I guess I am a little slow to understand how Calvinism was dragged into this sad story and in what way you see P.R. as representing any form of Calvinism. Would you be willing to help me understand? Calvin takes a bad rap in so many caricatures presented in Pelagian churches so I really would like to understand that your comment is not just one more. Please explain it for me.
Peace,
Geezer

Maybe people miss whatever good P.R. is trying to do because the statement he made is only one of many statements he has made like this in the past (without ever learning that such statments, true or not, are neither helpful of ringing with compassion). Maybe it is because such a statement is so inflamatory that it engulfs and undermine whatever credibility and good-faith effort P.R. has put forth. Remember, it takes a lifetime to grow a strong healthy tree and only a minute with a crude chainsaw to cut that tree down.

Grace and peace,

Rex

But this isn’t an isolated incident or innocent “slip of the tongue.” It is merely the latest of a long string of preposterous associations that Robertson apparently loves to make in his self-appionted role as America’s prophet of doom. Here are just a few that you may recall:

“I would warn Orlando that you’re right in the way of some serious hurricanes, and I don’t think I’d be waving those flags in God’s face if I were you, This is not a message of hate — this is a message of redemption. But a condition like this will bring about the destruction of your nation. It’ll bring about terrorist bombs; it’ll bring earthquakes, tornadoes, and possibly a meteor.” (speaking on “gay days” at Disney World, 1998)

“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.” (responding to the city of Dover’s rejection of Intelligent Design in schools, 2005)

There are many other examples of Robertson’s trigger-happy rhetoric, which always seems to piont in the direction of a ruthless and petulant form of Calvinism, which brings not just reproach but also shame and derision upon the community of faith, the bride of Christ.

BTW, we have several examples in Scripture of public figures being denounced in public without going through the prescription of behind-the-scenes discipline in Matthew 18 and elsewhere. We are not called to follow a formula; we are called to be discerning. In this case, the weight of the ACCRETING evidence demands that Robertson’s repeated nonsense be called what it is, and publicly.

qb

I read this today and it summed up my feelings well – “what amazes me more than the horrible comments of Robertson is the silence that ensues in the faith community.” I appreciate you bringing this up – in my current state (angry) I want to say that I think your PR comment belongs at the top of the blog so that there is even less silence about this.