I am still a little shell-shocked from the recent words that I heard come out of Pat Robertson’s mouth. Let’s assassinate the leader of Venezuela? Did I hear him right? Is this a bad dream? I am confused, angry, and discouraged.
Robertson has to be one of the most recognizable Evangelical Christians today, and yet what is he known for? What is his reputation? Is it one of honor and love for the unbeliever?
Which brings me to the reputation and impression the world is receiving of Christians in general: it ain’t pretty. It seems all I hear from Christians on TV is politically-oriented and it’s getting tiring. Shouldn’t we be talking more about Jesus Christ and Grace and Truth rather than the agenda we think is right for the country?
I hate to even bring up this topic because lately it seems like the popular, post-modern thing to do, but I just couldn’t help myself after this latest scene from the 700 Club. I have no answers or solutions. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be concerned about our country, it’s values…I just think we’re fighting the wrong enemy sometimes.
5 comments:
First of all, There is at least once in Judges where a judge of Israel went in to assingate a king. Israel has had a policy of targeted attacks for a couple of years and has limited the deaths to those who are causing the problems for Israel keeping collateral damage to a minimum versus a full fledged war.
Secondly, Christ was involved in politics (actually all interperson contact is political by defination) eating with tax collectors, talking to the woman at the well, and driving the money changers out of the Temple were politcal statements.
Thirdly, Pat Robertson is wrong because you leave a vacuum. Like anything in a life a vacuum demands to be filled with something. For instance someone who quits smoking they start eating
Robertson was one of the few Christians that I heard discussing politics while I was growing up. I watched the 700 Club many times while I attended my very secular "public" high school and I respected Robertson and most of his opinions. A lot of his teaching and editorials on the news were helpful to me as I attempted to survive as a Christian at my school, but I always thought there were times that Robertson made no sense (and not just when he was "speaking in tongues" mind you) Attending Christian colleges, I was exposed to a broader range of Christian perspectives on politics. Now I can probably think of a hundred other conservative Christian leaders that I would look to for guidance before Robertson. I still think Robertson occasionally has a bit of wisdom, but more and more I've heard him make wacko comments.
Regardless of whether or not the proposed assassination can be justified Biblically, why would you announce it publicly? Where's the love, man? How about the golden rule? It is sad because this one murderous comment said on TV may outweigh his hundreds of compassionate ones.
I was and am not advocating it as a viable policy, I was just putting the biblical assination as far as a point of thought. Like I said I thought Robertson was wrong, IF there is a case that assination should take you would want plausible deniablity.
The sad part is that the outside world thinks all Christians are like Pat Robertson. While one can certainly debate the merits of assassinating evil men and women, it would be better for ministers to spend their time reaching the lost. One also has to wonder why so many Christians are following TV pastors instead of their local church leaders. We are such a celebrity driven society and even Christian celebrities fall prey to thinking too much of themselves.
Well said, Jeff.
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