Open Letter to Pat Robertson on the Haitian Earthquake

-












Mr. Robertson,

Is it not a true temptation to comment on everything, especially when one has a platform and a listening audience?

It is human nature to attempt an explanation for everything, even when a reasoned, intelligent explanation is not readily available.

Mr. Robertson, you should publicly apologize for and retract your comments on the cause of the Haitian earthquake. Even if your assessment is correct --and it is not-- you are not showing the love and compassion of God by suggesting those who live in Haiti now are responsible for whatever "pacts with the devil" may have been made hundreds of years ago.

When Jesus saw the people of his earthly time and place in chaos and confusion, his response was compassion. From Matthew 9:35, 36: "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

No, Mr. Robertson, you are not Jesus. As you have publicly stated you are one of his followers, you should attempt to imitate his attitudes and behaviors.

Mr. Robertson, please apologize for your dishonesty. You do not believe the people of Haiti are enduring this catastrophe because of what you say happened in their history. If you believed this, you would not live --or even spend one night-- in the state of Virginia. Look at the historical horror associated with the place now known as Virginia, a place where the physical and cultural genocide of Native people began and a place where the horrors of African slavery took root in the New World. Surely you do not expect "something to happen" to the people who live in Virginia in 2010 because of the clear and open pact with evil that defined so much of the colonial and early national history of this country.

Finally, Mr. Robertson, apologize for speaking in yet another voice that makes the case that Christians are self-righteous, self-important, superiority driven hypocrites who have no care for others, no concern for those not a part of their group.

Break the pact with evil, kill pride, and admit: "I was wrong."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mother's Day Remembrance of Love and Beauty

-
Image
--Celtic Knot of Motherhood, from tglass.net 2009 will be my sixth Mother's Day celebration without my mother. In addition, my grandmothers and (ex) mother-in-law, a woman I never met, are also deceased. I am grateful for the "play mothers" who have filled in with a love and concern that go beyond short phone conversations and holiday gifts. "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." --Proverbs 31:30 Love and beauty are two of the qualities most associated with what most of us consider to be feminine. My mother's love was expressed to me as a child when she taught me to help her in her rose garden and took the time to carefully explain how she cared for the plants. She loved the color and fragrance of the roses, and I came to love them, too. Her love was gentle, but contagious. Whenever I see a vibrant, healthy rose bush or a dozen roses in a vase, I think of her. M. Scott Peck wrote tha
Read more

Higher Ground; Heaven's Tableland

-
Image
(image from wikiwand.com) A hymn I grew up with--one  I seldom hear anymore--was titled "Higher Ground." In the chorus of the hymn, we sang these words: "Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith, on heaven's tableland, A higher plane than I have found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground." What is a tableland? A tableland is a plateau, a mesa, or an elevated flat ground. Often sheep would graze on tableland. What is heaven's tableland?  Many commentators have said it is the afterlife, when we all live in the heavenly kingdom of God's goodness. Not so fast. Heaven's tableland is not for the future; it is for now. It is for us to live on now. We won't need faith in heaven. It is only in this world that we need faith. Note carefully what the hymn writer wrote: "Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith , on heaven's tableland." In this world, we need faith. We need heaven's tab
Read more

Declaring Yourself "Blessed and Highly Favored"? Slow Down A Bit...

-
Image
--spreadshirt.com I used to speak regularly with someone who often declared herself to be "blessed and highly favored." When I telephoned her and would ask "how are you doing"? or "how is it going with you"?, the instant answer was always "I am blessed and highly favored!" Her answer came too quickly, almost as if no thought went into the response. I understand what many people teach about speaking only those words that reflect the reality you wish to experience. I think I have a least a little bit of understanding regarding why this type of thinking is so popular. I am not sure it's a good idea, or even biblical, but it is popular. I suppose we all like to think we are blessed of the Lord, but what does it mean to be highly favored? I reflect upon two persons from Scripture (Mary, Jesus' mother and the Apostle Paul)  I would consider to be "blessed and highly favored" of the Lord, but their lives were challenging,
Read more