Pastor Don Wolan

Pastor Donald Wolan
Downriver Christian Community Church
Melvindale, Michigan

Monday, September 19, 2011

Shut Up!


"Never miss a chance to shut up!"
- Will Rogers


"What, me worry? I don't have Alzheimer's"
- Alfred E. Newman 



It never ceases to amaze me when I hear televangelists make some of the comments that they do! I thought I heard everything possible from these guys until I heard the ridiculous comments of 700 Club founder and host Pat Robertson this week. Pat is a long-time public personality and has done some tremendous work providing assistance to the poor through numerous programs his organization oversees, but ole Pat leaves the reservation every now and then and walks blindly and directly into the cornfields of public criticism.

Just recently, Pat was asked a question on his television program by a caller. The caller told Pat about a situation in which a friend of his had a wife who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The caller went on to state that his friend was seeing another woman all the while he was still married to his wife with Alzheimer's and wanted to know what Pat's "advice" was in dealing with his friend and his situation. The following is an article from The Los Angeles Times about the comments:

The controversy stems from comments Robertson made recently on the "700 Club" program on Christian Broadcast Network. His comments came in response to a caller who said that a friend had begun dating other women while his wife lies seriously ill with Alzheimer's, and justifies it by saying that "his wife, as he knows her, is gone." Robertson said he agrees with the man: "What he says basically is correct. I know it sounds cruel, but if he's going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her." His co-host pressed Robertson about whether that violates the marriage vows. Robertson responded that Alzheimer's "is a kind of death" and added, "I certainly wouldn't put a guilt trip on you" for choosing divorce in such a scenario.

Naturally, Pat's comments set off a tsunami of public criticism and shock. How could a "man of God" who purports to live by the "teaching of the Bible" suggest any such course of action? Here are just a couple of the comments from people who responded to The Times article:

  • For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do you part. How come people want to bail on this contract after it gets inconvenient for them? Like when someone gets sick!! Usually when people get divorced it's mutual!!
  • So what don't you understand about "in sickness and in health?
  • This is evangelism at its best. An abortion is bad, but throwing a living human being to the scrap heap is okay.
  • I took a vow "sickness and in health, til death do us part." I tend to with my man until the end. Why? Because I love him. - From a gay married man.

Isn't amazing how non-Christian people from the world have more "Biblical" sense about this issue than Pat Roberson! Pat was provided a great opportunity to provide Biblical direction for this particular caller, but instead went with his "personal opinion"!  I thought if we are going to give "personal opinion" as counsel to those seeking spiritual guidance instead of "scriptural counsel," then I too would like to "suggest" some ways this man could "care" for his suffering wife:
  • He could place his wife on an iceberg like the Eskimos do and push her out to sea. (Let nature takes it's course!)
  • He could call Dr. Jack Kevorkian for "end of life counseling and care" (Oops, the compassionate Dr. Kevorkian is not around anymore!)
  • He could call Family Social Services for help. (No one would ever find her again since she would be eternally lost in a sea of red tape!)
  • He could call Oprah or Dr. Phil for advice! (They always know the right thing to do!)
  • He could place her in front of the television set and  make her watch 24 continuous hours of PBS or Rachel Maddow. (That would finish off just about anyone!)

When we, as ministers of God, reject the Bible as the source of wisdom for all of life's problems, we quickly descend on the slippery slope of human wisdom and foolishness into absurdity! All opinions become valid and no reliable point of reference is needed or useful. Pat Robertson should take heed to Proverbs 17:28 which states:
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

In other words Pat, if you are not going to quote the Bible as authoritative with these types of questions, do yourself and all us Christians a big favor and just SHUT UP!

Stay Holy, My Friends!






Pastor Don

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Readers - I'd love to hear your comments! - Pastor Don