What has the popular TV program Duck Dynasty got to do with boiled ham? Well, there is a connection between a censored Duck Dynasty star and Ken Ham!
As I’m sure most of you are aware, Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson was suspended from the program by the A&E network after he made comments against homosexual behavior during a magazine interview. This has made news headlines, and enormous numbers of people are supporting Phil Robertson. Now, a caution or two here. I have to admit that some of Robertson’s strong, crude words—and comments about race and racism—in his magazine interview made me wince. And people can debate whether or not that A&E has the legal right to reprimand Robertson in the way it has. While Robertson used some strong language and may have some theological differences, there is a much deeper issue we should not miss.
Many blogs and other articles have been written about this issue. For example, Dr. Al Mohler Jr. serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville) and stated the following on his blog:
So the controversy over Duck Dynasty sends a clear signal to anyone who has anything to risk in public life: Say nothing about the sinfulness of homosexual acts or risk sure and certain destruction by the revolutionaries of the new morality. You have been warned.
You can read his entire well-written post about this subject on his website.
Another blogger stated the following about the A&E television network:
You decided to stand against free speech, against open expression of ideas, against Christians, against the Bible, against the views of a majority of humanity, against the most profitable show in the history of your network, and against almost all of your viewers. But, hey, at least you put a smile on GLAAD’s face. That must make it all worth it, right? (http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/12/19/dear-ae-congratulations-you-just-committed-suicide/?blogsub=confirming#subscribe-blog )
OK, so what has my headline of “censored duck” got to do with “boiled ham”?
Well, as the culture has become more secularized and a small minority of God-haters has been allowed to influence the education system and the culture by censoring out the Christian message, those who speak boldly from God’s Word are increasingly considered the enemy. Those who call themselves politically correct and tolerant are the most intolerant of all—there is an increasing intolerance of the Christian message in this nation. And there are increasing efforts to censor Christians from plainly teaching the message of Scripture, which is what is happening with the issue of “gay” marriage and homosexual behavior. The Bible clearly teaches against “gay” marriage and homosexual behavior (e.g., Matthew 19, Romans 1, and many other passages); however, if Christians dare teach this truth, increasingly they will be persecuted in this nation.
Just recently I was interviewed on Fox and Friends (Fox News TV network) concerning the ongoing atheist attacks on Christmas—and on Christianity in general. Because I was allowed around three minutes to publicly state what I believed and why—the atheists went ballistic! According to them, I should never have been allowed such a public platform—and why? Because I’m a Bible-believing Christian who believes God’s Word, beginning in Genesis.
But now to get to the “boiled ham.” I find that atheists can speak against Christians, blaspheme God, mock God’s Word, and vehemently attack Christians—and that’s called free speech. But if Christians dare state what they believe based on God’s Word then its considered hate speech and intolerance!
Here is a blatant example of this intolerance from this week. An atheist responded to my Fox and Friends interview with a disgusting attack on God—and then an vicious attack on me—but then calls it “satire” and, therefore, considers it free speech! If Christians were to treat atheists as this atheist treats Christianity and me personally, I can only imagine the repercussions! And note, this atheist wouldn’t dare attack Muslims like this!
Here is an excerpt from this atheist blog post—and you can read the rest (if you really want to) at the link provided. The blog post is titled “This Christmas I’m Having For Dinner, Ken Ham.” This atheist states the following about his rejection of God and the babe in a manger:
I’d rather a babe be in thigh-high leather boots and a fish net body suit if truly coming to save me from my hideous self, but I guess sinners can’t be choosers, eh? The concept of a tiny infant being born so that it can be horrifically tortured and die nailed to a cross when it grows up so my sins can be forgiven, sickens me to my very core. Such thinking is sadistic, narcissistic, cruel, and exhibits a psychopathology so depraved the “DSM” hasn’t yet a label accurate enough to describe it. If THAT is what “faith” tells people they must believe is true in order to be considered “good” then I’m ecstatically happy I’m the moral-lacking a-theist monster I am.And being such, I’ve decided that for my Christmas dinner I will capture and cook alive, slowly, Ken Ham himself. I’ve a lovely place in a secluded wood all picked out with a human size iron pot of oil just waiting for me to plop Mr. Ham into and bring slowly to a boil. There’s no need for me to gag him either because we’ll be SO secluded, no one will be able to hear even his loudest yelps of pain. Man, this is gonna be a great Christmas. I’m glad Mr. Ham took the time to remind me of how evil and nasty I am just because I don’t believe in his god. He took away any last twinge of morality in me that might’ve said, “It’s wrong to boil people alive in oil and eat them, so don’t.” Oh well, he has no one to blame but himself for becoming my Christmas dinner! Hee Haw! How’s that for imposing my a-theism on you, eh, Mr. Ham? (http://variouspontifications.com/2013/12/17/this-christmas-im-having-ham-for-dinner-ken-ham/)
Call it “satire” and then it’s apparently OK to use whatever hate speech you want. Personally I believe this person stepped way over the line. You can’t just write anything you want and then call it “satire” to say what you’ve viciously written is OK!
Imagine the uproar if Christians were to write about atheists like this?
You see, the intolerant atheists will only tolerate what they agree with. These God-haters want to be able to say anything they want to about Christians, but Christians must be censored from teaching what God’s Word clearly states.
So “censored duck” and “boiled ham” are the same deeper issue—censorship and hate speech from those who will not tolerate true free speech.
Scripture puts it this way:
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying
Ken
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.