I have no frickin' patience with sanctimonious farts who blame people for natural disasters.
Here's the venerable Pat Robertson telling us that the Haitian people "made a pact with the devil" a couple centuries ago in order to get the French off their backs. Now, so many years later, they have a devastating earthquake and it's all their fault (no pun intended).
There's an old saying (Matthew 5:45): It rains on the righteous and the unrighteous. Natural disasters hit everyone - rich and poor, Christian and non-Christian. Earthquakes, etc., are completely and totally nondiscriminatory.
If we offer the Haitians our sympathy and prayers, and more important (at this point) our charity and mercy, blankets and medicine, food and water...I think that will go a long way toward convincing Haitians about God's mercy than Pat Robertson blaming them for a "pact made with the devil" at some nebulous point in their past, don't you?
Good going, Pat. You really know how to rally people toward the compassion of Christ. Now shut up already.
Patrice, here is another viewpoint for you to prayerfully consider: http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/1520212697.html
ReplyDeleteYes, they do need our prayers and our help.
Here is yet another excellent expression of the viewpoint I favor...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lamblion.us/2010/01/why-haiti.html
I'm hoping you'll consider another way of looking at this.
I've looked over those posts, Carol, but I'll still have to respectfully disagree. I still think Pat Robertson's remarks sounded callous and unfeeling - though I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he has a genuine concern for the people suffering in Haiti (after all, he *was* running a fund drive to help the Haitians).
ReplyDeleteTo illustrate why I think Robertson's comments were uncalled for, I'll mention my college roommate Cara and her husband Tom. They are deeply Christian people, but Tom was struck down with a malignant brain tumor and died four years ago last month. (My column describes the story:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=98244
How would it be if I were to smugly say that Tom died because of his past sins?
How about, instead, I acknowledge that Tom died because he was unfortunate enough to get a brain tumor?
In their suffering, Cara and her children grew closer to God - and believe me, she has always been deeply religious. And I believe Tom is now in heaven. But I don't believe God "pushed Tom down" (see column for reference) any more than God pinpointed Haiti for the earthquake.
It's up to Haiti to turn to God in their distress. But I'm not about to gloat over their bad fortune (which, I'm sorry, is how Pat Robertson came across despite his plea for help for the Haitians).
My $0.02.
- Patrice
I think your first sentence is spot on Patrice. (But I would of course :))
ReplyDeleteWell said Patrice.
ReplyDeleteHey, you are right again Patrice. So now I will bid farewell to yapping at you via your blog. I'm sorry that I was a bit too yappy. I am a novice at internet protocol. I will always be a fan and follow your work. I pray for a successful run for your family for the duration of our time here.
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree with Pat's comments but, natural disasters are, have been, and will be used by God for correction and judgment. The scriptures bear this out over and over again. The problem comes when we try to say this particular event or that particular event is DEFINITELY God's judgment! We dont know for sure and therefore should not speculate. We should heal the broken and restore the spiritual in the wake of the events.
ReplyDeleterev. Tim
Rev Tim. I think Patrice has given a good explanation as to why she disagrees with Pat Robertson's comments but I don't understand from your comment why you do. Perhaps Pat Robertson doesn't think he is speculating but is utterly convinced that it is God's judgement. Are you sure that it is not?
ReplyDeleteYet another facepalm moment for Pat Robertson...
ReplyDeletePatrice,
ReplyDeleteSorry, this is off topic. Couldn't find a good email address for you. Are you and Don completely out of the wooden tankard business now?
Thanks.
Cindy
Don Lewis Design Fan
Patrice, thanks for another intriguing post. My reply seemed a little too lengthy, so I published it on my blog here: http://tippytie.blogspot.com/2010/01/response-to-pat-for-petes-sake-shut-up.html
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Cindy, we are very much still in business - but we've segued from wholesale/retail to exclusively wholesale. You're welcome to email me at patrice@patricelewis.com if you have questions. Glad you're a tankard fan!
ReplyDelete- Patrice
"Earthquakes are completely non-discriminatory" is the statement I disagreed with. Let me be clear....I DO NOT agree with Pat Robertson! I think his statement was crude, mean and downright idiotic. But...take a look in scripture and tell me if you see God using "Natural Events" as a way of Blessing or Cursing. He does, often. Again, for Pat to say that he knows why this happened is irresponsable and totally wrong.
ReplyDeleteThat was really all I was getting at. Not disagreeing, just clarifying.
Rev. Tim
Please enlighten me Rev.Tim. Does God cause all earthquakes or just the ones where people live?
ReplyDeleteI guess we are asking: Is God sovereign? What does that entail if He is? Is there a single molecule floating out in space that is completely and totally free of God? If there is then He is not sovereign.
ReplyDeleteOr
We are saying that God has created the world and is sovereign but has now stepped back and allows it to run its course, in which case He is not responsible for anything that happens anymore since He does not involve Himself with it which is called Deism.
or
Knowing that every effect has a cause and therefore a first cause must exist, we posit the supposition that the first cause is the un-caused cause who we call God.
finally or
We don't believe in God and therefore everything has a "natural" explanation with out rhyme or reason because in reality the world is nothing more than Time+chance+matter.
If you would kindly explain to me which view you understand as most inclined with your own, it would help me to better answer you to your satisfaction (Lord willing).
A message for Cindy: I pulled together a webpage for our business Don Lewis Designs, if you're interested: http://donlewistankards.weebly.com/
ReplyDelete- Patrice
Thanks Rev Tim I have my answer :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting article:- http://www.slate.com/id/2241877
ReplyDeleteAmen, Patrice. When our pastor told us about PR's comments everyone groaned. It makes my heart sick when I hear of "TV Christians" shooting their mouths off! God hates sin, but what makes him think we're any different in the grand ole USA? Sin is sin... but by the grace of God go I!!!
ReplyDeletePatrice,I have to agree with you. Now he is on a rant about men cheating because of their wives, and that the women need to fix the problem so the men won't cheat anymore. What planet did he come from anyways? He is just obsured. I don't think I spelled it right. LOL.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Mrs. Doug, I groaned also. LOL.I was like, "here he goes again, opening his mouth."
Patrice,I have to agree with you. Now he is on a rant about men cheating because of their wives, and that the women need to fix the problem so the men won't cheat anymore. What planet did he come from anyways? He is just obsured. I don't think I spelled it right. LOL.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Mrs. Doug, I groaned also. LOL.I was like, "here he goes again, opening his mouth."