The Reverend Pat Robertson says Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's massive stroke could be God's punishment for giving up Israeli territory.Sometimes, as a Christian leader and writer, after Pat Robertson makes a public statement, I feel like the guy following the elephants with a scooper. His latest spew requires some more scooping. So, here goes:
The founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network told viewers of "The 700 Club" that Sharon was "dividing God's land," even though the Bible says doing so invites "God's enmity."
Robertson added, "I would say woe to any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course."
He noted that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated.
Robertson said God's message is, "This land belongs to me. You'd better leave it alone."
First: You must understand that Pat operates from a notion that modern Israel is the heir of historic Israel. Most Christians, myself included, think that's whacked. In the Christian view, historic Israel fulfilled its critical role in history--to be a light to the nations--in the Person of Jesus Christ. The first believers in Christ, Jews themselves, even called the Church, "the new Israel."
Israel has a right to exist among the family of nations. But the greatest leaders of modern Israel, starting with David Ben-Gurion himself, have not seen a direct line between historic and modern Israel.
Second: Robertson is one of those who believes that it's possible to somehow force God's hand, bringing about the return of Jesus by provoking a war in the Middle East. His support for the modern state of Israel, then, is rooted in no love for Israel, but in his notion that such a war is a necessary prelude to Jesus' return.
This belief is sick at several levels:
(1) For a Christian, it subordinates God's sovereignty to our machinations. Apparently, Mr. Robertson has forgotten one of the petitions of the Lord's Prayer: "Your will be done."Third: Robertson claims that God is telling modern Israel that, "This land belongs to me. You'd better leave it alone.”
Jesus said during His time on earth that all of the conditions for His return had been met and that only God the Father would call the shots on the timing.
(2) Robertson's views make an entire nation--Israel--a mere toy in the hands of a selfish and manipulative group of "Christians." He would prevent peace in the Middle East in order to advance his wrong-headed interpretation of the New Testament.
Actually, the Bible says that the whole earth is the Lord's, not just pieces of it. I find no evidence to indicate that God minds at all people voluntarily ceding territory in order to gain peace. I rather think that the God Who prompts us to share and sacrifice--you might want to check out the Sermon on the Mount, Pat--would take a positive view of these efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.
Cleaning up after Pat can sometimes feel like a full-time job!
[I first saw this story here.]
10 comments:
I learned a great deal from this explanation. Thank you, Mark.
However, others can no longer repair the damage Pat does with his words. And while explanatons are interesting, most people are now beyond caring about understanding Pat's viewpoint.
To laymen, at least, he gives Christianity a bad name...and that matters.
As a former Baptist preacher-in-training, let me THANK YOU for your level-headed and 100 percent accurate explanation.
"Whacked" ... great choice of words, too. Robertson is a self-important "whack job".
I have the greatest respect for Mr Robertson.
When Pat reaches heaven I believe he will be able to look around and see hundreds of thousands of souls who would not be there if not for him and his ministry through the years. Its hard to criticize a man like that.
That said, there are so many times that this gentleman will say things that just leave me shaking my head.
The liberal media has become very adept at using Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson to further their own agenda. And Jerry and Pat willingly step right up to be made caricatures of religious conservatives. If they were effective the media wouldn't come near them.
Pat Robertson has accomplished many great things in his ministry. His calling is more noble than commenting on politics and world events and I wish he would stick to it.
I posted about this, as well... and truly appreciate your comments on it:
http://pressingtheflesh.blogspot.com/2006/01/explain-this-to-me-again-please.html
Seems to me that the time has come to stop treating Robertson as "the crazy guy on the fringe" however, and DO something about it. Why isn't his television show regulated in the same way that any other garbage on TV is?
Mark,
I think you're overstating your case a bit when you say:
"Robertson is one of those who believes that it's possible to somehow force God's hand, bringing about the return of Jesus by provoking a war in the Middle East."
I think it would be more accurate to say that Robertson and other believe they can "force God's hand" not by "provoking a war" but by encouraging the return of the entire land of Israel to the Jews.
The fact that such return would provoke a war is a result which they are willing to accept if necessary. Implying, however, that they have "no love for Israel" and just want to provoke war by any means is inaccurate and unfair.
If that were the case, of course, they would be encouraging the Palestinian terrorists, empowering Iran's nuclear intentions, and calling for the US to stop intervening to protect the Jews from their enemies.
There are plenty of things wrong with Robertson and those like him. There's no need to exaggerate to make your points. :)
Mark C.
Mark D,
Good analysis and comments, as usual. I do have to agree with Mark Congdon, though.
I think Robertson and others like him care about the nation of Israel because of its perceived importance in prophetic fulfillment. They believe the survival of Israel is important and war will come because Israel exists.
Charlie - I think God allows us to suffer the consequences of bad choices and the effects of sin. I am fascinated by Jesus' statement in Luke 13:
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
If there's any connection between sin and suffering, it's that sometimes God allows us to get what we all deserve. And that's a warning for the rest of us that we all face God's judgment - which is meant to lead us to repentance and salvation.
Interesting comments all.
Mark Daniels
Pat Robertson reminds me of Howdy Doody. But many times the puppet seems to have more brains.
I commend you all to the impressive statement referenced on David Wayne's fantastic site, Jollyblogger. Specifically, go to http://jollyblogger.typepad.com/jollyblogger/2006/01/pat_robertson_e.html#more. After reading David's take on things, follow his link to this statement: http://theologica.worldmagblog.com/theologica/archives/2006/01/an_open_letter.html. It demonstrates better and more thoroughly than I can what faulty Biblical ground Robertson has staked out.
Mark
Hi Mark:
Maybe you know more about Robertson's poltical agenda for Israel than I do; my impression has been that he follows Israel with great interest because of the role he believes Israel has to play in the end-times scenario, but I did not think his position was going so far as trying to be part of a war-provoking effort there.
Your post and Charlie's comments here prompted me to write today about Robertson's views-- not so much on Israel-- but the idea that God is acting retributively in a number of recent events.
I would enjoy hearing what you think of the article.
Blessings,
Alex
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