Robertson on Terrorism
In case you haven't read this yet, gentlemen, Pat Robertson made remarks on yesterday's episode of the 700 Club stating that God had told him that the US would suffer a major terrorist attack in 2007, possibly even nuclear.
Robertson has a track record for making "prophetic predictions," which rarely if ever come to pass, claiming direct revelation from God. My question for us is, how do we as seminary students and pastors react to these declarations? What does this teach us about how we ought to act in the public square, particularly with unbelievers? How should we use this to teach our people?
posted by Anonymous at 8:18 AM
7 Comments:
My question for us is, how do we as seminary students and pastors react to these declarations? What does this teach us about how we ought to act in the public square, particularly with unbelievers? How should we use this to teach our people?
Pat Robertson is a very smart man with a lot of wisdom...except in this area. He seems to make a lot of claims and predictions that just leave me guessing.
How should we react? Firstly, with every prophecy that he makes that does not come true, he loses more and more credibility. If he were an OT prophet, he would have been stoned long ago.
To answer the second question, I believe this teaches that, in public, we should men of few words. And the words we do say should be filled with Scripture and also be logically sound.
Thirdly, we should teach our people to "test the spirits" when watching television pastors. Teach them to watch out for people making outrageous claims and judge everything by the Word of God.
Then, we should challenge them to a leg-press competition.
"Then, we should challenge them to a leg-press competition."
I love it. I had no idea that Robertson graduated from Yale Law School!
Charlie,
This is a question of clarification. You said: "Pat Robertson is a very smart man with a lot of wisdom...except in this area. He seems to make a lot of claims and predictions that just leave me guessing."
My question is, isn't wisdom an all-encompassing characteristic? I guess my question really is, is it possible to be foolish in one area of life and still be called a wise man (with regard to biblical standards in particular)? Just curious.
In answer to Drew's questions, We should handle this like we handle any other person who comes out and makes ridiculous statements of this nature. We should teach our people that direct revelation is rare phenomenon. When it supposedly occurs, we should tell our people to "test the spirits" (as Charlie how so aptly put it). I would simply tell my people to take a "wait and see" approach.
I think another interesting question is how should we react to false prophets, which is what Robertson will be if this doesn't come to pass. The folks in the Old Testament reacted pretty harshly to false prophets. Why? Because in giving a false prophecy, the "prophet" has made God a liar. Not something I want to be accused of. So, should we stone him? Just kidding...well, maybe.;)
Michael,
That's a good question about if wisdom is all-encompassing. I have heard Robertson claim that he has prayed for wisdom in various areas of life. He is trained in law, of course theology, etc.
Did you know that he is Post-Trib? Who would have thought? He is also Baptist - but I don't think Southern Baptist.
I cant figure him out. He's a unique man that I do believe God has given him insight (coupled with his study habits and hard work) to see how a lot of the world works.
I suppose if we said that if wisdom is only given to those who so not sin, or make fools of themselves, no one would be wise. Solomon, who was one of the wisest people who ever lived, (who also prayed for wisdom, I believe), had some serious character flaws.
Again, this is one area of Robertson's life where I just don't agree with.
To go along with the whole "wisdom" question... how smart can you be when you attend 3 years of law school at Yale and STILL can't pass the bar? by the way drew, I just about fell out laughing from that leg press comment. "VERY NICE!!!"
i'm not a seminary student or anything, but i personally wouldn't mess with a guy who could leg press 2,000 pounds. i say we let him free on this one.
i mean yea, he was wrong about that pacific northwest tsunami that would kill thousands, AND the fact that disaster would strike the residents of Dover, PA b/c they voted out the school board that believed in intelligent design, but third times a charm right?
I say we ask Pat Riley what he thinks, mathematically average the two and come up with a new prediction. it will at least be as successful as Robertson's last few.
and yes, it was 3:20 in San Diego. i'm ashamed.
Screwball,
Great profile pic.
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