I have been asked by a concerned reader to comment on the following video from Pat Robertson's CBN/700Club. The Video is courteously posted on You Tube by Right Wing Watch.
Besides this video being a warning of a Fred Phelps style invasion in cities across the country, it smacks of proselytizing and general abuse of someone's individual constitutional right to freedom of association, by this swarm of prayer warriors. The fact that they are using Scriptural numerology to base their claim, (come on people this is ridiculous) is no different then the methods of divination used by the people they are targeting. This video also illustrates the reason why priests and ministers everywhere have issue with "jail house conversion syndrome". Not forgetting to mention the fact that this video clip was really nothing more than an anti homosexual propaganda piece covered in the guise of a news story about the power of prayer - watch the timer/counter. However since I was asked kindly by a reader of mine to respond in context I will now that I have given my analysis on the intent of the video clip.
First of all Scripture prophecy can be interpreted in anyway that an individual wants to interpret it, as witnessed in this clip, by taking a passage of scripture (in this case Isaiah 35:8a) completely out of its original context. So the usual way to debunk the prophetic vision or application of prophecy is to bring the context of the passage back into the conversation. In other words, "At least use the whole damn sentence, Nimrods!". The second is to apply the historical context of the passage back into the conversation. The third is to realize that the prophecy has already been fulfilled at least once if not twice. Finally know that, the chapter and verse marks, are not an inerrant/infallible part of the Scriptures.
The markings of chapter were added much later for easy reference in the early 1200's and the mark of the verses was made obvious with the introduction of the Douay~Rheims amongst other English Translation of the Latin Vulgate three centuries past. The Scripture's themselves have changed several times over the last two thousand five hundred and some odd years of history with each new version of the BIBLE. Before this time frame of the reconstruction of Jerusalem and rededication of Temple the Scriptures as we know them were primarily an oral tradition and not regarded inerrant or infallible.
[To Be Continued...]
07 December 2007
I-35 Loredo to Duluth: "A highway will be there, called the holy way;"
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give medals 4 killing men but 4 loving men they wish you were dead?
thanks to the sacrifice of many the scourge of Dont Ask Dont Tell in the land of the free and home of the brave will be gone by the end of June!!!!
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1 comment:
Fozy,
While I am not an apologist for Pat Robertson, I believe, with all due respect, that your position, while solid in facts and plainly accurate, is simply overstated.
Listening to the intro of the video, the program is intent not to endorse the prophecy and instead relays that a certain group of individuals and churches have come to believe it is apart of the Isaiah verse and is not necessarily the views of Robertson.
As far as an abuse to freedom of association, I likewise disagree. That, or I am not fully understanding your perspective. These individuals who visit bars and like establishments did not infringe on any one person's rights as the video did attest. Seemingly, these were simple conversations that both parties agreed to engage.
While you may disagree with the result or consequence of these discussions, both parties were free to end contact with the other person. My assumption is that happens more often than not, and thus the program decided to feature the more positive stories deduced from their frequenting.
To be certain, I disagree with Robertson on a multitude of issues. However, there is a place for such actions by people of faith, as was witnessed in the video, so long as it is executed in a respectable manner. It is my belief the churches from Laramie to Duluth did just that . . . but I would gladly be proven wrong! :)
Charles
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