Where Do We Draw the Line with Christianity?

I am sure that most of America has heard the taped conversation between Kerrion Franklin and his famous father, Kirk Franklin. The tape is very explicit, and I chose not to broadcast it on my blog. I do, however, want to weigh in with my thoughts on this situation because there are so many comments that have circulated since the incident hit the airwaves.

I am the mother of four children ranging from ages seventeen to thirty. None of us will ever walk in the shoes of Kirk Franklin, his wife, or his son’s mother. We have no right to stand in judgement of either party. God is the only being that will ever have the final say as judge and jury over all lives and he does keep an accounting of everything that we do. The public does not know the full extent of this situation that started with Kerrion Franklin as a child. So it is hard to step in and give a response to a recording of a partial conversation between a father and his son, who is obviously troubled.

I want to first say that The Bible is specific regarding how a child should treat their parent. Deuteronomy 5:16 (NKJV) says “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Kerrion Franklin has a responsibility to his father according to God. No matter what has transpired between he and his father, he should remain respectful to his father as long as he lives. If a crime has been committed, the proper authorities should be consulted but pushing his father’s buttons to get a response is inappropriate.

Kirk Franklin was wrong in a sense as well. Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV) says “And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” We are all human and fall short of the righteousness of God. I can be honest and say that I have lost a few battles myself when my children pushed me to that point. My daily goal as a Christian is to always walk in the path that God has designated for me. I do not get up in the morning and say, “I am going to curse one of the kids out today.” That is not how it works. I am sure Kirk Franklin did not have it on his To Do List either. Ultimately, the respect should go both ways in any healthy parent/child relationship.

Let’s be real people. Kirk Franklin is a man. He is a hu-man in a tough situation with his adult child. Kerrion’s mother even came out and spoke up on Kirk’s behalf because she did not want to hang him out to dry. These people have dealt with this for a long time, and they know their son and his tendencies. We know that he goes to therapy, but neither he nor his parents have divulged the reason. We have no right as outsiders to look at Kirk Franklin and throw him to the wolves because he made an error in judgment during a heated argument.

Kirk Franklin was a man of God before this situation, and he is still a man of God. No one is perfect and we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Let us not forget. Each person has the right to come to God and ask for forgiveness. Should Christians curse? The bible is clear. God does not expect us to curse and praise him with the same tongue, but he knows our imperfections. This is why Jesus came to pay the price for us on Calvary. He knows the beginning and the ending of every life before we are even born.

We should be praying for Kirk and Kerrion Franklin instead of preying on them. My prayer is that Kerrion and his parents can mend their broken hearts and establish a harmonious relationship. The public does not know every nasty detail of what happened to them through the years, but God knows and He can fix it. Let us pray for peace and healing where this family is concerned. Kirk has been a good servant to God. His music is amazing. Unless some other detrimental details come out regarding this relationship, I will still fully support this man of God.