The thing about Pat

I don't like to criticize other Christians, but I'll make an exception for Pat Robertson. Can't say too much about him, don't really know him too well. He's a great guy, my brother in the Lord, and quite the influential person. He's the bane of pornstars and liberals, Communists and radical Islamists. Really, I don't mind when liberal minded people get upset over people like Pat. What I don't like is when I start to get upset over people like Pat. It's more like disappointment than anger. I know you can say whatever you want if you have your own TV show, but man, some things he said embarassed me:

On the court case over Intelligent Design:

"I’d like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don’t turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city. And don’t wonder why He hasn’t helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I’m not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that’s the case, don’t ask for His help because he might not be there. God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in his eye forever. If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them."

On President Hugo Chavez:

"We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one strong-arm dictator. It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."

On Ariel Sharon:

"The prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who, quote, "divide my land." God considers this land to be his...And for any prime minister of Israel who decides he going carve it up and give it away, God says, "No. This is mine...And now Ariel Sharon, who was again a very likeable person, a delightful person to be with. I prayed with him personally. But here he is at the point of death. He was dividing God's land, and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU, the United Nations or United States of America. God said, "This land belongs to me, you better leave it alone."

On judicial activism:

"If you look over the course of a hundred years, I think the gradual erosion of the consensus that’s held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings."

I'm not too sure of Pat's motives nor am I sure how God is using him. Pat could very well be a modern prophet. The prophets of ancient Israel didn't have the most popular things to say. Their words were biting, gut-wrenching, and unpatriotic. They called for the judgement of God on an evil nation, a nation that was supposed to be set apart for the Lord. Likewise, Pat doesn't shy away from letting people know what God will do to them. He could have been misquoted by the media and I am aware that non-Christians don't usually understand the Christian worldview. But, assuming that he was quoted correctly, Pat may be one of the many prophets of God in America. (If that's the case, then my criticism is unnecessary.) He just happens to be the boldest and most televised. There may be some truth in what he says, like the Ariel Sharon bit. He didn't have to say it while the guy was in the hospital, though. Truth needs to be delivered with sensitivity. At that point, the "truth" could be withheld for a tad longer. I think it was more a guess on his part than an actual message from God. Don't know. There are no such things as coincidences, but I doubt Sharon's condition is a consequence of his decisions.

The flipside to this is that prophets were part of God's plan only in Old Testament times and only for Israel. Gentiles were mentioned but it always involved Israel and the coming Kingdom. I believe God speaks through some Christians in ways similar to the ancient prophets. I just believe that specific curses, like the Dover bit, do not carry the same weight. God works in ways that are predictable sometimes, so we of incredibly feeble minds can catch what He's telling us. I believe that 9/11 occurred because of the abundant sin in the US. No, it's not that simple, and there's more to it than that, but I won't be surprised if God tells us later that it was a very big part. Pat may or may not be a prophet for the US, but he sure talks like one. Talking about sensitivity, he could have definitely exercised some of it before making the comparison between our country's erosion and 9/11. Both are serious in its separate context. There was no need to make that comparison, saying one was more serious than the other.

Pat doesn't seem to get the idea of suffering and trials. From what he said in these statements, he seems to believe that problems equal God's curse. He of all people should know that the problems of life doesn't necessarily mean the judgment of God or the wrath of God. Most of the time, problems serve to develop people, not punish them. There are obvious punishments, but there are times when it's really shaping and chipping. He has equated natural disasters with God's will. While it's true that God controls everything, including natural disasters, I know it's just part of what Jesus said, that everything will start to go to crap in the last days. Pat can call all the curses he wants and warn as much as he wants. This is all part of what was predicted long ago, anyway, so it's nothing new.

My suggestion to you, Pat, is to read James again and know what to do with your mouth before stuffing it with your foot. You're making us look bad by saying stupid things like taking people out. Yes, I know Chavez is a murdering scoundrel and gasp even worse than Bush! I personally wouldn't mind Chavez "taken out" of office. (Why did Ford have to stop the US government from assassinating people?) You didn't have to go on TV with it; you should've just kept it to yourself. Hold the Gospel out and you'll get enough of the world's vitriol. Since you like to be political, it's best to do it with tact. You can be political without being stupid.

The only other reason I could think why Pat says what he says is simply because he's getting old. He's becoming a curmudgeon. I can only hope and pray that God keeps Pat's mind sharp and his attitude right when he's in front of the camera.