If it were not so public (and doubtless, soon to be more so, as the secular media picks up on it), the latest inanity from TV evangelist Pat Robertson might be easily dismissed. However, once again the prosperity gospel’s strange brew has poured salt instead of salve into the wounds of the suffering.
In the clip, Pat Robertson attributes Haiti’s tragic poverty to “a pact with the devil.” This is no mere metaphor: Robertson believes that a Faustian bargain was struck with Satan, in exchange for the devil’s assistance in gaining independence from France. Just look at the evidence! Haiti shares the island with the Dominican Republic, yet one is poor and the other is prosperous (indeed, blessed with “many resorts”!)
What does this communicate to the wider world, especially to unbelievers who along with Christians are pouring out their hearts and financial support to these neighbors in need? A passage from Jeremiah 23 comes to mind:
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD…For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened…I did not send these prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied…Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, ‘Thus says the LORD.’ Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them.”
Michael Horton
Dr. Horton
Thank you for posting this. It is much appreciated. I’ve had several conversations with unbelievers and all Robertson has accomplished is causing us to have to explain why he isn’t representing biblical faith or our Lord. Wasting precious time with souls who need Jesus.
Brother Mike,
Do you remember when Jesus mentioned the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices, or the eighteen who perished when the tower of Siloam fell on them, telling his listeners that unless they repented that they would all likewise perish (Luke 13:1-4)? This is not to justify Pat Robertson’s comments, untimely that they may have been,and possibly mistaken also, but in fairness it doesn’t seem unreasonable to consider the points he made, any more than it would be right to call Jesus callous for his remarks about a couple of very painful situations in His day and neighborhood. Is this calamity in Haiti related to the supposed “pact with the devil”?–who can say, but we can say that God is able to use the most horrendous circumstance in a redemptive way, and for that we give Him thanks and serve Him and our suffering fellow humans in love.
It really is sad when people selectively take natural tragedies and interpret them as a specific act of judgment. It really is contemptible when people like Robertson use a claim to have extra-Biblical as a means of furthering their own self-interest, rather than proclaiming the gospel of Christ in the spirit of love and truth.
I along with Tom,am not justifying Pat Robertson’s comments. But would grant the fact that he may (not to read his mind) have ment to say,(but ofcourse did not), that God is judgeing the whole world and that we all stand in judgement before the almighty.Another sober reminder that when any given nation turns there back on God he will remove his lambstand from that nation.The United States is no different in this regard and may in fact be exsperienceing Jesus removeing his lambstand from us right now in this present day. Let us pray for the country of Haiti and the Haitian people it is going from bad to much much worse there as I am writing this. God’s Grace abounds and he will use this horrific situation to bring Glory to his name.
I believe that Robertson is a false prophet who sticks his foot in his mouth way too often. However, it is true from what I have read that a Vodou ceremony was the spark of the Hatian Revolution. It is also a fact that many Hatians still practice Vodou, mixing it with Catholicism, which was a traditional way of hiding it when they were slaves. Whether the quakes were a Judgment from God or not, the people are still enslaved by this demonic religion and God will work this out to His Glory as he always does.
Here is some more of the context of Jeremiah 23:10-15 (NASB)
“For the land is full of adulterers; For the land mourns because of the curse
The pastures of the wilderness have dried up.
Their course also is evil And their might is not right. For both prophet and priest are polluted;
Even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD.
Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, they will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment, declares the LORD.
Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.
Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers,So that no one has turned back from his wickedness All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.
Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets,’Behold, I am going to feed them wormwood And make them drink poisonous water, For from the prophets of Jerusalem Pollution has gone forth into all the land.’”
One could apply this to the Hatian Vodou priests. Don’t forget that God destroyed Jerusalem in the New Covenant age. Judgment on nations is not just an Old Covenant phenomenon. Again, I am not saying this is the case, and I am not defending Robertson, but it is possible.
I am Haitian, Why hasnt God punished America yet? Is haiti the most sinful. or is it easy because we black and former slaves of Christians.