Robertson’s error is in his view of God, Whom he sees as some strong fellow up in the sky that knee-jerks every time something interesting happens “down here.” It’s the same error that was implicit in the movie “Bruce Almighty,” in which God (Morgan Freeman) tells Bruce (Jim Carrey) something like,
“Well, son, now you see that this god business is more complicated than you think. That pesky human ‘free will’ keeps getting in the way.” [or words to that effect]
The real issue in theology is whether we are willing to accept a view of God that is true, even if it doesn’t sound nice and neat. When Job asked God to explain why all the bad stuff happened to him, God, in so many words, told Job he has no right to demand an explanation from his very Creator.
A God who is omnipotent, and also “allows” something to happen, for all practical purposes has ordained that that very event happen. Otherwise, we must conclude that he merely “allowed” Jesus to be tortured and mercilessly crucified. Isaiah prophetically explained that it “pleased God to bruise Him.”
Excellent posts but I have to wonder if this is a case of “sins of the father being visited on the son.” Every August 14th since 1791 the Voodoo priests kept making sure that “the pact with the devil” was still intact.