No matter what Pat Robertson says, it was an earthquake that devastated Haiti. A simple shifting of tectonic plates, tragically wreaking devastation on an already poor and hurting nation. Now, I will admit that my first thought when I read about the earthquake in Haiti was, “Oh God, why?” But, although I do believe that God is real and active in our world and in people’s lives, it never occurred to me to think that God was evening a score or that Satan was collecting on a debt with the Haitians.

For those fortunate enough not to have heard about Robertson’s latest buffoonery let me give you the silly news – Robertson went on his television program and blamed the Haitians past behavior for their current plight. "True story," Robertson said, Haitian rebels (back in 1791 apparently when Haiti was a French Colony) "swore a pact to the devil," and promised that they would “serve you if you will get us free from the French.” From then on, according to Robertson, the Haitians “have been cursed by one thing after the other." There you have it folks, the earthquake devastation in Haiti was caused by “voodoo”. But then, what more can you expect from the looney toon who told us that September 11 was caused by America’s moral decay and hurricane Katrina by abortion.

It is one thing to try to understand the nature and mind of God from his past actions and words as recorded in scripture, but it is something entirely different and unbelievably presumptuous (or perhaps other things, like dishonest or insane) to claim to know precisely what God is planning and doing right this very moment – seems to me that at best such thinking presumes to diminish God’s divinity and to lower Him to our level, and at worst constitutes a despicable scheme to use sensationalism to solicit more donations from innocent grandmothers.

Seems more likely to me that if God ever decides to render judgment on this earth, He will start by cleaning His own house of so-called religious leaders like Robertson. “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God” – that’s from the Apostle Peter’s First Epistle, 1 Peter 4:17. Peter was speaking of himself and his fellow Christians, his point was that judgment should begin with those, like Robertson, who claim to be followers of Christ.

But, Robertson is really misguided for blaming the poor earthquake for an unholy alliance with the Devil. He just needs to forgive and forget. He’s just letting himself get caught up in anger against those Haitian tectonic plates. He needs to let it go. He ought to be promoting research so we can understand those plates and the earthquakes that their movements bring about. It’s not as if the earthquake was trying to conquer and rule Haiti – it was just expressing a natural reaction to all that built up pressure brought about by outside forces. We ought to be examining our own faults – pun intended – and trying to bring them in line.

Okay, so I’m having a little fun here. Please take it in the light heart with which it is intended. But, I say we forgive the earthquake, rush all the help we can to the poor Haitians, and blame Robertson – I mean God has to be ticked at the way this buffoon presumes to speak for Him. If I lived in Virginia Beach I would be watching my back.