Dear God, Please Don't Kill Any Judges...

Wow...I just saw it again on the 700 club. Pat Robertson praying that God would strike down the heretic judges on the Supreme Court in order to take this country further toward theocractic rule.

He didn't phrase it exactly like that, but "open up more seats" to "defeat the far left hate machine" is pretty clear in its subtext.

Clear enough that Channel 10 ran a disclaimer about Pat not representing the views of the TV station.

I wonder, did Sandra Day O'Connor step down in order to avoid God striking her dead? Did she step down because Pat Robertson and his followers threatened her with divine retribution for her being "lukewarm" as a swing vote?

One has to wonder. I bet she sure did.

The whole Operation Supreme Court Justice thing leaves me, as a practicing Christian, appalled.

Here are his "prayer points" for you to consider.

(First of all, Jesus gave us a perfect example of prayer, and in no way, even though he was about to be arrested by the Romans and crucified, did His example bear any resemblance to the manner in which Pat Robertson wants you to pray.)

• Pray that the person God desires would be appointed to the Supreme Court.
  Pat, are you saying the people on the court aren't who God desires to be there? If so, how the heck did they get there?
  
• Pray that the President would have courage and rely on God's wisdom in nominating new Supreme Court justices. Are you implying that the President would otherwise lack courage and has no wisdom of his own? If so, we might have some common ground here in a very limited area.
  
• Pray that the justices of the Supreme Court would rule according to the Constitution as written and not man's opinions. Aren't the justices on this court put there precisely to give opinions? Thus the phrase "It is the opinion of this court"?
  
• Pray that additional vacancies occur within the Supreme Court. Since these are lifetime appointments, are you praying for the deaths of liberal judges?
  
• Pray that those who oppose biblical truth would retire from the Supreme Court and be replaced by those who honor God's law. Nice proviso, but the implication is that if they don't quit, you want God to kill them. This kind of rhetoric inspires people, like the 9-11 terrorists, to become the instruments of God's vengeance.
  
• Pray that truth would reign supreme during the Senate confirmation hearings. Here, Pat, I'm actually with you. Let's let the truth come out. Pray that the White House will release all documents requested, and that all nominees give full and honest answers to every question posed to them during the confirmation hearings.
  
• Pray that any plan of the enemy for the Senate confirmation hearing would be thwarted. Take authority over the schemes of Satan concerning the Supreme Court. Wow. You come right out and say that anyone of a different opinion is working for Satan. It is dangerous indeed to label what should be called the "loyal opposition" in a two party system as the "enemy." I think it is also demonstrates a lack of faith in the power of God to worry that the enemy could succeed without such prayers.
  
• Pray for the physical protection of Supreme Court justices, the current nominee, the Senate Judiciary Committee members, and all those involved in the confirmation hearings. This seems like a disclaimer. How can you pray for this and at the same time pray for more openings on the court?
  
• Pray the biblical prayer, "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24) in the United States of America. Pat, as a Christian, why do you rely on references to the Old testament to justify your own hatred? A real Christian must adhere to the New Covenant and pray the way Jesus instructed us. (See below if you forgot how.)
  
• Pray that the Ten Commandments would be more than just an historical memorial for the justices of the Supreme Court, but that their truth would reign in their hearts. Which Ten Commandments? Are you as supportive of the Iraqi constitution being based on Islamic Law as you are of a push for theocratic biblically based rule at home?
  
• Pray that Roe v. Wade would be overturned. Why did God let this happen in the first place if he's going to help overturn it now? Oh, to unite his followers. Right. I don't think you should try to convince God to meddle in politics. Either get Him to revoke the New Covenant and start wholesale smiting again, like Falwell assumed he had when he allowed the terrorists to attack us on 9-11, or shut up and pray like a Christian. (See example below)
  
• Pray that justices who believe in a loose interpretation of the United States Constitution be replaced by those who are strict constructionists. Wow, guess after that earlier prayer to protect the Justices, the confirmation hearings, and the nominee you needed to remind God of what your real prayer is...Death to people who don't agree with you.
  

Now, consider how Jesus asked us to pray and compare it to Pat Robertson's attempt to influence God, and thereby the events of this secular world.

"Teach us how to pray," the disciples said to Jesus. (Luke 11, 1) This is how He answered:

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen.

(For you Mel Gibson fans out there, here is a link for the prayer in Aramaic.)

Jesus didn't pray for Caesar to be killed. He didn't ask his disciples to pray for regime change in Rome. He didn't ask for the laws of Rome to be overturned. He didn't concern himself with the things of this world.

He sought to instruct each individual to look to their own soul and correct the wrongs they found there.

He had the power, and so does God, to force us to live any way he chooses, and yet instead he gave us free will. That he does not force us, that he loves us enough to let us discover our own flaws in our own time....and trusts us enough to take action to correct ourselves is why the God I worship is worthy to be praised.

All the laws these radical fundamentalist extremists can pass will not change that, increase the glory of the Lord at all, nor convert a single soul to salvation.

No one comes to the Lord through Pat Robertson, but only through Christ.

So, people, please don't listen to Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell or any other of those wolves in sheep's clothing seeking to use your faith against you. They only line their own pockets with gold you gave to God, and seek Earthly power to enslave you.

Listen to Christ and to your own heart when you find him there.

Christ taught us how to pray, so please, pray like him and not the way Robertson tells you to.

If anyone else went on television and tried to solicit an outside entity to commit the murder of a Supreme Court Justice they'd be arrested and put in jail. Pat Robertson should be arrested for solicitation of murder, and anyone who gives him money is a co-conspirator.

God, for his part, has not accepted the solicitation. I think there is ample evidence that he won't, and therefore, I don't think anyone should try to arrest God in this matter.

Besides, unlike Pat Robertson, I think God should do what he wants, not what I want, or what Pat Robertson wants, or any idiot with a W sticker on his Hummer wants. Otherwise I'd be praying like heck to get God to strike Pat Robertson dumb.

But instead, I think of what Christ said and revel in the truth of his warning that by their fruit shall you know them. The words that come from Pat Roberston's mouth defile him, and you would know this if you only had eyes to see and ears to hear.


For more info:

• Soujourners: Christians for Peace and Justice
  
• Christian Alliance for Progress
  
• Archie's page on Theocracy (need to update, but links still informative)
  
• Archie asks, What Would Jesus REALLY Do?