Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

WWJA: Who would Jesus assassinate?
Townhall.com ^ | August 25, 2005 | Marvin Olasky (archive)

Posted on 08/25/2005 5:40:10 AM PDT by .cnI redruM

Liberal reporters since 9-11 have frequently equated conservative Christians with Quran-thumping Muslims, but the differences between the two religions are huge. For example, Islam initially expanded through the slaughter of opponents, but Christianity grew through the martyrdom of believers -- and the apostle Paul taught Christians in Rome, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink."

Early this week, Pat Robertson, on his long-running TV show "The 700 Club," seemed more Muslim than Christian when he suggested that U.S. operatives assassinate Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez. Yesterday, he said he was misinterpreted and was suggesting kidnapping, not necessarily assassination, but he already had caused an international furor by using the A-word.

The televangelist should have remembered Spiderman's message that "with great power comes great responsibility." By his blurting, Robertson aided Venezuelan autocrats such as Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel, who sarcastically said that assassination advocacy was "very Christian" and went on to argue that "religious fundamentalism is one of the great problems facing humanity."

National and international journalists also played up the story, often treating Robertson as if he were the Protestant pope, as did some Islamic groups. Under a press release heading, "Pat Robertson's Fatwa," the Muslim American Society screamed that "someone should remind the darling of the Christian Right about the Ten Commandments. About the one that says 'thou shall not kill.' If that had been a Muslim cleric talking about killing a head of state, you would have never heard the end of it."

(Actually, Muslim clerics have done more than talk -- their fatwa followers have murdered intellectuals such as Faraj Foda, Hussein Muruwwa, Mahmoud Taha and Al-Sadeq Al-Nayhoum, and U.S. reporters have largely ignored that.)

None of these prudential concerns would matter much if Pat Robertson were biblically correct in calling for assassination -- but it's hard to see either general or specific biblical warrant for his fatwa. In general, as Paul wrote to Timothy, Christians are to pray "for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions."

Hugo Chavez is an evil tyrant, but so were many Roman emperors -- and Paul told Romans to "bless those who persecute you. ... Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all." Last time I looked, "assassin" was not on the general list of honorable callings. Wartime is different, but last time I looked, we weren't at war with Venezuela.

Applying Old Testament history to current politics is sometimes exegetically tricky, but the wartime assassinations in Judges 3 and 4 -- Jael hammering a tent peg into Sisera's brain, Ehud the left-handed man thrusting his sword into the fat belly of the king of Moab -- also do not provide warrant for taking out Hugo Chavez. Nor do any of Christ's words or deeds suggest a WWJA (Who Would Jesus Assassinate?) list.

The people most affected by last week's tempest, of course, were Venezuelans, one of whom wrote on www.worldmagblog.com of Chavez's demagoguery and election-rigging, but noted that "after decades of corruption and ignoring the needs of the poor, our country may deserve a leader like Chavez. The fact is that Venezuela needs revival; corruption ... is a way of life there. All potential leaders are corrupt, and we could end up with someone worse than Chavez. Pray for my people!" Prayer should also be for missionaries who now face greater danger.

God is the God of history. He raises up leaders and strikes them down. The Christian goal is to follow biblical principles, including "just war" ones, and not to create new orders. Christians who are careless bring dishonor to God's name by making many believe there is no difference between the pre-eminent religion of peace and the many religions of violence.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chavez; olasky; robertson
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-125 next last
To: potlatch

101 posted on 08/25/2005 8:34:44 PM PDT by Smartass (Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 100 | View Replies]

To: Manic_Episode


Well stated and DITTO.


102 posted on 08/25/2005 8:36:50 PM PDT by onyx (North is a direction. South is a way of life.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Smartass

LOL, I almost thought of using him on that border wall image I posted yesterday. Figured he looked too 'friendly' so I used my 'oh no' gif!


103 posted on 08/25/2005 8:37:22 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 101 | View Replies]

To: potlatch
Well, it looked good. I've had some time to work and polish up on html skills.
104 posted on 08/25/2005 8:47:10 PM PDT by Smartass (Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: Smartass

"Cutsie" - my things are more humorous but I'm not into meaness and gore so that's how I get my ideas across.

