Why Robertson is wrong about marriage
There’s already been much said in reaction to Pat Robertson’s comments regarding marriage and Alzheimer’s disease on his 700 Club television program September 13. Allow me to point out the highlights.
I was first made aware of Robertson’s comments by Denny Burk, a professor at Boyce College in Louisville. He posted the video of the 700 Club segment in question. You can see it for yourself on YouTube.
On Thursday Southern Seminary’s Dean of Theology, Russell Moore, a man whom I respect greatly (and who would have been my Dean had I remained at Southern), posted his own blog reaction. He also appeared on CNN Friday to summarize the views about which he wrote.
As I made my own comment on Burk’s blog and read the comments of others, I witnessed a mix of “I can’t believe he said that” and “Shouldn’t we wait to pass judgment until we know the whole story?” One person I follow on Twitter implied that the fact that the husband to whom Robertson referred had already begun a relationship with another woman should change the way we interpret Robertson’s remarks.
Moore has already clearly expressed the biblical view of fidelity without compromise either to one’s spouse or toward modern societal fancies. I can’t do it any better.
So allow me to express this situation from my point of view as the son of a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
My father cares for my mother, who is in mid-stage of Alzheimer’s, full-time. He retired from a job with the State of California several years ago. The money he saved over the years, plus the benefits from former employment, help to fund his current life mission.
My mother is totally dependent on my father. Recently he had to lobby his healthcare provider to pay for a skilled in-home care expert to visit their home two days a week to helm my mom with basic personal care, which she can no longer perform adequately herself.
My mom used to love to cook and garden with my dad. Growing up there was rarely a night that she didn’t have dinner on the table for all of us. You should see the gorgeous backyard my parents created and maintained together. Mome grew dazzling roses and loved to talk about them. Those are things my dad does by himself now.
They still enjoy watching TV together, and even get out to see the occasional live jazz concert. Sometimes, though, my mom can’t distinguish between what’s happening on TV and what’s real.
Every day, my dad prays to God for the strength to care for his wife one more day. In one email last year, he told me he’s actually thankful that God orchestrated the events of their lives so that he could be there to love and care for this woman, my mother.
This January they will celebrate their 50th anniversary. My siblings and I will be there to share in their joy. The fact that they are still together despite my mom’s disease gives even more cause for celebration.
My dad is an example of faithful love. His life is a testimony to the truth of biblical fidelity in marrage, no matter what.
Pat Robertson’s remarks espouse the worst sort of subjective, experiential “Christianity” that is divorced from submission to bibical authority. He does not represent my faith or, if I may be bold enough to speak for him, that of my dad. Robertson’s comments were irresponsible, weak, and shameful. For the sake of the church at-large he should have the decency at this point to step down from his position and never seek to appear on television again.
I sincerely hope Robertson repents of his actions and seeks forgiveness from the God who has never abandoned him.
