Open Letter to Religious Leaders

"In times like the present, men should utter nothing for which they would not willingly be responsible through time and eternity." — Abraham Lincoln, December 1, 1862 Message to Congress

Leaders have a large responsibility. If they are not willing to accept, they should not attempt to lead. Dwight D. Eisenhower said, "You do not lead by hitting people over the head — that's assault, not leadership." What purpose is served in continuing to curse a nation of people you state is already cursed? As a religious leader you are aware of the power in words. Whether within our own thoughts, spoken or written, words have the power to transform the world in which we live. As Christians we know, Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Robertson is notorious for such inflammatory statements.

When religious leaders speak, they have a greater responsibility to verify their statements. When speaking as a private citizen, they don’t have the same impact. In the role as a pastor on his Christian Broadcasting Network show yesterday, Robertson stated as fact and the truth:

...that the nation of Haiti has been devastated by a large earthquake because its people "made a pact with the devil."

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it," Robertson said. "They were under the heel of the French ... and they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free from the French.

"True story," he continued. "And the devil said, 'OK, it's a deal.' Ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after another.”

Proverbs 12:18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Robertson is not very wise. What healing did he speak? Was he in on the pact, so he’s speaking from first hand information? Did he speak with the devil or the Haitians that made the deal? Does he REALLY speak for God? Hope not! Matthew 15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. He also said:

1. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Robertson is quoted as saying, civil libertarians and gay rights groups bore responsibility for the strikes.
2. He has also said Hurricane Katrina was an expression of God’s wrath over abortion.
3. He stated that Ariel Sharon’s stroke was God’s vengeance for Israel’s ceding land to the Palestinians.

As followers we should expect religious leaders to exhibit responsibilities during times of crisis. Do we agree that their most important responsibility is to faithfully live out their beliefs through teaching GOOD deeds and example? Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak...

Perhaps we expect too much from our religious leaders, thinking that they should have a cultural and social role to play in encouraging basic ethical values, such as justice, solidarity, peace, social harmony and the common good of society as a whole, in particular the deprived, the fragile, migrants and the oppressed. Matthew 7:12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

What example do religious leaders show the generations behind them? Are the leaders pushing them to fall victim to religious fanaticism and radicalism, instead of a sound education showing generations how to become bridge builders and peace makers. Religious institutions serve more teens than any other agency in the community except the public schools, and they are specifically empowered to offer values-based education to children outside of the home. As followers should we believe that religious leaders have a special responsibility to work for peace and reconciliation? Shouldn’t the beginning for peace be present in all the great religious traditions of the world and we can realize this potential together? Can’t we respect religious differences while celebrating our common humanity?

"I am reminded how hollow the label of leadership sometimes is and how heroic followership can be." — Warren Bennis