Here is a good border picture site in case you haven't seen it;

American Border Patrol pictures;
photo of the day;
http://www.americanpatrol.com/ABP/PHOTO-OF-THE-DAY/Menu-Photos.html


105 posted on 08/25/2005 8:51:35 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies]

To: potlatch
Aztlan...Downstream, It's going to be a big problem in the years to come. I've read the whole story on that group. Aztalan followers, are Palestinian sympathizers. They have a notion to take Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and about half of Colorado. There going to have to fight the American military to pull it off.

106 posted on 08/25/2005 9:04:38 PM PDT by Smartass (Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 105 | View Replies]

To: Smartass

Yes, it's scary, they want MORE than to just come here to work. They want the land it'self.

Coco-pele, I think that is the name of that gif. I'll look it up on Google.


107 posted on 08/25/2005 9:08:02 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: potlatch

Yep, it's cocopele and Google only had one image. Hard to believe!

http://images.google.com/imagesq=cocopele&hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-30,GGLG:en&sa=N&tab=wi


108 posted on 08/25/2005 9:13:18 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: BikerNYC

"Is there anything that God does not have the right to do?"

My point, exactly. Thanks for your good observation.

(I have not served. My tagline honors my son and my cousin.)


109 posted on 08/25/2005 9:16:14 PM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: .cnI redruM

Pat Robertson has always been a phony. He's used peoples contributions to his 'ministry' to buy diamond mines and airliners, and I can't think of a single positive thing that he has ever accomplished.


110 posted on 08/25/2005 9:18:21 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Atheist and Fool are synonyms; Evolution is where fools hide from the sunrise)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: .cnI redruM

An arsenic margarita maybe?...


111 posted on 08/25/2005 9:19:20 PM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: normy
"I would support the assassination of Chavez or the arrest and humiliation ala Noreiga. I don't believe Reagan or even Bush 1 would allow Chavez to remain very long in our hemisphere."

So would most of us, but that doesn't justify a buffoon like Robertson's comment. These are things that are done discreetly, and covertly.

112 posted on 08/25/2005 9:22:42 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Atheist and Fool are synonyms; Evolution is where fools hide from the sunrise)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: .cnI redruM
Who would Jesus assassinate?

The Iranian mullahs, Saddam Hussein, Little Elvis in North Korea - - and if you believe Yeshua will return, you also have to believe any enemy of Israel...

Your Bible says he will ‘come as a thief in the night.’

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

What would Jesus drive?

A Hummer with a Star of David on the doors.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Who would Jesus bomb?

Probably “Palestinians,” Syrians and anybody else attacking Israel.

113 posted on 08/25/2005 9:34:09 PM PDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Smartass

Ping to #108, it was for you but I sent it to myself!! Nothing like talking to yourself, I may end up in Cindy's ditch if I don't watch out!!


114 posted on 08/25/2005 9:35:32 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: righttackle44
Who declares that he has the right to do anything? Him? That's just an exercise of power, which was my original point.

As God's rights derive from no other source than his own power, God has the power but not the right to act.
115 posted on 08/25/2005 9:37:30 PM PDT by BikerNYC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: potlatch
QUIT TALIKING TO YOUSELF>>>heh, heh<<<

Was this it?
116 posted on 08/25/2005 9:44:14 PM PDT by Smartass (Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 108 | View Replies]

To: Smartass

Yes, that's it. I can't believe it was the only image Google had as it is seen everywhere in Mexico.


117 posted on 08/25/2005 9:50:55 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 116 | View Replies]

To: reagan_fanatic
Robertson was a stupid jerk for saying this in public. And he was right.

Truth, unadulterated, uncensored, unequivocal...

118 posted on 08/25/2005 9:55:48 PM PDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: .cnI redruM

Cute.

Robertson recognized that was he said was wrong. He apologized clearly. Not too many people with the guts to repent the way he did. I don't know of any Muslim hate-spreaders who've apologized the way Robertson did....


119 posted on 08/25/2005 10:05:46 PM PDT by Theo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: potlatch
Potlatches were wild. I can't think of any contemporary equivalent.

Fellow Native-American follower (and arrowhead hunter) here.

120 posted on 08/25/2005 10:40:38 PM PDT by txhurl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120121-125 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson