The surreal part was not that my family members own a restaurant, but that there is a gift shop associated with it and it is associated with one of the top rated shows on television right now. So anyway, as I sat there eating my lunch it was almost overwhelming that any of it was going on for real.
Next I go to the business owned by the same family members n purchase a few Christmas gifts and a Christmas CD that the family put out this year. I put the CD in and start listening n yep, you guessed it..... That wave of surrealness (if that is even a word) rushes over me again making me unable to listen to all of the songs. I will say, however, that my uncle Si singing "Mr. Grinch" was one of the cutest things I have heard in a while!
Then this evening comes one of the biggest deals yet. It seems that the network that airs my family's reality show are unhappy with my uncle for answering questions in an interview that thy had set up for him. So he is on indefinite suspension n the Internet is blowing up with comments of support and damnation. I find myself scratching my head in disbelief that a member of my family could provoke such a gigantic conversation!
Now I love my family, and I have always thought my uncle Phil was charismatic, but I never in a million years thought that he would get this many people stirred up.
All he did was state his opinion when asked some questions. His answers were based in biblical fact even if mainstream America refuses to recognize it.
One of my cousins preached a lesson a while ago and it has stuck with me for years. He pointed out that there are no levels or degrees of sin. Sin is sin in the eyes of god. It gave me a lot of comfort to know that we are all on a level playing field. Until then I had always thought that my sins were worse than everybody else's making me unworthy of the grace of God.
The truth is that I AM unworthy! I can't do any great work to earn my salvation, but you know what? Neither can anybody else! There again is that level field! I have to remind myself of this fact quite often because I think the devil knows it is one of my greatest weaknesses.
As I have watched my famous family members on their journey I have found myself fearful on several occasions. I was afraid that members if the media were going to hurt them or shame them. In each of the instances God used the situation to teach me about faith. I was afraid, but none of them were. They were bold as they sat with people they probably knew didn't share their beliefs and philosophies. They were bold and the interviews were great.
This is not how the story ends however. Just this week that controversial article hit the public and the public immediately took a side. In fact I am pretty sure the sides were chosen before the article came out.
I read what he said. He was asked what his views were and he gave them. He even backed them with biblical fact. He knows he is not the judge and was not passing judgement.
I believe that no matter how he answered he would have been criticized. If he had given a liberal answer they'd have called him a hypocrite. I also have no doubt that if he were asked the same questions today he would answer them in exactly the same way. So what is the answer?
I have no idea, but I can say that I hope and pray that if I was ever in the position of having to respond to questions of that nature, that my faith would let me be so bold!!
It is not his goal to be a famous tv star. The mission that he has been on for the majority of my life was to try and share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with every person he ever came in contact with so that they can get to heaven too. How do I know this? I know this because he shared that same good news with me about 25 years ago.
So with today's scandal I find myself oddly at ease for a change. I also know that the tight knit family you see on tv is not just for show. That is probably the most real part of that reality tv show!
I also can't help but pray for all the haters, that their eyes migt be opened so that they may receive the gift of salvation. It's not owed to us and we certainly don't deserve it! We can't win it or earn it! It is, however, promised to us if we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"My mission today is to go forth and tell the people why I follow Christ and what the bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that men and women are meant to be together. However, I would never treat someone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty, and like him I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved one another."
Phil Robertson
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