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September 22, 2001 Lessons from God through Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson On Thursday, September 13, 2001, Pat Robertson on the 700 Club interviewed Pastor Jerry Falwell concerning the terrorist attacks on America. Pat pointed out that America had removed God from schools, allowed abortion on demand, and pumped pornography into the world markets and then commented that "God Almighty has lifted His hand of protection from us." Pastor Falwell agreed and said, "as terrible as it is, this attack could be miniscule if, in fact, God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve. The ACLU's got to take a lot of the blame for this. And, I know I'll here from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some of the burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternate lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say, 'you helped this happen.'" Pat agreed with Pastor Falwell and the interview ended with an earnest prayer for the families of the victims, and a plea for America to turn "to the Lord God." Pastor Falwell and Pat Robertson had finally put their finger on the truth of what God is saying to America. Pastor Falwell, however, had his finger pointed in the wrong direction - it should have been pointed at himself and at all who claim the Name of Christ. We are the ones who have allowed these sworn enemies of God to flourish in America. We didn't stand for Christ when we should have stood. We didn't resist the enemy when we should have resisted him. We didn't proclaim the Word of God when we should have shouted it from the housetops. We have failed America! The true culprit in all that is happening in our country today is the Church of Jesus Christ. That includes all of us, brothers and sisters! Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, George W. Bush, Flip Benham, et al. We have sinned against God Himself. We have defiled His holy Name. We have ignored His continuous warnings and judgments. It is we that have done wickedly and it is only as we humbly return to our offended and loving God that He will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land. We need God, who revealed Himself most perfectly in His Son Jesus Christ, to save America. We, His Church, are the only ones who can call upon His Name and move His heart to act. What is the lesson we have learned from the Robertson - Falwell interview? When a man speaks the Word of God and it runs contrary to the world's flow, all hell is going to break loose - and break loose it did! Naturally, those groups that were named by pastor Falwell had a "hissy fit" that the judgmental and bigoted Christians were claiming that their "chosen" lifestyle might have anything to do with terrorist attacks. The national media, which has the theological depth of a pie tin, chimed in and began equating the fanatic terrorists Robertson and Falwell with those who smash airplanes into buildings filled with people. Even friends of the two Christian leaders joined the fray. The first to jump all over them was the President of the United States of America through his media spokesperson Ari Fleischer. He said that the comments by Robertson and Falwell were irresponsible and did not reflect the position of many church leaders. The next to jump on the bandwagon was Rush Limbaugh, who mercilessly let them have it for thirty minutes on his national radio talk show. Limbaugh said that the only persons responsible for the heinous attack on America were the terrorists themselves. This ought to give you a pretty good idea of Rush Limbaugh's theological depth. Conservatism truly is pretend salt. It looks like salt, acts like salt, seeks the friendship and vote of salt. But when the true test of taste comes, it is revealed for what it really is - a tasteless enabler of perdition! Conservatism and Christianity are not one in the same, for conservatism has never found a cause for which it is willing to die. Conservatism is Christianity's greatest enemy because it will never allow Christians to stand on God's Word. It is always seeking compromises. Conservatism showed its true colors in the response to the Robertson - Falwell interview. The next lesson learned can be seen in a Letter to the Editor that appeared in the Dallas Morning News on September 18. This letter is reflective of several others. "Recent hate-filled events demonstrate how intolerant and perverted persons use religion as a shield to fool ordinary people to believe and do ungodly things. Tolerance is replaced by hatred Last week we learned how horribly sinister and destructive these leaders can be, how many innocent lives ruined. Be alert. They come in many creeds and colors; they hide in many places. I know of two hiding places - the mountains of Afghanistan and behind the pulpits of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson." Equating Falwell and Robertson to the terrorists who flew airplanes into the buildings in New York City and Washington D.C. is exactly what the One World Religion desires. It wants to worship all gods - however one perceives them - and to be tolerant and reasonable above all else. Yes, the One World Religion has no place for fanatics like Osama Bin Laden and neither does it have a place for fanatics like Robertson and Falwell. The ubiquitous One World Religion has no place for that child born in a stable 2,000 years ago. Therefore His Name (JESUS) is not allowed in the conversation. The final lesson learned is that one who speaks for and to God must make sure that He looks for the beam in his own eye before he gets the speck in his brother's eye. Pastor Falwell pointed to groups without first pointing to himself. He has since rescinded all of his statements and apologized so profusely that one wonders why. He had God's Word right, he just said it in the wrong way. The fear of man can cause even great men to buckle! Beware my friends. There is an enemy far greater than the fanatic in the East. He knows what he is about and only God Himself can save us from him and enable us to crush his head under our feet. Keep pressing the gates of hell in Jesus' Name, Flip Benham
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