Social Death vs. Literal Death

I have read several blogs about the current ordeal between The Robertson Family and A&E. The arguments about gay rights, homosexuality, freedom of speech and religion. Whether or not Phil is hateful, racist, ignorant or old fashioned. There is a deeper and more powerful message behind all of this besides the argument to "bring back Phil" or "boycott A&E." This blog isn't going to be about Phil and his family or what they do and don't stand for. They make it well known about their beliefs. As the old saying goes, "there's bigger fish to fry."

Romans 1:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.


People have been denying Christ since Christ has been around. It's no secret that Peter denied Him three times in one night, just to save his own britches. There is a story (not sure of it's authenticity but it's a good one nevertheless) of a Pentecostal minister that walked into his church one Sunday morning, pulled out a pistol and said "I'm killing every Christian in here." They beat the doors down getting out, and he looked down at the 3 that stayed and proclaimed "Now we can have church."

There's another account of a young North Korean Christian boy who was told to denounce his Christianity and proclaim the Emperor as his savior. He was shot twice in the stomach and bled to death on the sidewalk, still calling out the name of Jesus.

When I was a student at Louisiana Teen Challenge, one of the staff members, Reverend  Derek "Brother D" Handy, preached a message called "The Stephens of Today." I will never forget this message and it is a sermon that has been tattooed on my heart. He talked about Stephen, while being stoned for his beliefs, still cried out to God to forgive the ones that were killing him. Stephen died a literal death for his Savior. He had the love of Jesus in his heart, even with his last breath.

In the light of recent events, particularly the incident with Phil Robertson, it has me thinking about Brother D's sermon and how many of us wouldn't be willing to die a social death, much less a literal one. In this day and age, we can post a statement or a picture on social media, and if an insufficient amount of people "like" it, then we automatically get offended. If someone posts a generic rant or rave, we automatically think they are talking about us personally.

How many times do we have an AWESOME opportunity to witness to someone, but keep our mouth shut because we are afraid of what they will say or think. Have we ever been in the grocery store or walking on a busy street and The Lord puts someone on your heart to go and pray for? It's like He shines a spotlight on them, but yet we do nothing, scared of rejection.

Matthew 10:33

English Standard Version (ESV)

³³ but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.



The passage above is from Jesus Himself. If we deny Him on Earth, He will remember that when we stand before Him. My hat goes off to Phil Robertson and his family for not being afraid of the social death. It is example for all of us to follow.


But as I sit here typing I can't help but wonder how many of us would be willing to take two bullets in the belly for Jesus? Get smashed by stones and still beg for the life of the people stoning us, stay in the church when there is a gunman threatening our lives? It really puts Romans 1:16 and Matthew 10:33 in perspective. God Bless all of you, for our fight has just begun.