Posted on 01/05/2006 4:18:52 PM PST by laney
NORFOLK, Va. - Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for "dividing God's land."
"God considers this land to be his," Robertson said on his TV program "The 700 Club." "You read the Bible and he says `This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, `No, this is mine.'"
Sharon, who ordered Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last year, suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday.
In Robertson's broadcast from his Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, the evangelist said he had personally prayed about a year ago with Sharon, whom he called "a very tender-hearted man and a good friend." He said he was sad to see Sharon in this condition.
He also said, however, that in the Bible, the prophet Joel "makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who 'divide my land.'"
Sharon "was dividing God's land and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU ( European Union), the United Nations, or the United States of America," Robertson said.
In discussing what he said was God's insistence that Israel not be divided, Robertson also referred to the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who had sought to achieve peace by giving land to the Palestinians. "It was a terrible thing that happened, but nevertheless he was dead," he said.
The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement urging Christian leaders to distance themselves from the remarks. Robertson made similar comments as the Gaza withdrawal occurred, it said.
"It is outrageous and shocking, but not surprising, that Pat Robertson once again has suggested that God will punish Israel's leaders for any decision to give up land to the Palestinians," said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the group, which fights anti-Semitism. "His remarks are un-Christian and a perversion of religion. Unlike Robertson, we don't see God as cruel and vengeful."
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said a religious leader "should not be making callous political points while a man is struggling for his life."
"Pat Robertson has a political agenda for the entire world, and he seems to think God is ready to take out any world leader who stands in the way of that agenda," Lynn said in a statement.
Robertson spokeswoman Angell Watts said of critics who challenged his remarks, "What they're basically saying is, `How dare Pat Robertson quote the Bible?'"
"This is what the word of God says," Watts said. "This is nothing new to the Christian community."
In August, Robertson suggested on "The 700 Club" that American agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has long been at odds with U.S. foreign policy. Robertson later apologized for his remarks, saying he "spoke in frustration."
In an attempt to stereotype conservative Christians, the liberal media always goes to Pat Robertson, a total embarrassment to the Kingdom of God, for comments on current events. As in this case he ends up with a mouthful of his own toenails. The guy is a religious jerk with a monstrous ego!
He's in the beginning stages of alzheimers or is mentally ill.
I saw a few last night ...including some professed Jews whom I respect here say the same thing.
Myself....some things are best unspoken in public.....and Sharon is old and has lived a lifetime of high stress and overweight and I think he smoked a long time....like many Israelis
a natural progression of old age to me.
Or completely overcome by spiritual pride. He seems to have forgotten the scripture "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord..."
Only lately
This place is full of Christian hating psuedo-conservatives who concentrate on these types of threads bashing Catholics, Prods and foot in mouth types in order to damn Christianity because they can and it reassures their own Godlessness.
Obviously. The senile old coot is perfectly within his right to spout whatever foolishness he desires, and no one is either stating or suggesting otherwise.
I agree.He is a Godly man.
This is probably what he meant to say...
Reckon we could consider what God Himself has to say about things.
"I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."
The bigger picture, anyway. It is not so much a matter of specific sins as it is whole nature of the human condition. Let me start with myself. Then I'll consider Robertson and Sharon, both of whom will die like myself and all people (except a few), both of whom will be present at the ressurection of the dead like myself and all people.
>What an f-ing nutcase.<
On the off chance you are a Christian may I suggest you consider this scripture before refering to a minister of the Lord in the way you do.
1Ch 16:22 [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
>This place is full of Christian hating psuedo-conservatives who concentrate on these types of threads bashing Catholics, Prods and foot in mouth types in order to damn Christianity because they can and it reassures their own Godlessness.<
I would like to see some of our reading challenged friends here point to exactly what Robertson said that was offensive.
probably paid it to the bookies he owed money to...
Knowing what I know about the Bible, I'd fear for my life if I messed with God's land, or His people...
What about the false ones?
>What about the false ones?
Point out a Prophecy that Robertson has made that is false.
If so they are only fooling themselves and it is a fragile,false sense of security wehich will not endure.
Meanwhile, I'll pray for Pat to either recover from his debilitating mental disease or stop defrauding the faithful.
It's so predictable here on FR. Say something biblically based and you will get blasted, for sure. I guess most of the "Christian" folks have been spending too much time in church learning how to be "welcoming", feel good and be nonconfrontational. Should have been spending a little more time in the Bible finding out what God says about dividing up Isreal.
I don't think Pat is nuts, just wrong. Here is another view. The land promise to Israel was completely fulfilled during the days of Joshua. After that it was up to Israel. Joshua 21:45. Since the new covenant Jesus made it plain that land was no longer of any consequence as Jesus explained to the woman by the well, that the Father must be worshiped in spirit and in truth. (Jno 4:21-24) Pat, along with most presumed Christian religious leaders, does not walk by faith.
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