No Pat No, Don't Say That!

He’s at it again.  Some folks just don’t know when to quit and frankly it is embarrassing. Pat Robertson is once again opening his mouth and nothing beneficial is coming out of it.  This time bad theology is behind his statement about Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.  Robertson “suggested Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for "dividing God's land" of Israel”.  Robertson may feel “sad to see Sharon fall sick” and think Sharon is a "very likeable person"; but, he is sure not showing it with his untimely remarks.  Who is Pat Robertson to judge when God’s judgment has struck?  He sounds like Job’s “friends”.  It might not seem so bad if this were an isolated incident and remark – but it is not.  Here are some other ‘beauties’: “In October, he said a recent spate of natural disasters pointed to the end of the world and the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ.  In August, Robertson said the United States should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, but later apologized for the remark. He also suggested voters in a Pennsylvania town should not expect God's help should they face a natural disaster after they ousted a school board which had mandated the teaching of creationism.”  This man is making a fool of himself with these comments and he is making Christians look like idiots.
What makes matters worse is that he is basing this on bad theology.  Robertson said: "God said, 'This land belongs to me, you better leave it alone.'" This is the same misguided theology that fueled the Crusades.  And it, unfortunately, is the same bad theology that influences much of the foreign policy of the US in regards to Israel.  I know there will be many who disagree with this – but there is nothing “holy” about the “Holy Land”.  God’s concern is not for Land – but for the hearts of people and their relationship to Him.  It is true that it is God’s land, but so is Iran, Iraq, Syria, Russia, China, the U.S. and indeed all the world:   The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters (Psalm 24:1-2).  For more info on why this is bad theology read The People of God, The Land of Israel and the Impartiality of the Gospel .  
In the meantime, can someone please tell Pat that when he puts his foot in his mouth once, he is supposed to learn his lesson and not say anything else.