What a Mess For: Pat Robertson

Recently, as you may have heard, Pat Robertson, the well-known Christian televangelist, called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. This left me asking a few questions:

(1) Is Pat Robertson really a man of God?

Only God knows for sure. However, we are in denial if we cannot admit that we all commit sins. The man said something stupid -- malicious intent or no malicious intent. However, again, that is no excuse for what was said.

(2) Should Pat Robertson have said what he said?

Although there are basic ammendment rights (not that I totally believe we always have them), what he said, regardless of underlying intention or mistakes, was actually a call to terrorism -- and nobody has the right to terrorism. This guy has a lot of influence over his viewers -- people must be careful. Maybe there is another way, besides murder(!), to avoid another $200 billion + war. Hmm.

(3) Are people like Pat Robertson a danger to the image of Christianity?

Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps as long as we are all sinners, we are all dangers. Perhaps not. What's best to be done about it?

(4) Should he continue preaching things like this (which, in the past, he has apparently said other stupid/risky things) to thousands and thousands of viewers? Should we weigh the good against the bad? Should we even try to judge it?

You decide.

The following is the link to a really interesting article written by Patti Davis, daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, that appeared in Newsweek concerning the Robertson ordeal. I am not sure I agree with it one way or another, but I did find it interesting nonetheless: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9053644/site/newsweek/