Major Duck Dynasty Flap

The story and future of Duck Dynasty and Phil Robertson are still evolving…though at this point A&E has stated that, “The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely” due to his recent remarks during a GQ interview about those living an active homosexual lifestyle based upon 1 Corinthians 6.

Granted, tact (and being “wise as serpents”) was lacking in some of Phil’s remarks, but the statements by the network make it clear that tact was not the reason for Phil’s dismissal.  Rather, it was the non-politically correct Bible-based belief about sexuality contained in Phil’s message that got him blasted out of the show by A&E.

As a writer for TIME pointed out, we will still have to wait and see how everything will ultimately play out (even though A&E has already, ironically, demonstrated religious intolerance in the name of being tolerant).  Personally, I am waiting to see what the Robertson family is going to say or decide to do or not to due in regards to this media flap and censorship of Phil’s stating his religious beliefs. [Update: Robertson family official statement released 12/19/13 at 7:13pm stating they are standing upon their faith and with Phil.]

In the mean time, here are some articles worth reading regarding the major Duck Dynasty flap:

Duck Dynasty Star Fired Over Remarks on Homosexuality by Joe Carter on the Gospel Coalition gives a snapshot of “The Story,” “The Background,” and “Why it Matters.”

Why Phil Robertson Got Suspended from Duck Dynasty by James Poniewozik at TIME points out some of the irony of Phil’s removal from the show over his remarks.

Duck Dynasty? by Russell Moore on Moore to the Point approaches the situation from the perspective of “genuine diversity” and “debate…in a free society.”

You Have Been Warned – The “Duck Dynasty” Controversy by Al Mohler on AlbertMohler.com directs attention to the “clear signal to anyone who has anything to risk in public life” regarding disclosing beliefs about “homosexual acts.”

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson Suspended by A&E for Comments on Homosexuality by Mary Katherine Ham on Hot Air states, “I don’t agree with Robertson’s remarks, but this is clearly an overreaction” and directs attention to underlying assumptions of the “new morality” (Mohler phrase) while speaking in hyperbole that “He’s literally guilty of a thought crime against humanity even if he is literally tolerant of gay people every day of his life. There is no room for tolerance of him.”

Journalist Consensus: Media Lean Left by Dylan Byers on Politico does not directly address the Duck Dynasty flap, but rather, through the mouths of “Top journalists from The New York Times, NBC News and CNN,” reinforces the points brought up directly or implicitly in the above articles regarding an underlying media bias against traditional biblical views as espoused by Phil Roberston.

Duck Dynasty Stars on Abstinence Before Marriage

‘Duck Dynasty’ Stars Jase and Missy on Abstinence Before Marriage

By Anugrah Kumar, CHRISTIAN POST CONTRIBUTOR

Jase and Missy Robertson from A&E’s popular reality TV show “Duck Dynasty” said in a recent interview that they chose to remain abstinent until marriage as per God’s desire, and also spoke about their family values and faith in God.

“We were both virgins when we got married until our wedding night,” Jase said in an interview, whose video recording has been posted on the website of the non-profit group Abstinence Clearinghouse. “We decided to do it God’s way and basically had a godly agreement that we would help each other get to heaven,” he said.

The “Duck Dynasty” series revolves around the Robertson family-owned duck call business in Louisiana, Duck Commander, and their strong Christian faith. The company produces duck hunting products, including a duck call.

A staggering 11.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the premiere of the fourth season of the series earlier this month to make it the most watched reality show ever on cable television.

“What attracted us to each other was what we saw in each other in our faith,” Missy, Jase’s wife, said. “We’ve been very happy for 22 years before the money started coming in,” she added.

Missy said they can now see the same commitment in their children. “And what an influence we can have on our children with that testimony. Our oldest son has been dating a great girl for over a year and a half and they also have the same commitment,” she said. “So it’s just such a wonderful joyous time as a parent to see that and the commitment they have as children wanting to do that also.”

Jase added the world will benefit if they followed God’s desire. “A lot of people just think that that’s unreasonable or preposterous,” he said. “But you know, if everybody chose to do it God’s way, the world would be a lot better off.”

Jase also shared why he believes fame and fortune are frivolous to him. “…We were raised really poor, my brothers, we had one bed, one room. But nobody told us we were poor and I was just as happy,” he said. “The reason is because we loved who we were with, with our family. That’s really the reason why we love to hunt. It’s not so much about what we get to eat or how many ducks we shoot, it’s about who we’re with.”

Jase stated that following God brings happiness in a family. “It’s a great testimony because we’re like, ‘Look, we don’t do this because we’re representing some organization. We do it because we trust in God and we believe that His way is the better way, in all things in life,” he said. “I’m going to use whatever God blesses me with as a platform to tell the world that God is for you. He proved it through sending Jesus down here to die for us and be resurrected. And for us that gives us second chances and it gives us hope, and so we spread that message everywhere.”

All the cast members of the series often display their Christian faith in the episodes and are seen at the end of each program engaging in prayer.

The men of the family, brothers Phil and Si, and Phil’s sons Jase, Willie, and Jep, have become popular for their signature beards. Phil Robertson started the business in a family shed and spent 25 years making duck calls from Louisiana cedar trees.

How Jesus Saved the Marriage of Phil & Kay of Duck Dynasty

‘Duck Dynasty’ Stars Phil, Miss Kay: How Jesus Christ Saved Their Marriage, Restored Their Family

By Melissa Barnhart

Phil and Kay Robertson, the patriarch and matriarch of A&E’s highest-rated reality show, “Duck Dynasty,” were guests on CBN’s “700 Club” on Wednesday to talk about their family’s success and to share how their faith in Jesus Christ saved their marriage, which is about to hit the 50-year milestone.

