Blessing in Disguise?

The A&E versus Duck Dynasty showdown may have been a blessing in disguise.

The suspension of the Duck Commander, Phil Robertson, for telling GQ what the Bible says about homosexual behavior should serve as an object lesson for conservative Christians, traditional Americans and other lovers of liberty.

Many of those on the left side of the political spectrum have built a network of intimidation against those who refuse to accept their views and especially those who are vocal in standing their ground, but they may have awakened a sleeping giant. This could end up being one of the most encouraging lessons in the wake of the flap that has captured America’s attention.

It may be that people are wising up to the tyranny of uncompromising leftist groups and realizing they don’t have to cater to them or cower to their bullying demands. Phil Robertson has shown that courageous individuals, secure in their beliefs, can make a difference. Often, when Christians speak out, they motivate like-minded people to stand up and fight back.

Conservatives may finally be learning they don’t have to be victims when it comes to the left’s shop-worn tactic of threatening their opposition with domestic economic sanctions. If traditional Americans were paying attention, they should have gotten an education on how to fight fire with fire by reciprocating with economic sanctions of their own.

The Cracker Barrel restaurant chain learned this lesson the hard way. It announced it would quit selling certain Duck Dynasty merchandise because of Robertson’s statements. The backlash from its customers and potential customers via social media was swift and Cracker Barrel got the message. Within hours, the company issued an apology and reversed its decision. Realizing Cracker Barrel’s wallet was about to take a huge hit, the company backed down.

Before Cracker Barrel’s change of heart, conventional wisdom said the left owned social media. Now we know better. The reality? People, including millions of conservative Christians, traditional Americans and liberty lovers, own social media and can use it to combat the left’s tyranny and engage in the culture war. A similar phenomenon occurred, in reverse, when Chick-fil-A customers flocked to its restaurants throughout America to support the chain when the company’s CEO, Dan Cathy, came under attack for simply saying he supports traditional marriage.

Traditionalists who want only to be left alone seem to be learning that certain militant leftists, especially gay activists, won’t let them. The militant gay lobby doesn’t want to live and let live. They don’t just want equal rights and respect. They want to silence the opposition. They want to stamp out opposing viewpoints and suppress the liberties of those who disagree with their agenda.

Robertson and Cathy are not the first to have been demonized by the left and they certainly won’t be the last. Some who worked on the traditional marriage Prop 8 ballot initiative in California were told they would be vilified as anti-gay and would never work again. In other words, in effect, the left was saying, “If you express your support for traditional marriage, we will slander you as anti-gay and threaten your ability to make a living.” This is what happens when someone can’t win in the marketplace of ideas. They seek to take out their opponents by assaulting their character and trying to destroy their credibility.

For the first time, many Americans are seeing the true colors of the militant gay lobby. In its quest to impose its views and suppress opposition, it deliberately deceives. This deception can be found in the calculated distortion of terms such as “anti-gay,” “hate,” “discrimination,” “bigot,” “homophobe,” “bullying” and “intolerance.”

To oppose same-sex marriage or even to subscribe to the Biblical interpretation that homosexual behavior is sinful is in no way anti-gay or hateful. Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, believe in following His example. He loved sinners and hated sin. If a Christian believes homosexuality is a sin and believes the consequences of that sin, barring repentance, are eternal separation from God, it is the highest form of love to tell a homosexual just that. If believers hated homosexuals and sinners in general, why would they even bother to tell them what the Bible says about the consequences of sin? If they despised them, they would enjoy seeing them spend eternity in a place the Bible calls Hell.

Phil Robertson, a born-again Christian, voiced his opinion about homosexual behavior. In doing so, he did not discriminate nor advocate discrimination against homosexuals in any way. By opposing these practices he did not prove himself to be a bigot. He did not advocate the mistreatment of homosexuals. Even those who believe the behavior is sinful are not being hypocritical if they admit their own sinful behavior, as well, and the Duck Commander did that. Robertson did not ask the government to impose punitive sanctions against homosexuals, nor did he utter one word that would suggest he is a homophobe, which would mean he fears homosexuals.

Gay militants are pots calling the kettle black. Bullying and intolerance? Methinks the accusers are projecting. They have demonstrated they will not countenance opposing viewpoints and will seek to bully, intimidate and suppress the liberty of those who wish to express their opinions. In doing so, they may have overplayed their hand.

Freedom lovers should take heart. A&E versus Duck Dynasty proves there is a way to fight back. There is a way to battle the left on its own terms. Many Americans who did, in fact, want to live and let live are now realizing that sitting out the culture wars they did not start is not an option. The choice is to engage or accept what the left gives you.

How can traditionalists push back? Stay informed. Register. Vote. Write letters. Tweet. Text. Fax. Facebook. Call. In most cases, with the technology available today, you never even have to leave your house. Let the world know what you think and what you believe. The left needs to see and hear you by the millions.

The militant gay lobby, most of Hollywood, much of the mainstream media, many Democrats and others on the left want to fundamentally transform America. If they get their way, the traditional, “In God We Trust” America we once knew may disappear. That’s the bad news. The good news? Phil Robertson is proving the left’s vision for America is not a fait accompli.

Ed Baswell pastors The Clarion Church and is the host of Crossfire Radio, weekdays from 7-9 am, on The Promise, 90.7 FM. The show is streamed live worldwide at promisetalkradio.org and at ktbs.com. It can be seen each day on the KTBS 24-hour, digital news channel.