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Jewish World Review December 26, 2013/ 23 Teves, 5774 A Duck Dynasty checklist By Cal Thomas
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The outrage industry was in high dudgeon just before Christmas over remarks "Duck Dynasty" family patriarch, Let's go down the "I Take Offense" checklist and make sure all the boxes were "ticked" before considering a larger point. -- Liberal -- Bible-reading Christian quotes from that book and is condemned by those who don't read or believe what it says, or have a different "interpretation" (same thing). Check. -- The A&E Network, on which the highest-rated cable TV show is shown (up to 14 million viewers), quickly issues an apology and "full support" for the LGBT community. Check. -- -- The right to free speech is defended amidst allegations that quoting the Bible promotes hate and violence against gays. Check. -- Various high-profile Christians, among them former -- Both sides send out fundraising appeals that ask for contributions to (pick one) fight the intolerance, hate and bigotry of the fundamentalists and their Republican allies (liberals), or keep America from sliding into the moral and cultural pit from anti-God Christian bashers (conservatives). Check. Check. There. Now, does everyone feel better? Has everyone had their say? Has anything changed? It might, if the Robertson family carries through on its implied threat to "walk" from the show if Phil is not allowed to continue on "Duck Dynasty." I don't know what their contract allows, but if it permits them to leave, or if they are fired "for cause," they are likely to "walk" their hit show and its huge audience to another network.
Now to the larger point. Christians who read the Bible, as Other passages say Christians should expect persecution, even hate, because Jesus said they would. "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first" (John 15:18) and "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33).
Christians should not "demand" respect and "tolerance" for their beliefs when their Leader said to expect the opposite. Sure, they can point out hypocrisy (it is something in which they occasionally engage), but they should be known less for what they are against, than Who they are for. Condemnation ought not to be the first words out of their mouths when it comes to the beliefs and lifestyles of others. Quite the opposite. Here's a
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JWR contributor Cal Thomas is co-author with Bob Beckel, a liberal Democratic Party strategist, of "Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America". Comment by clicking here.
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