The motto of “faith, family and ducks,” is a running theme for the Robertson family, whose Duck Commander business in Monroe, La., is the backdrop for the reality television show that beat out American Idol with 9.6 million viewers during their hour-long season finale last month.

The show features Phil and Kay Robertson, Phil’s brother, Si, who’s a Vietnam veteran, and three of their four sons, Willie, Jason “Jase” and Jules “Jep,” and their wives and children, as well as a few of the Duck Commander employees. Everyone in the family has a role in the business, and the TV show follows the antics of the Robertson family as they navigate hunting season and familial relationships.

Before their family became millionaires and reality TV stars, Phil, a Louisiana native and former first-string quarterback at Louisiana Tech University, walked away from the game his senior year and handed off his position to Terry Bradshaw. He later completed his master’s degree in education, and in the midst of the ’60s, ended up leasing a bar in Junction City, Ark., where he was enveloped in the “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.”

In their interview with Terry Meeuwsen of the “700 Club,” Kay spoke about how her marriage and family struggled for 10 years when Phil was leading a life filled with fighting and drinking. Kay was the first to be converted to Christianity – one year before her husband. And even though Phil had kicked her and their three sons out of their family’s home, she continued to stay in her marriage and pray for Phil’s salvation.

During their separation, Phil eventually turned his life over to the Lord. They attend the same church today where Kay received her salvation more than 38 years ago.

“My life was spiraling out of control in a hurry,” Phil said. “It’s literally what Jesus said, ‘from darkness to light.'” After he became a Christian, Phil gave up drinking and “with a clear head” went back to Louisiana with his family and bought a house on the river. He then started working as a commercial fisherman while he built his duck call business from the ground up.

Speaking at a May 5 benefit for the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center in Dallas, Texas, Willie, the Robertsons’ second-eldest son, said his father “hit rock bottom,” in Arkansas after he got into a fight with the bar’s owner who ended up in the hospital. “State troopers were searching for him, so he runs into the woods and lives in the woods for four months running from the law,” he said…Part of Phil’s mission today is to “try to make amends, and go forth and tell people about Jesus and what he’s done for us on the cross. I’ve repented, and I’m trying to get my generation to do the same thing.”

He told Meeuwsen that he noticed A&E’s production team was taking Jesus’ name out of the show when he gave the family’s dinnertime prayer. He later asked them why they were doing that, and they replied they didn’t want to offend their viewers.

During the next taping of the dinner scene, he prayed: “Father, thank you for the good food, thank you for our children, thank you for loving us and saving us. And I pray that you give these people that are filming us time to repent before you burn them for not using your name in a prayer.” That ended the battle and brought Jesus’ name back into the show.

Phil and Willie often speak at churches and civic groups across the country to talk about duck hunting, the founding fathers and the right to life. Phil is a staunch supporter of the pro-life movement; and Willie, who has three children, one of whom is an adopted son, said as a father he now understands how God’s love for his son, Jesus, is equal to his love for humanity.

Willie attended Harding University in Searcy, Ark., and speaks to college students about money and fame, and how neither can bring the happiness that’s found in the Gospel and salvation through Jesus Christ. He tells students that the most unhappy people he meets are those who have money and fame but are void of a relationship with the Lord.

Both Kay and her brother-in-law, Si, will be releasing new books this fall, along with a Duck Commander Devotional. Kay’s book might delve into issues she touched on during her interview with CBN’s Meeuwsen, when she spoke about her grandmother’s influence on her life, and how she became a Christian when she was a young mother of three boys, living in a tumultuous marriage.

The fourth season of “Duck Dynasty” is expected to start this fall and will include their eldest son, Alan, a preacher, who has been absent from the first three seasons of the show. Phil’s book, Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander was released on May 7.

9 Things You Should Know About Duck Dynasty

By Joe Carter

Duck Dynasty is a series on A&E that shows the lives of the Robertson family, a Louisiana clan who became wealthy from their family-operated duck call business. Here are nine things you should know about reality television’s most gospel-centric family.

1. Long before he appeared on the hit A&E series, patriarch Phil Robertson was considered the “Billy Graham of duck hunting.” His first public-speaking opportunity came in the early 1990s when he was asked to give a duck-calling seminar at the Superdome in New Orleans before 1,000 people. After talking about duck calls and hunting, Robertson reached into his bag and pulled out his Bible. “Folks, while I’m here,” he said, “I think I’m gonna preach you a little sermon.” Afterwards, he received other opportunities to speak and preach and was soon booked years in advance to talk to churches and other organizations.

2. In 2012, Duck Dynasty topped Facebook’s list of most mentioned television shows. When the show returned this month for season three, the premiere was the most watched show of the night, beating out ratings giants American Idol and Modern Family.

3. Although the family is often shown praying at the end of each episode, Phil Robertson says that the show’s producers are frequently uncomfortable with the family’s strong Christian faith. “They pretty much cut out most of the spiritual things,” Robertson told The Christian Chronicle. “We say them, but they just don’t run them on the show.”

4. All of the members of the Robertson family, as well as series regulars John Godwin and Justin Martin, are active members of the White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ. Phil and his oldest son Al (who doesn’t appear on the show) serve as church elders.

5. Uncle Si says he always travels with three things: a gallon jug of iced tea, his plastic cup, and his Bible. (He probably also takes his wife. Although the show often gives the impression Si is single, he’s married to Christine. They too are active members of the White’s Ferry Road church.)

6. Friends and relatives estimate that Phil Robertson has baptized more than 300 people in the river near his home, the Ouachita River.

7. Jase Robertson on faith and family.

8. Willie Robertson on faith and ministry.

9. Phil Robertson’s testimony.