You say that as if you think I don’t know it. For over 40 years I’ve known it. So have women, minorities and, now gingers and bronies face it. People are always going to have different opinions, and they absolutely have the right to express their opinions. It would be nice if they expressed them in calm, thoughtful and reasonable ways, but they don’t always. It’s our job, as humans, to be strong and courageous, loving and forgiving, and tolerant of others even when those others aren’t. When the line is crossed, and a crime is committed, then action must be taken.
The duck guy expressed his opinion, when he was asked to, in a way that was consistent with his beliefs. When he said,
“Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
he was paraphrasing 1 Corinthians 9-10. I’ll paste it here, for accuracy, and extend it to the conclusion which is important (from the NIV):
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
I don’t believe what it says, or in what Christianity is. I recognize that he was standing by the tenets of his faith, which is honorable, even if those tenets aren’t. Under his beliefs, everyone is offered a way out, those who have offended may repent and be welcomed. You don’t have to believe it, I certainly don’t. But it’s what he believes.
Further on, he said
“We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus—whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out later, you see what I’m saying?”
which again, in my opinion, demonstrates that he is not being aggressive or hateful, he is just stating his beliefs. We don’t get to decide which thoughts are right or wrong, only which actions. I recognize that many people think he’s equating homosexuals to drunks and terrorists there, but I think that’s a matter of perception. A list of things doesn’t have to be the same kinds of things. He lists what he thinks are three different kinds of sinner. He could have chosen to add shellfish eaters, adulterers, thieves, murderers, or people who wear fabrics woven of two kinds of material (everybody). Would the uproar have been the same if he’d said “homosexuals, swindlers and slanderers”? I don’t know.
I’m not saying that he’s not a bigot - he is. I’m not saying that he’s not hateful, but I don’t think he demonstrated hate in the article. Every human has a right to hold inside his head whatever thoughts are his. We cannot decide which thoughts a person can have. And as long as someone doesn’t commit a crime, we allow them the freedom of speech to express their thoughts.
What gives any of us the right to decide which thoughts are acceptable? There’s plenty of hatred out there without us hating back. Accept that people have different opinions, until they threaten you physically, then put them in the morgue. Be supportive of those who need it - that’s where you’ll make the difference.
