Duck Dynasty and a New Television Network

The time has come for the establishment of a values based television network that promotes shows like Duck Dynasty and prohibits showmen that preach prosperity. My esteem for Charisma Magazine went through the roof last week when I read an opinion piece from Lee Grady entitled It's Time to Reboot Christian Television. Mr. Grady proposed that this "rebooting" means Christian television would be "supported through advertising, not donations." Amen.

The Internet and Twitter are on fire over Phil Robertson's removal from Duck Dynasty. The arguments are typical. We Christians are furious over A&E's removal of the 67-year-old star from the show for saying that homosexuality is "a sin." That the secular media and A&E called Phil Robertson's comment  "explosive" says more about the truncated and short-sighted historical knowledge of the secular media than it does Phil Robertson. Until a few years ago, homosexual behavior was illegal in America. Just because the government decriminalizes homosexual behavior doesn't mean homosexuality isn't a sin anymore. The government is not God nor vice-versa.

Yet, on the other hand, I would argue that A&E has every right to remove Phil Robertson from its hit television show. We Americans believe in free speech and free markets. Don't forget the latter. A&E is a for profit television network and has the right to operate freely according to their views of market profitability. That means just as we fight to secure free speech in America, we ought to fight for the right for A&E to do anything they want with their own shows. They must make a profit. Let them do what they believe is best.

Many will stop watching A&E. Many will stop supporting A&E shows. Many will write A&E letters. We should. That's how the free market works. Tell A&E you are upset. Make your voice known--but don't be surprised or angry if they respond like this: "We do not share your values, we do not believe it is appropriate to call homosexuality a sin, and we are the ones who make the decisions to ensure our network's profitability." Don't ever stop fighting for their right to tell you something different than you want to hear. That's market freedom and capitalism. It may be companies make stupid decisions, but in America companies should be free to be do so -- and remember, for profit companies only measure stupidity in terms of money, not morality.

Prove to A&E they are stupid in terms of their profitability.  It's time for people with moral values to do something. Start a television network that promotes excellence in broadcasting. Ban preachers from preaching "the prosperity gospel" which is a stain on Christianity because it demeans the gospel and reduces it to a scam. Prohibit anyone from even introducing the idea of a God-forsaken fund-raising telethon that equates what the television network is doing to the Kingdom of God. In my opinion, those filthy telethons take God's name in vain. His Kingdom is no more like Duck Dynasty than it is Project Runway. Don't mix the two. God's reign is within us, and it is high time gifted and talented Christians start a for profit network and charge advertising for fun shows like Duck Dynasty, family value-oriented sitcoms that are more geared to wholesome entertainment than crudeness, and variety shows that are both fun and relevant.  In other words, be the CBS, ABC, and NBC of the 1950's in terms of values, but be 2014 in terms of technology and methodology. Use Twitter, Facebook, marketing, creativity, and top-of-the-line professionalism to create something new and nascent instead of condemning something current and cultural.

FOX news did it when CNN began to broadcast from a world view and moral philosophy that represented a departure from historic American values. It's time for business men and women, writers and producers, and those in the broadcasting industry who have cherished historic Judeo-Christian moral values to step up to the plate and create.