The most recent "Christian debate" issue arises from a statement by Pat Robertson to the effect that God's condemnation of divorce does not apply if your spouse has Alzheimer's Disease. A couple of thoughts.
First, who cares what Pat Robertson thinks? This is a sign of how perverse our church world has become. This is a man who abandoned the ministry years ago in order to run a television network and be involved in politics. In keeping with his new career, he has made claims of apostolic power (predictions about the future which have not come true) and has gotten involved in multiple political disputes. He decided, as so many people do, that God's gospel was not big enough for him and that he needed to do something more significant than preach God's truth. Why does anyone listen to a man who has falsely made prophetic claims? Isn't scripture pretty clear that a prophet whose prophecies do not come true is a false prophet?
When a man ordained to ministry abandons ministry to play politics, we should take him at his word and quit listening to him as if he is a minister of God. If you like him politically, then support him politically. But do not make the mistake of thinking such men are ministers of God. They have given up that position because they do not want to hold it any more. If my doctor gave up doctoring to go to Congress, I would find a new doctor. If my lawyer gave up law to run a coffeehouse, I would find a new lawyer. If my preacher gives up the gospel for politics, I will find a new preacher.
Second, Pat is wrong. It is impossible to conceive of an argument by which marriage ceases to be important to God because of a disease. My marriage is marriage, not "temporary joining for convenience right now." Pat says Alzheimer's is somehow a form of "death," which is nonsense. Death is death. Alzheimer's is a disease. I have become one flesh with my wife and cannot imagine that God would be happy about me leaving when she needs me. I did not know on my wedding day what would happen in my life. 30 years later, I still do not know. My word stands. My marriage stands. My God remains God. He, for His reasons, may permit my wife to suffer with a disease. This is not a signal that He wants me to abandon her.
Marriage is not about me getting what I want, it is about being a husband to my wife. Sometimes, there is great joy in that task. Sometimes, it is just a task. Sometimes, it is a difficult duty requiring self-sacrifice and suffering. In all these things, God works in my life, for my good, for His glory.
I will be faithful to Him and to her. Nothing Pat Robertson says will change my heart.
First, who cares what Pat Robertson thinks? This is a sign of how perverse our church world has become. This is a man who abandoned the ministry years ago in order to run a television network and be involved in politics. In keeping with his new career, he has made claims of apostolic power (predictions about the future which have not come true) and has gotten involved in multiple political disputes. He decided, as so many people do, that God's gospel was not big enough for him and that he needed to do something more significant than preach God's truth. Why does anyone listen to a man who has falsely made prophetic claims? Isn't scripture pretty clear that a prophet whose prophecies do not come true is a false prophet?
When a man ordained to ministry abandons ministry to play politics, we should take him at his word and quit listening to him as if he is a minister of God. If you like him politically, then support him politically. But do not make the mistake of thinking such men are ministers of God. They have given up that position because they do not want to hold it any more. If my doctor gave up doctoring to go to Congress, I would find a new doctor. If my lawyer gave up law to run a coffeehouse, I would find a new lawyer. If my preacher gives up the gospel for politics, I will find a new preacher.
Second, Pat is wrong. It is impossible to conceive of an argument by which marriage ceases to be important to God because of a disease. My marriage is marriage, not "temporary joining for convenience right now." Pat says Alzheimer's is somehow a form of "death," which is nonsense. Death is death. Alzheimer's is a disease. I have become one flesh with my wife and cannot imagine that God would be happy about me leaving when she needs me. I did not know on my wedding day what would happen in my life. 30 years later, I still do not know. My word stands. My marriage stands. My God remains God. He, for His reasons, may permit my wife to suffer with a disease. This is not a signal that He wants me to abandon her.
Marriage is not about me getting what I want, it is about being a husband to my wife. Sometimes, there is great joy in that task. Sometimes, it is just a task. Sometimes, it is a difficult duty requiring self-sacrifice and suffering. In all these things, God works in my life, for my good, for His glory.
I will be faithful to Him and to her. Nothing Pat Robertson says will change my heart.