Posted on 11/10/2005 6:23:12 PM PST by lightman
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson warned residents of a rural Pennsylvania town Thursday that disaster may strike there because they "voted God out of your city" by ousting school board members who favored teaching intelligent design.
All eight Dover, Pa., school board members up for re-election were defeated Tuesday after trying to introduce "intelligent design" - the belief that the universe is so complex that it must have been created by a higher power - as an alternative to the theory of evolution.
"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," Robertson said on the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club."
Eight families had sued the district, claiming the policy violates the constitutional separation of church and state. The federal trial concluded days before Tuesday's election, but no ruling has been issued.
Later Thursday, Robertson issued a statement saying he was simply trying to point out that "our spiritual actions have consequences."
"God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in his eye forever," Robertson said. "If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them."
Robertson made headlines this summer when he called on his daily show for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
In October 2003, he suggested that the State Department be blown up with a nuclear device. He has also said that feminism encourages women to "kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."
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Christians as a whole are no more moral than any other group. They've got their thieves, murderers and yes, Liars For God. As is the case for most extremists, they're in the minority and the majority of Christians WILL put them "in their place" when necessary. Perhaps the Muslims will soon grow a backbone and do the same with their fringe groups before it's too late.
Robertson misses the big picture and seems to attempt to micro-assess everything. His statement is correct, but his interpretation and seemingly how he "knows" what will happen demonstrate an extreme lack of overall awareness of where this world is headed and the last days.
I know he thinks he has the big picture all mapped out, but he's wrong. Many are. That's what happens when you attempt to put man's spin on God's Word.
Some of them received a harsher punishment than ostracism...and it was at the hands of people like those voted off the Dover school board.
"If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God,"
Thats not the same thing as "disaster may strike there because you voted God out of your city". I'm not happy with foot-in-mouth-Robertyson, but AP is making stuff up.
Fair enough. Nevertheless, the shear number of "mistakes" that come out of his mouth is staggering by any objective measurement.
"Problem is, any time we see natural disasters of Biblical proportions hit certain areas, we want to immediately cite every possibility except the permissive will of God"
Or blame him, as in "how could He let this happen".
Well, I can understand him saying that. Isn't that what we're told in the Bible somewhere? That if we turn away from God, that he will turn away from us? Know us not?
Yes, the above is correct. Pat Robertson needs to retire. I understand what he is trying to tell the folks in this town but his wording at best was not what most would understand.
I'd never go to bat for AP. That said, praying God won't visit disaster on a give location is just as nutty to me as thinking I'm being punished when is strikes.
That's true. Some did receive harsher punishment. But I wouldn't compare the people voted off the Dover school board with those who had killed off their opposition. LOL!!
But I would say it's the same type of closed minded attitude that we're watching. Only I believe that closed mindedness was expressed by those on the other side of the issue.
"Pat Robertson needs to retire. I understand what he is trying to tell the folks in this town but his wording at best was not what most would understand."
He may not need to retire. He should pray and seek the Lord more before He makes statements that would be more concise and have the proper impact.
I never condemned you to Hell. Especially not for questioning me.
You're right...nowhere in the Bible does Christ command you to call down the wrath of Sodom and Gomorrah on those who don't vote your way.
Apparently so are some of the people who think he's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Read post #85. Robertson's words were twisted in the the first line of the story to make him look worse.
I thought of this scripture after 9/11 and it comes to mind in this situation.
1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down."
Seriously?
Yep!!! Just some people don't want to hear it!! Someday judgement WILL come!! If People will just God's Word the truth will be understood!!
You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. 2For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them! 6For among them are those who make their way into households and captivate silly women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires, 7who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth. 9But they will not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly will become plain to everyone
AMEN!!!!!!!!!
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