Read post 17 . . .and I am the last to be a self-righteous popinjay . . . I am a commited Christian and grew up the son of a minister who barely existed on the salary he was given, who put other people far ahead of him and his family. I have lived my life in contact with people of true power and priviledge, and those of meager and simple means. I choose to associate with the latter. I don’t claim the be the man my father was, but I learned a lot of lessons of selflessness along the way. There are many stories I could tell. I have lived to know what it means to deprive yourself so that others may be helped.
I learned what it means to be a part of the Christian community and the importance of the admonition of Paul to try to be “blameless” because the adverse impact it has on your ministry. That sure is a nice headquarters spread Pat shows pictures of on TV. How many Haitians can you clothe and feed with the money it took to build that?
I am very skeptical of quite a few televangelists, particularly when they display the tendency to excess for themselves as Pat Robertson does. Quite a few are good ones; several have validated my skepticism. I have known way too many people over the years that have absolutely poured themselves out, physically and financially, serving other people. Pat Robertson does not fit that model. I am not a believer in this modern gospel of “prosperity”. While obviously, Pat Robertson does some good work, he has a tendency to play God a little too much and seek glory for himself. It appears to me he has become a wealthy man for his efforts. In my opinion, that is the bad fruit. If we were not to apply that principal to evaluating people and the lives they lead, why were we given that wisdom of instruction in the first place? I did not judge Pat Robertson by any type of eternal condemnation. THAT is judging that is prohibited.
But it is a true tragedy, and not “blameless”, for him to squander the hard work and contributions of many people just because he wants to spout off to his own glory. Someone of his supposed learning and insight should know that better than most people. Pat Robertson has long needed to do some cleaning up of his act.
Seems like you have a little judging and presumption problem of your own.
You still don’t get it and your post only proves my point as you dig your hole deeper. I know many sons and daughters of ministers who are some of the most appalling judgmental and Phariseeical Christians I have ever met. A true believer never compares himself/herself to others but just goes out and does the best they can to make a difference with what they have and giving their all. Bragging about how lowly, poor and selfless you are just proves you do not possess those virtues. A man or woman who is truly selfless does it and does not even know they are doing it. Paul called himself chief amongst all sinners and probably had no inkling of the good he did. Go cry a river!
As a critical type viewer, before I began watching the 700 Club sometimes i also tended to place Pat in the TBN tele-evangelism club, but if those conservatives who heap scorn on him would watch the show i think they would realize that he and his show speaks and does a lot of good, and has for the 50 years his show has been the primary show of its kind. The video testimonies are usually very good and overall honoring to God, and you can download lots of them, and increasingly documented, and the news is informative and conservative, and while Pat often should not be playing politician, he does honestly speak his mind, but he is much different than men like Phelps.
As for Haiti, it is true that evil and good happens to both in this life, yet God does judge countries, and the recent catastrophes have been mostly against counties which persecute Christians and others, (and N. Korea has its day coming), and it is claimed that Haiti was officially dedicated to Satan in 1791 and was rededicated to Satan during the two hundred year anniversary in 1991 by Aristide, (see http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles_ca/2004-2-Haiti_and_Satan.htm), yet America is ripe for such judgment, and as (Luke 13:1-3 states,
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. {2} And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? {3} I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
http://podcast.cbn.com/700club.aspx
http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/Amazing/