Posted on 02/16/2006 3:55:55 PM PST by Reagan Man
Virginia Beach, Va. -- These should be diamond days for Pat Robertson. He'll be 76 next month. The 45th anniversary of the first Christian Broadcasting Network telecast is coming on Oct. 1. Next week, he was supposed to be the main speaker at the closing banquet of the National Religious Broadcasters convention.
But instead of basking in the renown that could be his as the founder of five major Christian institutions, he has received enormous criticism for statements such as his recent contention that Ariel Sharon's stroke was God's punishment. When I interviewed Robertson earlier this month in his CBN office, which sports oil paintings on the walls, an oriental rug on the floor and an American eagle on his desk, he displayed his crinkling eyes and low chuckle, but he also flashed his claws at times.
For example, when I read him what Southern Baptist Convention leader Richard Land said of his statement about Prime Minister Sharon -- "I am both stunned and appalled that Pat Robertson would claim to know the mind of God concerning whether particular tragic events, such as ... Sharon's stroke, were the judgments of God. Pat Robertson should know better." -- Robertson replied that Sharon was "doing something that violates God's will. ... All I'm doing as a faithful Bible teacher is teaching the Bible. And if Dr. Land doesn't believe the Bible, I'm sorry. That's his problem."
Robertson did say that he was taking precautions to avoid more eruptions: Before broadcasts, "I didn't use to review the news. Now prior to the air we go over the news stories. ... I now have a former news producer from 'Good Morning America.' I'm going to have an earpiece in my ear. ... He's going to be whispering in my ear. ... He's going to be in the control room. As the news comes up, (he'll say), 'Why don't you say this, why don't you suggest this, let's discuss this.'"
Concerning many other controversial statements, Robertson noted the impact he has had: "They say when a big ship goes through the water it makes waves, and I'm sure I've made waves. I've said stupid things." The do-over he'd most like to have, though, is financial: "My biggest regret is that I didn't buy Channel 13 in Seattle when I could have gotten it for $165,000. I had it cleared through the FCC, and I turned down the offer. I kick myself for that."
At the heart of some of Robertson's disputes with other Christians is a theological difference. All evangelicals believe that God answers prayer (although often not as we might choose) and speaks to us through the Bible. Robertson, like some other charismatics, believes that God speaks to him directly "all the time."
He explains it this way: "It's not conceited. We ask for leading. ... God did speak to me directly concerning (Regent) University, and it was real simple. He said, 'I want you to buy the land and build a school for My glory.' ... You read Jeremiah. He said, 'The word of the Lord came to me.' ... You read the Torah, 'The word of the Lord came to Moses,' 'The Lord said to Moses, tell the people.' The Lord spoke to Joshua. The Lord spoke to David."
Many Christians see Robertson's position as arrogant, but Robertson also sees himself as emulating the 16th president: "If Abraham Lincoln wouldn't give impromptu (speeches), maybe Pat Robertson shouldn't be impromptu." At the least, he said, "I will study more and be more reserved."
Reserved? Unlikely. A fine movie from 1968, "The Lion in Winter," starred Peter O'Toole as the aged Henry II holding onto his authority and holding off enemies. Pat Robertson, described by one Regent student as "a cute old man," is the panda in winter.
****Mr. Olasky is editor in chief of World magazine and a professor at The University of Texas.****
Robertson has no one to blame but himself.
There ya go. No bout adoubt it. LOL
I believe him to be a Christian, but he sure has his shortcomings.
Why has he worn them so proudly on his sleeve?
Fools like Robertson will undo all of the outreach to Jews that has been done. He is Abe Foxman's dream; a fundamentalist who calls himself a friend of Israel but expects Jews to die for his reasons.
Pat Robertson has done a lot of good for poor folks in the US and for people around the world. How's that old saying go, 'people who live in glass houses' ....
I don't know anybody who gives a rats*ss what Pat Robertson
has to say. And I'm just like them.
Good for you.
No one should confuse or compare Pat Robertson with being a pope-like figure. He is not. He is a Christian, who follows the Bible verbatim. Anyone person who follows their religious text verbatim, is bound to get slammed by all sorts of people. OTOH. I thought Robertson's blunt talk about crazy Hugo Chavez, was right on the money.
Out of the hundreds of thousands of words he speaks on behalf of conservatism he makes a few mistakes. But far, far, far less than his liberal peers.
Of course he is crucified on a daily basis by liberals. But conservatives regularly join in bashing him.
Sick.
WOW! I wonder at the vitriolic slander pouring forth against a moral, conservative Christian gentleman from fellow freepers. It appears there are those among us who instantly respond to blood sport spawned by the secular press against one of our own.
I happen to concur with Pat that giving up land to people who hate Jews will likely be the Israel's undoing, may God forbid.
If Pat Robertson chooses to use descriptive words to get his point across, it's no skin off our noses. His faith will see him through all the garbage thrown at him I am certain. It's just sad to see mob mentality at work against a good man.
I haven't slandered him at all. I know his words at times have been wrong and I am merely holding him accountable.
I've stated I believe him to be a Christian and in general, well-intentioned.
All leaders, if unchecked, succumb to the vice of self importance. Moses did. Thinking you are indispensible to God. That is where Jim Jones and David Koresh succumbed to evil.
Robertson thinks he speaks for God. He most assuredly does not. And this "God is more Zionist than the Israelis themselves choose to be" gospel is a gross distortion of scripture. It is not "Bible" at all, whatever Pat Robertson says so he has no right whatsoever to tell Israelis what to fight and die for.
Robertson has certainly opened himself to criticism, but he is what he is - a Bible believing Christian, and he lets the chips fall where they may. I like that about him, and I just ignore the off-the-wall remarks. These, however, give the MSM a big stick to beat him with and to use to try to discredit Christianity in general.
I don't believe Pat Robertson consideres himself to be "indispensible" to God in any way. Robertson speaks from his heart and he has a right to his opinion, just as you and I do. I don't think he presumes to "tell Israel what to do". Before he made this statement I felt the same way. Israel is wrong to give up any land to a people who hate Jews. Unfortunately, it seems to be playing out just as we feared. Pat is more humble than many give him credit for. Nor is he the head of a cult.
Pat Robertson most definitely DOES presume to tell Israel what to do. He told them that Sharon was being killed by God for a militarily sound decision to withdraw to defensible lines.
Israel cannot be secure while it is trying to rule millions of Arabs. Israel cannot disperse its forces trying to police a rebellious population. And one that makes babies 10 to a family. The West Bank and Gaza are not and never will be Jewish land because there just plain aren't enough Jews to put there to alter the demographic balance.
It is one thing to have an opinion. But that is not how he spoke to Rev Land. Nor is it how he spoke to Israel and Sharon. In fact, Robertson is the ADL's favorite Christian. The kind who wants Jews to die for his reasons.
Verbatim according to a producer from Good Morning America, too.
Pat Robertson claimed President Bush told him the United States would go to war against Iraq, before anyone else knew of it. The President denied it, and in fact, it was later proven the Robertson was not even in town when he claimed the President made such statements.
I do not consider him moral in the least, and the fact that he is "Christian" is irrelevant. He has a long history of saying and doing things that lead me to believe he is not "one of us", whatever that even means.
Beware false profits.
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