Day after A&E bars him from Duck Dynasty, Phil Robertson busy praying for cancer victim

Some of you may be up in arms about Phil Robertson's suspension by A&E. So may some of us to the extent that it represents a societal marginalizing of those who live by the Word of God.

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But as far as Mr. Robertson himself is concerned, well . . . he doesn't seem too concerned. TMZ reports that he spent last evening with his prayer group at White's Ferry Road Church - but not praying for himself:

The pastor at White's Ferry Road Church tells TMZ ... while everyone went crazy last night over Phil's suspension, Phil was in the pews with his prayer group, praying for a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer. Pastor Mike Kellett tells us ... Robertson didn't even MENTION the TV show or the suspension-- it was all about the sick woman. Pastor Mike dodged our question -- whether Phil's a homophobe -- saying, "Phil is doing his best to follow God's word. He always treats people with love and respect." Pastor Mike says the church is solidly behind Robertson: "Television shows come and go. His faith is forever."

By the way, I think I can answer the question TMZ says Pastor Mike "dodged": No. Phil Robertson is not a "homophobe." Phil Robertson is a man of God who loves all people and wants them to come into a right relationship with Him for their own sakes, and who recognizes that the spirit of homosexuality is in conflict with the Spirit of the Lord. But that is not what was on his mind last night. Whatever may happen with Duck Dynasty or A&E, Robertson recognizes that the cancer victim who is part of his church family is much more in need of God's help than he is, and that was his concern last night. This doesn't mean people of faith should take lying down what the culture is trying to do. A&E's declaring loudly and clearly that they will not tolerate people on their network who unabashedly declare the Word of God, and that's because A&E fears retribution from cultural factions who hate the Word of God and refuse to submit to it in their lives. That needs to be called out for what it is.

Fascism: Government can order you to act in opposition to your faith in the name of "civil rights"

By the way, for you lunkheads who tried to say that this is not fascism, you need to engage your brains a little more. If all that was happening here was one TV network hating on Christians, it would not be fascism. But when people acting on the authority of government can order you to act in opposition to your faith in the name of "civil rights," that is fascism. And when private actors, bouyed by (and perhaps to some degree in fear of) such state actions choose to join in with the agenda, that is authoritianism that absolutely rises to fascist levels. If you don't think so, I'm sorry, but you're just an idiot. Be that as it may, it makes me that much more confident about the spiritual strength of Phil Robertson to know what he was doing last night. He understands that standing for your faith is not about you, it's about obedience to God, which is also achieved by praying for those who are hurting even as you recognize that God has already given you more than you need to weather your own storm.