and course than Phil… and well he also wrote in a very condescending and ridiculing tone… at least that is how I read it. He also was able to pick and choose what parts of Phil’s words he wanted to use to get across his own agenda concerning the article. Which by all means is his right… he’s the writer. I can choose whether or not his view is one I share or even care about.
Let’s face it. This is the day we live in… it is indeed a reprobate day.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:20-21
I was piled up on the couch today watching old “Good Times” episodes with my family. In one of those episodes Florida looks at James and says, “we might not be able to change the world, but we sure can keep the world from changing us“
As I was looking for the episode in which the above quote was shared I came across this one and decided to share it instead…