ATTN ALL CHRISTIANS: YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEFEND ROBERTSON!

I know from experience that most of the devoted Christians out there feel obligated to defend the recent statements of Pat Robertson, whether they agree with him or not. Here are some of the reasons why:

• He's a defender of the faith.
• He has invested his life in Christian broadcasting, campaigning, and writing.
• He is a symbol of the Christian way of life.
• To disagree with him would be damaging to the Christian image of a strong united front, and would anger your fellow Christians. You might be looked upon as a backslider, or worse.
• Disagreeing with a Christian leader would be like handing a free point to the "other side" (leftists, fascists, atheists, and other "ists").

I assure you, agreeing with Robertson is not a must. As a Christian with the God-given gifts of discernment, intelligence, and free will you can disagree with your elders if you know they are wrong! It's OK! Really! Perhaps you don't believe me now, but as Robertson slips deeper and deeper into insanity or senility or whatever's wrong with him (and there is absolutely, no question, something very wrong with that man!) you may realize that defending every outrageous statement he makes is futile. It would be better for Robertson, his colleagues, and the Christian community in general if someone worked up the nerve to say, "Mr. Robertson, we respect your accomplishment and your devotion to God, but you seem to have some emotional or mental problems that are standing in the way of your broadcasting goals. Please step down and get yourself some help." This is looooong overdue. In the meantime, it is not required of every Christian to become an apologist for televangelists.

An important string of questions to ask yourself, before leaping to Robertson's defense, is this: What has Robertson done for me? Would he defend my Christian beliefs? Would he stand up for what I believe in? Does he respect and value people like me? Let's let him speak for himself:

"You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense. I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist. I can love the people who hold false opinions but I don't have to be nice to them."- Pat Robertson, The 700 Club television program, January 14, 1991

Well, I guess if you're not a member of an evangelical demonination, the answer to those questions would have to be a big fat "NO."

So...why are you putting yourself on the line for him?