History Book: Pat Robertson

NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Monday, June 12th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Nick Eicher.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard. Coming up next, the WORLD History Book. Evangelical leader Pat Robertson died on Thursday. World Radio Executive Producer Paul Butler now with a reflection on Robertson’s life and legacy.

CBN SPECIAL: He was a broadcaster, educator, author, humanitarian and most importantly a minister of the gospel. Dr. Pat Robertson has died at the age of 93.

PAUL BUTLER, REPORTER: Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson is best remembered as the host of the 700 Club. A television ministry he led for 60 years:

[AUDIO FROM 700 CLUB TV SHOW]

Robertson began his broadcast ministry on October 1st, 1961, even though he didn’t even own a television at the time.

PAT ROBERTSON: He showed me that he wanted to claim the airways for the prince of peace that he wanted us to claim television.

When Robertson went on the air in Portsmouth, Virginia, WYAH’s TV signal barely reached the city limits. His original set included a rotting curtain and a cardboard cross. The broadcast equipment was in need of desperate repair. But Robertson believed that if he could find 700 people to give $10 per month to the effort, he could begin a Christian television ministry. The “700 Club” was born. The Christian Broadcasting Network grew from that humble beginning into a multimillion-dollar media ministry broadcasting today in more than 150 countries.

[AUDIO FROM 700 CLUB TV SHOW]

But Pat Robertson was more than a media mogul. He was an evangelistic entrepreneur. Besides founding CBN, he started other ministries like Regent University, Operation Blessing, the American Center for Law and Justice, and International Family Entertainment.

ROBERTSON: I do all these things, and I'm just thrilled to be part of it. And I, again, I give God the glory. And I'm just, I'm just sort of his agent to do what I've done.

Marion Gordon Robertson was born March 22nd, 1930, in Lexington, Virginia. His father served in the U.S. House of Representatives and later the US Senate for more than 30 years. Marion earned the nickname “Pat” when his older brother patted his baby cheeks. The name stuck.

As a young man Pat Robertson was far from God.

ROBERTSON: I was a Hellraiser, if I can use that term.

In 1948, Robertson enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and served in Korea. After returning home he received a law degree from Yale Law School—though he failed to pass the bar. During that time, God got his attention.

ROBERTSON: Over dinner in Philadelphia, a missionary confronted me. And when it was finished, I had surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, it completely changed me.

Over the next 25 years Robertson became more and more influential and politically active. In the early 80’s Robertson motivated evangelical Christians to get involved with politics.

ROBERTSON: The President of the United States is a tenant in our house. And so as landlords of the White House, it is time to say this occupant’s lease is expired, eviction must follow.

In 1986 he set his sights on that Whitehouse.

ROBERTSON: I am an official candidate for the Republican nomination for the presidency of the United States.

Robertson lost the nomination to George H.W. Bush. But out of that experience, Robertson founded the conservative political advocacy group: the Christian Coalition.

Over the years, Robertson’s political and spiritual influence often came under public scrutiny as he took a hard line against feminism, abortion, and homosexuality.

ROBERTSON: I'm a messenger, I can't, like Western Union, I don't want to change the telegraph message. I have to do what the Bible says. It says, you know, apart from him, there's no salvation.

But Robertson occasionally found himself at the center of controversies of his own making as well. His eschatology led him to interpret world events in terms of Biblical prophecy leading to predictions that fizzled out.

ROBERTSON: I give it 1982. But date setting is dangerous. I'd say within the next couple of years, we're gonna see a war there, the next major war to be fought in the world is going to be right here. | Here? | Here. | Why? | Because the Bible says so.

Robertson often spoke in terms of how God told him things, or revealed His will to him. These rarely ended well, like this 2012 prediction of a two-term Mitt Romney presidency:

ROBERTSON: Romney will win the election. You believe that. I absolutely believe that. What makes you believe that? Because the Lord told me. That’s good to know. I wasn’t sure. Really, the Lord said that to you? Yeah, absolutely.

Even so, when news of his passing hit the headlines last week, leaders across the political and theological spectrum offered their reflections—like these from CBN News Watch including Anne Graham Lotz:

ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ: You look at the things he did and what he's left behind. And surely the angels stood up to applauded him as he walked through the gates.

And Senator Ted Cruz:

TED CRUZ: Pat had a strength, that no matter what challenges faced America, faced the world, that he rested comfortably in the strength and love of his Savior.

In 2006 CBS Sunday Morning profiled the then 76-year old Robertson. He reflected on how he wanted to be remembered.

ROBERTSON: I would like it to be somebody who served God and served his serve mankind who loved people and gave himself to make this a better world.

That’s this week’s WORLD History Book. I’m Paul Butler.

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