God warns of coastal storms, possible tsunami, Robertson says

PilotOnline.com ^ | 05-17-06 | WestVirginiaRebel

[WestVirginiaRebel]

VIRGINIA BEACH-Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson is warning that, according to God, storms and possibly a tidal wave will pound America's coastline this year.

[Shimmer128]

Nonsense, we make judgements every single day. We are not to judge his heart. But I am to judge his actions, and I don't think we should confuse "nice" with "inspired"

*note: the Bible also says not to sit down and dine with sinners (paraphrase) How would we know if we don't judge our companions' actions? How would we know who is a good friend, or who to trust, etc??
We aren't to judge their "heart" i.e. relationship with God. I don't know his relationship with God, but I do see that he's not God's messenger to us, by his fruit.

[maplegrover]

"....and why not? He has spoken to me on more than one occasion. Why not Pat? Truth is.......y'all just don't believe that God speaks to anyone, period."

In response to your first claim "He has spoken to me on more than one occasion." I have to ask the following:

1. What do you mean when you say God "spoke" to you? Are you saying you heard an audible voice? You felt an impression? You had an emotional experience?

2. How do you know it was God?

3. If I came to you and told you that God spoke to me and gave me a message for you - how would you know if I am telling the truth? Would you check my claim against consistency with the scripture or would you just take what I said as truth without any question?

I'm not asking these questions to be demeaning or disrespectful, I just think we need to be very careful before we start claiming that God "spoke" to us. After all there have been many horrible actions done by men and women claiming that God "told them" to do something.

As to your second claim, "y'all just don't believe that God speaks to anyone, period", I would have to say that you are making too big of an assumption. Just because someone may be skeptical of another's claim that God spoke to them doesn't mean that they do not believe that God speaks to people. Do you think it is wise to automatically believe everyone when they say God spoke to them?

Remember the Apostle Paul said that the citizens of the ancient city of "Berea were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11). He complimented them because they didn't just take a face value what someone said (even what he said) or taught in the name of God - they checked it out with the Scriptures. Paul saw that as a positive sign of maturity. You seem like a reasonable person, I'm sure you would agree with that, wouldn't you?

My point is that it is not necessarily a sign of immaturity or a lack of spirituality when someone examines the evidence as to whether or not Pat Robertson's "message from God" is genuine or not.

Paul also said in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, to "Prove (test, examine, to see whether a thing be genuine or not) all things, hold fast to that which is good." He also told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:13, "Hold fast (adhere to, cling to) the form of sound (true and incorrupt doctrine) words or teachings, which you have heard from me."

In other words, don't believe everyone at face value - even someone you normally trust, when they claim to be speaking a message from God - Check it out first.

[Quix]

There is plenty of Godly wisdom in what you write.

And, I would be much more comforted if Pat were much more circumspect in what he said publicly.

I think I'll let it go at that. Thanks for your reasoned words.

[Petronski]

Nope......not putting words into your mouth at all here.

Of course you are. You've ascribed to me words I never said. Don't compound your issues by lying about them again.

Go look at what you wrote.....then YOU tell me what your intent was if you're convinced you're being misunderstood.

That's a smarmy piece of rheteoric: "if I'm convinced I'm being misunderstood..."

I'm not being misunderstood, nor have I claimed that. I said you're putting words in my mouth--you are lying about my position because it's easier for you to defeat a strawman. You're not misunderstanding me, you're deliberately twisting my words.

I already told you what I don't believe. I don't believe God talks to Pat Robertson. For you to twist that into my not believing God talks to anyone is deliberately misleading. And you know exactly what you're doing.

Thus, when you said: Truth is.......y'all just don't believe that God speaks to anyone, period.

...you were lying. You might as well have said this:

The lie is.......y'all just don't believe that God speaks to anyone, period.

[Quix]

I don't think I have the Mind of God about

"Pat needs to be quiet."

I could certainly believe that quietER would be fitting.

[Quix]

but I do see that he's not God's messenger to us, by his fruit.
- - -

I don't see that, at all. I see quite the opposite in great abundance.

And, it feels, appears strongly to me that your standard/attitude/criteria is less than God's highest in this situation.

[Quix]

I think you make many Biblical points.

I do not think the issue is checking people's assertions with Scripture; examining fruit etc. in a Biblical fashion.

I think one of the key issues is

--the attitude, spirit such is done in and out of what heart motive to what goal.

A Holy Spirit attitude out of a Loving Holy Spirit heart motive toward the upbuilding of The Kingdom will have a different flavor about it.

[jboot]

Not a 'little voice', dude. I've heard it...

Yes

I'll add that you resist Him at extreme peril (if you even can resist Him...I'm not sure it is possible to do so).

[silver charm]

sigh, I have a real apprehension of televangelists.

I think, that in my view, These TV preachers should be like the ones in actual neighborhood churches. That is held to a slightly higher standard of knowledge as well as behavior.

Pat Robertson is a real authority to many who simply don't know any better. As well as those who just feel he must know better because he is Pat Robertson.

