Pat Robertson is Wrong Again
I thought I had heard enough crazy, unbiblical, and unthinking remarks from Pat Robertson that nothing he said would surprise me. I was wrong. I¹m sure most of you have heard about the 700 Club viewer who asked Robertson about a friend leaving his wife who had Alzheimer¹s. Pat Robertson said, “I know it sounds cruel, but if he¹s going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but to make sure she has custodial care and somebody (is) looking after her.² One of the skills I try to develop in the Brookwood Church family is biblical discernment. Discernment is the ability to distinguish between truth and error, and right and wrong. As Christians we know and understand truth as it is presented in the Bible, God¹s word to us. We are then to use biblical truth as a filter or screen to discern truth from error. The apostle John warns us, ³Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world² (1 John 4:1). 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 tells us to be discerning; ³Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.² When Pat Robertson, who claims to be a Bible believing Christian, said that it is acceptable for a man to divorce his wife because she has Alzheimer¹s disease the reaction from both the secular and Christian communities was swift and strong, as it should have been. Even his co-host appeared to be taken aback by his response and tried to remind him of the marriage vow ³in sickness and in health² and ³unto death do us part.² Robertson affirmed his position on the 700 Club Facebook blog. The Bible is clear that God designed marriage to be a permanent, life-long covenant between a man and a woman. Jesus said, ³Since they [the husband and wife] are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together² (Matthew 19:6). This is why Christians have for centuries had couples pledge to stay with each other ³unto death do us part.² Pat Robertson¹s position is the height of selfishness and the opposite of the heart of Christ who laid down his life for the church and commands husbands to love their wives in that same manner. To abandon a spouse when they need you the most, whether he or she is suffering from cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer¹s or any other debilitating disease or injury is brutal and selfish. Someone with Alzheimer¹s is not dead, and to treat him or her that way is unbiblical and dehumanizing. Russell D. Moore, dean at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary wrote, ³This is more than an embarrassment. This is more than cruelty. This is a repudiation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.² I sure am glad my wife did not have Robertson¹s pathetic view of marriage when I got cancer last year. Just last night I reaffirmed my commitment to Deb that I would stand by her no matter what happened. If the worst happens, it is not essential that she remember me, the point is I remember her and my commitment. I wonder if Pat Robertson might be suffering from Alzheimer¹s himself, or maybe his wife is. If I were her I would watch out. Let¹s stop giving any credibility to someone who has proven himself to be a false profit and teacher.
