Rev. Mark H. Creech
November 17, 2005
In defense of Pat Robertson
By Rev. Mark H. Creech

The news media reported it widely. On a recent broadcast of the Christian Broadcasting Network's 700 Club, Pat Robertson strongly rebuked the citizenry of Dover, Pennsylvania for voting out eight public school board members that favored the teaching of intelligent design. Robertson said, "I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover. If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God; you just rejected Him from your city. And don't wonder why he hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help because he might not be there."

Granted, Robertson's statement was strong. And certainly Robertson's previous statement suggesting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez be assassinated was unjustifiable. But I can't understand all the hoopla about this most recent statement. It may have been articulated better; nevertheless the truth of the comment stands. Robertson was right in his explanation suggesting: "God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in his eye forever. If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them."

The public would do well to consider what Dover, Pennsylvania actually did. By their vote at the ballot box, the city made it clear that they didn't want even the slightest hint that God may have created the natural world interjected into the Dover school system's science curriculum. It may shock the sensibilities of some to say that such is a rejection of God, yet it is a form of it.

The teaching of intelligent design is neither faith-based, nor does it put religion in the classroom as its critics have suggested. In a recent address given to The Fellowship of Christians at Bucknell University, Dr. Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention explained that the theory of "Intelligent Design" was initiated by scientists, biochemists, physicists, and mathematicians, "whose research led them to conclude that the irreducible complexity of life can best be explained by the presence of an intelligent designer as opposed to nothing plus chance plus time equals nothing." "Their case," added Land, "is not based on the Bible or religion; it is based on scientific evidence...I am not saying that these scientist have proved that the intelligent designer was God...that is a faith affirmation. What they have done is to expose the scientifically unsatisfactory explanation that is the evolutionary theory of the origins of the universe."

Still, the citizens of Dover would have none of it. Nothing that might even suggest God, the Bible, or faith should be allowed, they said. Never mind intelligent design wasn't meant to do that; we just don't want any possibility God could be a factor in our origins insinuated to our children via the science curriculum of our public schools. Though it takes more faith to believe in the Darwinian evolutionary theory of the universe's origins than it does to propose there could be an intelligent designer behind it all, we opt to listen only to the secular, scientific priests of our day and worship at the altar of naturalistic evolutionary orthodoxy. Any school board member representing the prospect of some other point of view shall not be permitted to keep their post.

Yes, that is in essence an official rejection of God. It's not to say that there are no righteous people in Dover. It doesn't mean that no good lies within its borders. But it does pose the question: What right does Dover have to look to God and yet deny Him by repudiating in an election those that would represent the slightest possibility of an acknowledgment of Him? Did not Christ articulate the principle when he said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"? (Matthew 25:40)

No man of God is perfect, Pat Robertson included. All have their various weaknesses and peculiararities. But that doesn't mean God doesn't speak through them to issue dire warnings and calls to repentance.

For instance, T. Jensen Lacey, in his book, Amazing North Carolina, tells us that Evangelist George Whitfield came to the thriving seaport of Bath, North Carolina in 1747. He started exhorting the people against their deadly sins and rejection of God. Whitfield oddly carried his coffin with him in his wagon wherever he went. He reportedly said, "When I pass on, I want my coffin right here." If that weren't strange enough, he would sleep in his coffin at night, supposedly to avoid the shady goings-on in the local inn. Needless to say, the people in Bath viewed Whitfield with a little more than suspicion. That didn't change the fact, however, that what Whitfield preached was wholly from God. When Bath remained resolute in it's rebellion against God, Whitfield traveled to the outskirts of town and said: "I say to the village of Bath, village you shall remain, now and forever, forgotten by men and nations until such time as it pleases God to turn the light of His countenance again upon you." Since that day, Bath declined and has never prospered. It remains a sleepy little village on the shoreline of the Tar Heel State. Whitfield obviously had a message from God.

Some people, for different reasons, may view Pat Robertson with a little more than suspicion. But he is still God's man, whatever one's perception, and his warning to Dover, Pennsylvania is worth heeding: God is not obligated to be there for you when you run roughshod over even the possibility of an allusion to Him as your Creator. You can't trample on the rights of your Creator God and then expect Him to be around when you need Him the most.

That statement shouldn't simply be marginalized as a wild and outlandish remark by the sometimes colorful and controversial televangelist, Pat Robertson. That's genuinely a message from God, which is not only for Dover, Pennsylvania, but also for the world.

© Rev. Mark H. Creech

 

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Rev. Mark H. Creech

Rev. Mark H. Creech is Executive Director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.... (more)

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