And oh those foolish statements. Yes we all make them, but thinking and studying before speaking really helps cut down on the sheer volume of embarrassing moments. No pun intended.

Pride trips us up in so many ways. It can make us arrogant, as well as embarrassed when we have made a mistake. I'm blessed with a love of reading and it is easy for me to spend alot of time in my bible. I go to bible studies a couple times a week. I've learned that for many reading is a chore and they learn faster by hearing sermons. Thats why I feel it is so important for ministers and pastors not to change or dilute the Holy Scripture.

P.S. When I think that someone else has said something that is incorrect, I ask them for the scripture (what book, chapter, verse). Then I try to look it up and find out if I'm wrong. I learn alot that way. If I think they are wrong still, I wait until a calm moment and mention what I have learned and where (book chapter verse etc) and we can discuss it.

I hope you don't think I am a holier than thou bigot.

[Polyxene]

What? No earthquakes in California; Tornadoes in the Midwest; Hurricanes in Florida; Locusts and Toads raining everywhere? Guess we are going to get off easy this year!

[Quix]

I appreciate your perspective.

It sounds like a reasonable and Biblical one. It's rather close to my own, if I understand it correctly.

[Doomonyou]

Sheesh, Pat.

Pipe down or you will find yourself on the cover of the "Weekly World News" next to bat boy.

[ohioWfan]

Point well taken. QuietER it is.

[Recovering Hermit]

Sometimes God seems to almost yell within my mind/spirit/heart. But those times are rare.

Is this in your head, or is this an audible thing?

Perhaps you're just answering your own questions through your own logic and wisdom...or perhaps it's something else.

I'm truly curious.

[Quix]

Sometimes God seems to almost yell within my mind/spirit/heart. But those times are rare.
Is this in your head, or is this an audible thing?

Perhaps you're just answering your own questions through your own logic and wisdom...or perhaps it's something else.

I'm truly curious.
- - - -

Many times, it's very obvious--because what The Spirit is saying to me is ATYPICAL--not a common sort of thing for me to think in a certain context AND is accompanied by a particular flavor of peace, and inner sort of HOLY SPIRIT flavored inner knowing, affirming--hard to describe--all within my spirit/heart/mind--not usually audible.

Have had very few "audible--I think" experiences--where it sounded audible but others nearby didn't hear--and I couldn't be certain 100% whether it was audible for me or merely seemed like it.

99% of the time, it's the still small inner voice.

Yes, it is SOMETIMES--too often for my comfort--very easy to have a hard time distinguishing between His still small voice and my own fairly constant inner dialogue with myself and with Him--I do try and practice the PRAY ALWAYS exhortation and to listen for Him always to reply--so it's in that context that it can be less than crystial clear.

But the clearest times are when He speaks starkly out of the blue to something I wasn't at all thinking about and with words, phrases, input that would not have been typical for me to have thought of in such a context.

And, a few times, He's virtually yelled--in my head--to STOP! and if I'd kept driving or walking, I'd have been hit and killed.

One time, after ministering extensively to a Navy friend who'd been involved with satan worship, The Lord warned me as I was getting in my VW beetle to go to my Navy job downtown at the wharf in San Diego--that there would be 3 attempts on my life on the way to work. That I was to pray against such before I started out and to be very sensitive to His voice all along the way to work and to pray in tongues going to work.

The first one was a fellow ran a red light at a high rate of speed in a big vehicle coming from my driver's side. If I hadn't slowed down as His quiet voice within had instructed, I'd have been hit and killed.

The 2nd, I think was a really crazy, probably drunk fellow again in a big vehicle, came careening toward me and would have sideswiped me hard on the driver's side had I not driven according to Holy Spirit's voice within just prior to that.

I forget what the 3rd one was but also rather starkly riveting and scary.

Much of the time, the still small voice of The Spirit will encourage me to reach out to folks such as in a WalMart line; on public transportation; etc. saying initially whatever Holy Spirit suggests I start the conversation with. There have been many blessed times like that in Taipei and in Mainland China.

[beyond the sea]

Of course you are. You've ascribed to me words I never said. Don't compound your issues by lying about them again.

Yeh genius....... just as YOU ("ascribed to me words") did when you suggested that I said you were a racist on the Bonds baloney.

I did not say that or suggest that. You were too cowardly to reply to that. You should get a grip! You're better than that, younzer.

I love younz.

[beyond the sea]

Good night Mrs. Callabash.

[RightOnline]

What in the Sam Hill are you talking about???

[Busywhiskers]

I don't know who is kookier, Robertson or Oregon congressman Earl Blumenauer who took the occasion of Robertson's remarks to comment on Oregon's lack of preparedness.

[RightOnline]

Ohfercryinoutloud...... get over yourself. Jeeez Louise.......who pissed in your corn flakes, boy???

...and by the way......you think God can talk to people but not Pat Robertson in particular. Now that's idiocy. Does he have a "God Forcefield" around him or something to prevent it? or......do you have some incredible personal knowledge or insight into Pat Robertson that the rest of us don't? You know the man? You pray with him often? Tell me why you feel that God doesn't speak to him, O Sage.