Pat Robertson, host of The 700 Club, remains under fire for speaking out against the Black Lives Matters (BLM) movement Sept. 10. As part of a nationwide debate over the mostly undisputed value of black lives, many people—including long-time Robertson supporters—are unsure how to respond to widespread claims of racism against anyone who speaks out against BLM.
In response to Robertson’s comments, Patrisse Cullors, executive director of BLM, said in a statement on the organization’s website, “We are here yet again being attacked for standing up against white supremacy. To insinuate that our movement is trying to destroy Christianity is disgraceful and outright offends our Christian siblings who are a part of our movement against racial injustice. The statements made by Pat Robertson are completely inflammatory and dangerous.”
BLM was formed seven years ago. While many consider the group as fighting for racial equality, its mandate expands beyond that, “affirming the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, undocumented folks, folks with records, women and all Black lives along the gender spectrum. Our network centers those who have been marginalized within Black liberation movements.”
Rick Scarborough compares BLM to a Trojan horse in a recent episode of Mixing Church and State God’s Way on the Charisma Podcast Network. He defends Robertson not only for his accomplishments but as a “real warrior for Jesus.”
“I’m defending him because he’s among the minority who have the courage to speak out against this organization. Nothing he said was incorrect, exaggerated or wrong,” Scarborough said. “And yet the organization Black Lives Matter and its founders came after him with ferocity.”
He went on to say: “The fact is, these organizers of the Black Lives movement, in their own writings, testimonials and past interviews, have made it clear that they are trained Marxists. They are advancing right now a new spiritual dimension to racial conciliation that introduces ancestral worship.
“I don’t deny them the right and the freedom of their religious expression,” Scarborough said. “But I do think that the church and many who are heralding the claims of Black Lives Matter need and understand what they’re saying when they talk about ancestral worship. According to the Christian tradition, and the Christian position, this is a form of demonism, as they commune with the spirits of the past, violating scriptural precept after scriptural precept.”
