Biblical, Old Testament Experts? Question, Re Pat Robertson.

[DawnCt1]

I am not asking this for the purpose of debate but it seems to me, back in my Sunday School days, I remember a king of Israel being killed by God because of some disloyalty or slight to Israel. Could Pat Robertson be basing his comments on that part of the Bible rather than anything in the New Testament which is the basis for Christianity?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

According to PR's spokesperson, his comments were based on the Book of Joel. As far as I can determine, he is basing this on 2 verses, Joel 2:18 and Joel 3:2.

Joel 2:18 -- Then the LORD will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people.

Joel 3:2 -- I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

The first reference would be hard to apply to this situation and the 2nd is normally taken to be prophetic in nature, referring to an event commonly called Armageddon. The 2nd reference alludes to "nations" not individuals and specifically references acts of scattering people to many other nations and dividing up the land. Again rather difficult to apply this to what Sharon proposed to do. But then again, it is difficult to comprehend PR's way of thinking or how he mangles Bible interpretation.

 

[Galahad]

I think it really came from one of the apocryphal prophesies that said:

"And lo, the day will come to pass when you will be sent a bafoon..." and so on.

 

[Buckalew11]

I don't know. I believe that God is the same God (OT or NT). I have no idea, though, why PR would say what he said. I guess that would seem to be why he said it--certainly he know that people are stricken with illness etc. no matter who they are or how much they love God or whatever. Bad things happen to everyone. But whether or not it this happened because Sharon was giving land away that God specifically gave to the Israelites is beyond me and my understanding. But when PR's explanation, it certainly makes you think that is why he thinks it happened to him.

 

[Mom2be]

I think it really came from one of the apocryphal prophesies that said:

"And lo, the day will come to pass when you will be sent a bafoon..." and so on.

 

[gometros]

If you are looking for an excuse for Pat Robertson's insensitive reamrks, don't bother. He said the same thing when rabin was assissinated. It's amazing the things that come out of this man's mouth. It's so comforting to know that Robertson has such inimate knowledge of G-d's thoughts and plans.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I think it really came from one of the apocryphal prophesies that said:

"And lo, the day will come to pass when you will be sent a bafoon..." and so on.

Thanks, Galahad... I have to clean my monitor & keyboard yet again. Just sprayed ice tea all over everything!

(But it was worth it!)

 

[mickeyfan2]

I think the only justification for his comments are the little men running around in his head.

 

[kc4601]

The New Testament builds upon the Old Testament. We as Christians believe in both New and Old equally. You cannot pick and choose your books, chapters, and verses. God inspired it all.

Pat may be insensitive, but I dare not say he is wrong.

 

[Tantor]

I think it really came from one of the apocryphal prophesies that said:

"And lo, the day will come to pass when you will be sent a bafoon..." and so on.

( also cleaning keyboard)

 

[jimmiej]

I've got the popcorn goin'. Pass the soda over this way...

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I think it really came from one of the apocryphal prophesies that said:

"And lo, the day will come to pass when you will be sent a bafoon..." and so on.

Love it!

The New Testament builds upon the Old Testament. We as Christians believe in both New and Old equally. You cannot pick and choose your books, chapters, and verses. God inspired it all.

Pat may be insensitive, but I dare not say he is wrong.

okey dokey then.

 

[diznygirl]

Pat may be insensitive, but I dare not say he is wrong.

Afraid you'll be next?

 

[missypie]

Back in Old Testament days, God smote folks for all kinds of things...sometimes even their wife and kids. Who knows? God may be smiting people all the time now...but who is to say who is "smitten" and who just dies because they are old?

So if Sharon had not given away land, how long would he live? 100? 115? People die every day, even if they are doing God's will. People even die WHILE they are doing God's will...consider the martyrs through the ages.

 

[bcvillastwo]

I have been reading through the OT for the past month or so now and it records numerous instances where a prophet of God said things that rulers, priests, intelligentsia, and just average folks didn't like hearing. At times, these folks set out to kill certain prophets because of what they were saying. It's pretty clear to me that there were instances where God dealt with people, sometimes the rulers, when they disobeyed God's ordinances.

Now, with that said, I don't recall Pat Robertson ever saying he was a prophet of God. Nor can I say with certainty that he isn't a prophet of God. He may well be, but I doubt it.

But, I see nothing inherrently wrong with Pat Robertson making the kind of statement he made if it is based on his understanding of the Bible. His interpretation could be utterly wrong, but it could also be precisely correct. Did he say something that was politically incorrect, maybe insensitive, and maybe even ill oonceived. Well if ask the leading experts, intellegentsia, rulers, priests, and many of the common man, yep her sure did step on it.

Never the less, I can see where someone reading the OT could form a similar conclusion to the one Pat Robetson articulated.

The problem today is that too few people have even a passing knowledge of the Bible and thus when they are confronted with an interpretation that they don't like, or understand, they get upset and rail against the person making the comments.

Do I think Pat's analysis is correct....................I simply don't know and frankly neither does anyone else.

 

[peachgirl]

I am not asking this for the purpose of debate

Still hard at it, huh Dawn?

 

[scubamouse]

The Bible has been used to justify hate and prejudice for 6000 years. This is no different.

What I don't understand is what PR says when Christians suffer strokes. Is that God's rath too or just it was their time to die?

 

[Buckalew11]

I think he is saying Sharon suffered the stroke because he was giving the land away. I think PR thinks this isn't allowed to be done and this is a punishment.

Of course, I've heard people say (when bad things are happening) "you must not be living right". Which I think it totally absurd.

 

[eclectics]

Dawn, it seems to me you are again trying to find some justification for this man's actions. You did it on the Hugo Chavez thread a while back, and you are doing it again here. Why you find the need to defend this man, I'll never know. Whatever credibility, if any, he once had is long gone. I think it's fair to say most Christians on this board shake their heads in disbelief at the things PR says. Let it go.

 

[sodaseller]

Never the less, I can see where someone reading the OT could form a similar conclusion to the one Pat Robetson articulated.

I agree with your statement as far as it goes. But I do not think that anyone that reads both the Old Testament and the New Testament and believes that Jesus is the Son of God and who has any kind of prayer life could believe as Rev. Robertson stated. That just seems impossible to harmonize. It's not a matter of being politically correct - it's a matter of being theologically correct