A few weeks ago an article appeared in a popular magazine in which the patriarch of the “Duck Dynasty” family made some comments about the state of morality in our nation today.  Using a rather crude manner of expression this man stated his personal views on homosexual behavior.  As he did so, he loosely, but accurately, quoted a passage from 1 Corinthians that condemns homosexual activity.  The firestorm that erupted after his comments hit the airwaves was massive, and, predictably, negative.

As might be expected, the homosexual lobby immediately demanded that he be fired from the very popular reality program about his family and business in which he has appeared for several years.  News stories about his comments and attitude flooded the airwaves for days, and the Christian faith that he espouses was viciously attacked by the media and various other anti-Christian voices.  The network on which his program airs issued a statement distancing themselves from his views and announced that he had been indefinitely suspended from the program.  Amazingly, even some professed believers joined in the attacks on this man.  The backlash against the network from fans of the program and from conservative believers ultimately led the network to reinstate him to his program, which will continue to be seen in its normal time slot.

As this drama unfolded, it was clear that the outrage expressed against this man’s statement ignored one important element.  It ignored the truth.  Every argument was based upon the presumed unfairness that has been experienced by homosexuals, and upon the shock and disgust that anyone could not support the current efforts to bring equality to this segment of our society.  Every argument worked from the premise that it is only right and just to bring homosexuality into acceptance in our modern, enlightened world.  The fact that this man quoted scripture as the basis for his statements about this subject was conveniently ignored or cast aside.  In other words, the media “ducked” the truth.

For the record, I am not a fan of Duck Dynasty.  The point, however, is that it is scripture which determines what is right and just, not public opinion.  The verses quoted in this man’s statement are 1 Cor. 6:9, 10.  Here Paul says, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Whatever one may think about how the “Duck Commander” related these verses of scripture, the fact is that he accurately related them.  This is what God’s word says, and it isn’t simply about homosexuality.  Paul mentions many sins in these verses which will keep a person out of heaven at the end of time.  If we are going to remove homosexuals from this list, we must also remove adulterers, thieves, idolaters, drunkards and the rest.  This, of course, is not the only place in scripture where homosexual behavior is condemned by God’s word, but this truth is apparently too inconvenient for the world.

When Jesus prayed to His Father on the night of His betrayal, He asked on behalf of His apostles, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”  Paul said that all scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).  This means that all scripture is truth.  This is not a matter of opinion or interpretation.  The statements in scripture against homosexual behavior are clear and simple.  We cannot “duck” the truth and be right with God.