Richard Roberts, son of Oral Roberts and President of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa OK, is accused of the misappropriation of funds and tax evasion. This is unfortunate and indicative of the conduct of televangelists in our society. At least two news agencies report that Roberts has recieved word from God to deny these allegations:AP:
At a chapel service this week on the 5,300-student campus known for its 60-foot-tall bronze sculpture of praying hands, Roberts said God told him: "We live in a litigious society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not. This lawsuit ... is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion." [1]
News OK:
Saying he'd spoken with God, school President Richard Roberts told students and faculty during a weekly chapel service, "Here's what he told me to say to you, ‘We live in a litigious society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not." [2]
I well remember in the late '80's when Oral Roberts recieved word from on high to demand 8 million dollars from the faithful or else God would 'call him home.' In fact, I tried this approach; I informed several people that God told me that they should give me $50 or 'God would punch me in the nose.' Unlike Oral Roberts, I recieved no money and I was ducking for years.
Why, oh why, does this 'God told me therefore' approach work? Can't people see it is a ruse? This kind of conduct reminds me of an old expression: "This makes my butt tired."
-Safari Bob
References
[1] http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/ORAL_ROBERTS_SCANDAL?SITE=VOICESD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
[2] http://newsok.com/article/3140031
I'm with you, sir.
ReplyDeleteI've hated these guys for decades. See my rant below.
http://thewhitedsepulchre.blogspot.com/2007/10/oral-ru-without-dick.html
If God hadn't told him to deny it, would he still have denied it? Unbelieveable....