Phil Was Offensive

I don't know if you heard about this or not, but Phil Robertson has caused a little disturbance.

Sure you have! 

Tribal people in remote regions of the Amazon have heard. 

Ducks are saying, "It's about time!" 

If you turn on any form of technology, you hear about it. Even my toaster was heated about it this morning. Get it? Heated (it's a play on words).

The ripples have caused Christianity to run amuck with the mainstream secular culture. 

My daughter had surgery on Friday. I flipped to the news while I was waiting for her to wake up from her anesthesia. All three channels were discussing Phil's interview with GQ. It seemed that most of them were outraged at his judgmental, intolerant, offensive, and hate-filled speech. 

On Facebook and Twitter everyone is sharing their support through #standwithPhil. Also, they are explaining how he was quoting the Bible and how our nation's constitution protects what he said.

But what can Christians take away from this? 

First, the Bible is offensive. 

You read that correctly. The Bible isn't some weak tea to be served on Sunday mornings.

The Bible is the most offensive book there is. It often offends me. It shows me things about myself that I hate. The words bring comfort and are life, but often they are upsetting to the soul. 

The secular world's reaction shouldn't surprise you. 

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

All Phil did was swing the sword a little. And the sword did what the sword does.

God compares the word to a sword and not a pillow or a puppy dog for a reason. It can be deadly.

No one wants to be told what is right and wrong. (And this includes the majority of Christians.) The word of God always causes a reaction, partly because God calls for submission to his higher authority through it. 

Second, we should be on our knees thanking God for the grace he's given us.

The Bible verses Phil quoted listed the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, greedy, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers, as well as homosexuals. 

My sins fall within that list. Yours probably do too. (If they don't, congratulations you are perfect and you don't need Jesus. You'll be the only person in heaven who earned it.) 

Phil's words should remind you of what you've been washed, sanctified, and justified of (which is stated in the following verse). 

However, I still commit some of these very sins at times (which I hate). 

This makes me all the more grateful for the power of Jesus' blood.

What have you learned from Phil Robertson's words?