Why is everyone not happy, happy, happy?

I'm going to come right out and say it, I love Duck Dynasty!  Finally, we have a reality show that is wholesome and does not involve crazy women (or men) trying to find love, teenagers pregnant, or Honey Boo Boo.  We finally have a show about a family that is not dysfunctional.  They are not seeking fame and fortune.  They are allowing America to take a peek into their lives and have a good laugh while doing it.
The most important aspect of Duck Dynasty that I love so much is that they are not ashamed of their faith nor their values.  As we all know Phil Robertson, a.k.a. the Duck Commander, is coming under a lot of heat for comments he made in an interview with GQ magazine.  You can read the Fox News story about it here:http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/12/18/phil-robertson-suspended-after-comments-about-homosexuality/

Twitter and Facebook started blowing up last night over this controversy.  Representatives from both sides have chimed in and I felt like it was my turn to give my perspective on the whole situation.

1. I respect Phil Robertson for saying what he said and the way he lives for Christ unashamed.  It may not be politically correct what he said, but aren't we all getting a little tired of having to be politically correct all the time?  It's like we have to walk on egg shells every time we have a conversation with anyone.  And, the comments he made were about his faith and his opinion on things.  Everyone has a right to their opinion.  Just because you don't agree with it, does not mean that you have to hate the person.  Phil was speaking the truth that he knows from the Scriptures.

2. As Christians, we have to be wise in how we handle this whole situation, especially through social media outlets.  We can get very upset and make a big stink about this or we can take a different approach.  We have to remember that the One we follow was silenced for what he believed was right.  He spoke the truth with love and conviction and he was crucified for it.  The leaders of his day did not agree with him and wanted him silenced.  Therefore, they went to the utmost extreme to make sure that it happened.  They even got the national government involved.  The Phil Robertson situation should come as no surprise to us.  Jesus said that the world would hate his followers.  If we are accepted by the world, then we should reevaluate how we are living.  If we want to follow Christ, then the world is not going to accept us because the world did not accept him.  So, we can be a squeaky wheel and play the martyr or we can look to Christ for strength to endure and wisdom to know how to continue spreading the Gospel.

3. The church in America needs to change.  This may sound contrary to what I have said above, but it's not.  We have spent too long trying to attract people to church.  That is the model that we live by.  Because of that, we have fallen into the trap of compromise.  We like when our churches are full because it makes us think that we are a successful church.  But, when something controversial comes up, we are tempted to compromise because we don't want anyone to leave.  Phil Robertson does not care about the show.  He has said so himself in interviews.  He does care about the platform the show gives him to preach the Gospel.  The church in America should start caring less about the show and more about the Gospel.  We are going to upset people if we preach the Gospel that Jesus preached.  But, it's not our message or our ideas; it's Jesus' message.  He told us to go into the world and preach the Gospel.  The apostles died for this message.  They didn't care about the show.  They cared about Jesus and his Gospel.

Jesus did not die for us so that we could be comfortable.  He died for us so that we could live.  Life is not easy nor is it comfortable.  Life with Christ will never be easy nor will it be comfortable.  Thank you Phil Robertson for reminding me of this.  I hope and pray that it will remind all us as well.