Reflection on Duck Dynasty Controversy

I personally didn't have much knowledge of the Duck Dynasty TV show that airs on A&E before the "controversy."  I thought it was some kind of Christian themed showed, and had no idea that it belonged to the realm of "secular" media, because I had looked at a christian bookstore catalog and noticed quite a bit of merchandise related to the show.  Then at work maybe a week ago I saw a debate on CNN over the controversy (The remarks that Phil Robertson, one of the main people on the show, made concerning homosexual behavior as being the essence of sin).

Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty

Robertson in a interview with a person from GQ Magazine made the following statement,

when asked, What, in your mind, is sinful?

Robertson replied,

“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “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.”

Without getting into the large debate that this comment has sparked, I have read the original article that the person (Drew Magary from GQ magazine) who made the interview with Robertson wrote, and it is pretty cunningly crafted piece of work.  

The original article can be found here: GQ interview with Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson

The article is written as a narrative of the interview with quotes here and there, it is dangerous, and it is hard to imagine that people have even given any weight to it.  But they  have, and in the light of the controversy and the theme of this blog, it seems proper to handle this situation with the view of man's identity as created in the image of God. 

So without giving an opinion on the "controversy,"  how would this situation be handled in the light of the following Scriptures?

Genesis 1: 27-28

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Romans 1: 23-25

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

(Of course this passage in Romans 1 doesn't only apply to people who label themselves as homosexuals, but to all men).

Here is another article published on the website American Thinker, in which a man does give an opinion on this controversy in the context of raising his children, and also in the context of man as made in God's image.

Articles: Why We're Raising 'Duck Dynasty' Boys, and Not 'Pajama Boys'

Quote from that article (regarding principles that guide he and his wife as their raise their children):

"Yes, that means that among other things, they are learning that, along with adultery, fornication, and bestiality, homosexual behavior is sin. They are also learning that they are created in the image and likeness of God, and that all human life, from the moment of conception, is especially precious. And they are learning that in the world today, both abortion and homosexuality are uniquely heinous."