Haiti, Pat Robertson, and the Christian Response

As you’ve likely heard by now, a massive earthquake has hit the island of Haiti, killing thousands. While it’s impossible to know for sure, the estimated death toll ranges from 100,000 to 500,000. Half a million people. The size and scope of the devastation is hard to grasp, despite the heart-wrenching pictures and videos filtering out of Haiti. Also making news, though perhaps not quite as widely, is yet another disaster: Pat Robertson.

As he is wont to do, in the wake of a huge tragedy, Pat Robertson takes to air waves to blame the Haitian earthquake on… the Haitians. According to Mr. Robertson, years ago the Haitians made a deal with the devil: their souls for freedom from the French. It is precisely because of this pact, says Mr. Robertson, that God has visited this calamity upon them. While I could say many things about the atrocious theology Pat Robertson espouses, I think the most important thing to say right now is this:

Pat Robertson does NOT speak for the majority of Christians

In times of crisis like this, what a watching world needs is not the sanctimonious, self-righteous pontification of some not-as-significant-as-he-once-was preacher. What the world needs, and what Haiti needs more than the rest right now, is for Christians to put their faith into action and love on the Haitians. They need food, water, shelter, clothing. They need compassion and grace. They don’t scathing condemnations and indifferent shrugs.

Pat Robertson’s response was in no way a truly Christian response, and he has done the body of Christ, and Christ Himself, a grave disservice by speaking so callously and flippantly. As the body of Christ, we need to do what we can to show the love of Christ to those in need. For those that can’t go, you can send money, and you can certainly pray. Whatever you do, though, if you feel the need to echo Pat Robertson, please don’t. He does enough damage on his own.

TagsChristianity