Finding Meaning and Peace in a Culture of Accusations, Shame, and Condemnation

“I love America, but I am standing first and foremost with God‘s kingdom on this one. And no one either from the right or from the left will shake me on this. I pledge allegiance to the unshakable kingdom. Always.”

Phil Robertson, Introduction

My family’s nightly routine of watching something before prayer in the evening has shifted from Psych to Duck Dynasty. My kids finally got sick of watching shows about murder before bed—and it was a real kick in Dad’s pants that they had to request something else for a while! Yikes.

Far more wholesome and yet just as funny, Duck Dynasty entertains us with pranks and gags, Si’s insanity, and Phil’s bluntness. I also appreciate watching this Christian family wrap up their days in prayer together over meal. If you’ve never watched the show, I highly recommend it.

Before my introduction to the show, I’d seen many Duck Dynasty books in thrift stores but never had an interest in reading them. That’s changed now, so I’m grabbing them whenever I see them. I found Un Canceled by Phil Robertson on my Libby app and brought it with me on my recent trip to Bhutan.

The Political Gist of Un Canceled

“Cancel Culture” got personal with Phil Robertson, after a 2013 GQ article quoted him answering a question about homosexuality with  1 Corinthians 6:9-10

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

In the wake of the fury that this quotation elicited, Phil lost his job on the show (briefly) and ultimately lost $10 million—all because he quoted the Bible, though it took the world 3 weeks to realize it!

And it wasn’t just the godless Left that canceled him during his time in the limelight. He experienced it again from portions of the MAGA-Right, when he refused to endorse a Presidential candidate.

When I spoke about this on the podcast, I pointed to neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump. I pointed to Jesus instead. As I said, most of my listeners thanked me. But this time a few of those on the Right were the ones to attack me, to cancel me. I don’t recall exactly what they said, but it was close to “You traitor! I thought you were a Trump supporter. I’ll never listen to your podcast again. In fact, I’m done with you.” (Introduction)

Phil wrote this book out of heartbreak for a culture that’s grown so weak it can’t handle offense of any kind.

Revolution in the 1960s

He traces the odd sensitivity of cancel culture to the revolutionary radicals of the 1960s. About this he writes:

For many reasons, the 1960s were a chaotic and angry time, trust me. People were simply tired of the lies, empty promises, and corruption of government. They had grown weary of injustice and inequality, so many took to the streets. It was a rough period in our nation’s history, I can tell you that. (Preface)

This quote and Robertson’s emphasis on the revolutions of the 1960s are so reminiscent of the political climate today! BLM, Antifa, Trantifa, and all the anti-ICE riots occurring throughout our country—not to mention Charlie Kirk’s assassination—all remind us that there’s truly nothing new under the sun. It also reminds me to check out Mark Kurlansky’s book 1968: The Year That Rocked the World, which I hope my Siblings’ Book Club will read together this next year.

Robertson goes on write:

The cultural and sexual revolutions of the 1960s promised liberation from the authority of God without any consequences. The only problem is, they failed to deliver. We are now living in a culture that is growing in its disdain for the authority of God, or anyone else for that matter, and the negative impact on our country is profound.

Yes, the cultural revolutionaries of the 1960s promised an imminent utopia, but after sixty years, we aren’t living in a utopia by anyone’s estimation. Millions of children from broken and dysfunctional families grow into adulthood without any real sense of direction, and that creates an environment ripe for something such as cancel culture. (Chapter 2)

Revolution Turned Violent

The real problem with cancel culture is that, when unchecked, it leads to something far worse:

Unbridled anger must have an outlet, and when words fail to provide the adrenaline rush we crave, the only alternative is to put our words into action, violent action. Are any of us comfortable with the notion that, when we don’t get our way, we just knock people in the head and take control by force? I hope not. But the evidence seems to be pointing to the possibility that this is where we are. (Preface)

While Robertson couldn’t have predicted Kirk’s political assassination (which occurred about 5 months after Robertson’s own death), he certainly did predict the violence-in-general that would sweep America., because he saw the writing on the wall. If society can cancel you for your words or beliefs, it’s not too far from canceling you in other more tangible ways as well.

The Spiritual Gist of Un Canceled

With all this muck in mind, Robertson turns to the only solution that makes sense—the same solution he referenced in his Introduction: Jesus. In essence, this book is on long Gospel tract, pointing readers of all persuasions to the only One who can “cancel” our sin and moral debt that we owe to God, the Son of God Himself.

Robertson has no trouble shifting this discussion from politics to faith. As he writes:

The problem with America is that we have a spiritual disconnect, that too many of us have abandoned the love of God… We’ve put our hope in human constructs like secular education (indoctrination), churches that have drifted away from the simple message of the gospel, and partisan politics. But the problem isn’t political or religious… Those are just symptoms of a much more serious disease. Our problem is spiritual, rooted in our nation’s drift away from the knowledge of God. (Introduction)

He then spends the remainder of the book explaining what this lack of knowledge has done to our country and people, and how a return to God can change everything.

Personal Thoughts on Un Canceled

This sad issue of cancel culture is real and it’s turning violent. Open discussions about it are necessary though rare, so I’m thankful to Phil Robertson for taking a swing at it and pointing people to Jesus in this book.

It shocked me, though, that it took an old duck-hunter-turned-TV-personality to point out the elephant in the room. Nothing qualified Robertson to tackle this obvious cultural poison—while theologians and most pastors ignored it—except his solid grasp of Scripture and his hard-learned knowledge of how it works and ruins. This book is an excellent and intimate look at this cultural cancer and our need to kill it fast.

I know that the Robertsons stem from the Church of Christ tradition, and thus they believe that baptism is required for salvation—following repentance and trust in Christ. I didn’t catch a whiff of that in this book, but instead only found the Gospel in its purest form: by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. I was fully satisfied with how he preached the Gospel of Jesus in this book.

Conclusion

This being my first taste of a Duck Dynasty book, I was surprised at its depth of insight and Gospel focus. At several points, Phil mentioned his Podcast, which I didn’t know they had, so I think I’ll try peeking into that as well.

In the end, I only wish that Phil himself had read the entirety of this book in his slow Louisiana drawl. Since he wasn’t a man of many spoken words, I can understand the hiring of an actor. Still, I think that’s another reason to check out his Podcast—just to hear his voice again!

©2025 E.T.