On the 700 Club Wednesday, the one-time conservative Christian leader was claiming that Haitians brought this tragic earthquake on themselves because they made a “pact with the devil.”
Robertson said,
Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about. They were under the heel of the French, you know Napoleon the Third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said 'We will serve you if you will get us free from the Prince.' True story. And so the Devil said, 'OK it's a deal.' And they kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got something themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time remarks made on Robertson's television show has made us all want to hide under rocks in the wake of tragedy.
Who can forget the strikingly similar comments made by Jerry Falwell after 9/11 on the 700 Club:
We have sinned against Almighty God, at the highest level of our government, we've stuck our finger in your eye. The Supreme Court has insulted you over and over again, Lord. They've taken your Bible away from the schools. They've forbidden little children to pray. They've taken the knowledge of God as best they can, and organizations have come into court to take the knowledge of God out of the public square of America.
It’s a strange theology that claims to trace the wrath of God to particular people and issues. It's even more strange applying that theology to tragedies like this. In Haiti, a husband searches for water to quench the thirst of what’s left of his family and a mother weeps over the limp body of her firstborn. In America, Robertson retelling folklore about “you know, Napoleon the Third and whatever” so as to cast blame for this event on the Haitians and their “pact with the Devil.”
There are more important things to do right now than attack Robertson. As a nation reels and hundreds of thousands suffer, we don’t have time to deal with Robertson’s comment. Now is the time for goodness and mercy and generosity. And then, after we’ve given these people everything we have in us and their tears have begun to dry, it will be time to address why we’re even allowing certain people to continue to have a voice in our culture.
Time Magazine's Top 10 Robertson Gaffe's
Julie said:
And my hope and prayer is that the world will realize that Robertson speaks only for himself, and not in any way does he speak for me or the majority of Christ-followers. I'm glad people like you and Donald Miller are speaking out to make that crucial clarification.
Posted from my iPhone
Posted: January 16, 2010
Adam Shields said:
The longer he is on the air and the more stupid things he says, the more I wonder if the deal that gives him a show as long as he lives was really set up by the devil.
Background on why 700 Club will never go off the air.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=
Posted: January 16, 2010
Travis Mamone said:
I have a feeling Pat and Rush keep sticking their feet in their mouths because that's what they get paid to do. "Here, say something outrageous and we'll give you a bonus."
Posted: January 16, 2010
Bill Beahan said:
Robertson should have kept to asking for help for Haiti for which his organizations have done much over the years. He is an outlier in the born again movement on the right just like those born again Christians who still believe in the disproven (Climatgate being the latest nail in the coffin) theory of man-caused global warming. Robertson can no more prove his statements than the man-made global warming believers can prove that man cause the slight warming on Mars that correspond to the slight warming here on Earth is man-made. I would avoid a church where Robertson is held up just like I would avoid (and have left) a church following the Gore movement.
Posted: January 18, 2010
Jonathan Merritt said:
Bill,
Just when I think there is no way to tie a particular subject back to climate change, you post a comment. No one will accuse you of not having convictions.
Jm
Posted: January 18, 2010
Dee said:
I think the 700 Club is basically a comedy show anyway.. Yes, there are times when the comedy is rather tasteless, like this last outburst.. but really, old guys get likes this. I say ignore and move on. :-)
Posted: January 22, 2010
Mike said:
Pat is off the reservation, as usual.
Although there is no question that the Bible refers to God judging nations through natural disasters, and as much as that makes us uncomfortable (especially around our non-Christian friends in our live and let live culture), the simple fact of the matter is that no man knows whether a particular tragedy is the product of divine reckoning or the natural, fallen world that we live in, complete with tornadoes, floods, blizzards, volcanoes, and earthquakes. It's like trying to guess the Second Coming.
What's more, it would be a peculiar theology indeed which insists that we stop and ponder whether God is revisiting some generational curse every time we slam our thumb with a hammer or get into a fender-bender.
Posted: January 22, 2010
Jonathan Merritt said:
Mike,
I agree. There is no way to guess what role God is playing in world events.
I find it interesting that went the Moral Majority went bankrupt or when Pat Robertson was buried in his run for President, no one was claiming God was punishing them for ....
Jm
Posted: January 22, 2010
Mike said:
Brilliant. Same reasoning could apply to Christian Coalition's effective regulation into obscurity.
I'll say this, though - Pat has been pretty consistent in supporting relief efforts, social welfare causes, and not just for Haiti, et al. Thinking of Operation Blessing, which is very reputable and quite established relief agency and has been for years. I note that not to provide an excuse for his comments, not by any strech of the imagination, but some critics have suggested that he is heartless. My response to that is that his theology might be, but his actions aren't. That being said, it's time for him to hang it up and let Jr. take over the show full time, assuming anyone is still watching.
Posted: January 22, 2010