Trying to Serve God and Politics
The Jerry Falwell I knew was torn between the two kingdoms he represented: one not of this world and the other very much of this world; one with tactics and tools that could change lives and the other with tactics and tools that changed little.
There is no question that he represented a formidable force in mobilizing inactive conservative Christians beginning in 1979 when he founded the Moral Majority. But with political power also comes compromise and in order to maintain access to Ronald Reagan, he held his tongue when Reagan did things with which he did not approve, such as nominating Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court, a Justice who voted to uphold Roe vs. Wade. Falwell had called abortion America's "national sin."
He could be both gracious and generous. He started a home for unwed mothers and a facility to help the poor in his hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia. He founded a university, which may be his ultimate and lasting legacy.
Falwell once told me that all the church can do is "put its thumb in the dike" because things are bound to get worse and worse in culture and society. That "prophecy" appears to be coming true. And it makes one wonder why he put so much time, effort and money into political organizing when with his other role as preacher he shared a message about a King and a Kingdom that was better able to change people for the better than either political party could ever hope to do.
By
Cal Thomas
|
May 15, 2007; 5:19 PM ET
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Posted by: Rocky Jensen | December 17, 2007 3:04 PM
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A typical TV preacher who just found a more successful grift that gave him semi-legitimacy and still allowed himself to line his pockets with money from the dupes that fall for that type of sanctimonious blather. Say, "Hello," to the other residents of the place where all hypocritical rip-offs go when they die, Jerry.
Posted by: mikeasr | May 16, 2007 11:51 PM
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Oops. Sorry, don't know how I did that triple post. Maybe a system glitch. The next guy did the same.
Posted by: CWS | May 16, 2007 2:31 PM
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You guys make some good points.
Learn how to use your computers!
Posted by: Dane | May 16, 2007 1:56 PM
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Cal,
You are a liar! Falwell most certaily did NOT hold his tongue at the nomination of O'Connor.
I only wish that Senator Goldwater did deliver on his desire to introduce Falwell to his size 12 boot.
Posted by: Chris S. | May 16, 2007 1:53 PM
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Cal,
You are a liar! Falwell most certaily did NOT hold his tongue at the nomination of O'Connor.
I only wish that Senator Goldwater did deliver on his desire to introduce Falwell to his size 12 boot.
Posted by: Chris S. | May 16, 2007 1:53 PM
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Cal,
You are a liar! Falwell most certaily did NOT hold his tongue at the nomination of O'Connor.
I only wish that Senator Goldwater did deliver on his desire to introduce Falwell to his size 12 boot.
Posted by: Chris S. | May 16, 2007 1:53 PM
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Falwell was a hatemonger and a bigot.
He certainly helped to give sane, intelligent Christians everywhere a bad name.
Never met a war he did not approve of and was judgmental and oftentimes condescending to those who differed with him...on anything.
He was also an incredibly wealthy man who had the gall to use his television show to beg for money from the sick, old and naive.
So sad that he made such a poor use of his position and pulpit.
Posted by: CWS | May 16, 2007 1:49 PM
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Falwell was a hatemonger and a bigot.
He certainly helped to give sane, intelligent Christians everywhere a bad name.
Never met a war he did not approve of and was judgmental and oftentimes condescending to those who differed with him...on anything.
He was also an incredibly wealthy man who had the gall to use his television show to beg for money from the sick, old and naive.
So sad that he made such a poor use of his position and pulpit.
Posted by: CWS | May 16, 2007 1:49 PM
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Falwell was a hatemonger and a bigot.
He certainly helped to give sane, intelligent Christians everywhere a bad name.
Never met a war he did not approve of and was judgmental and oftentimes condescending to those who differed with him...on anything.
He was also an incredably wealthy man who had the gall to use his television show to beg for money from the sick, old and naive.
So sad that he made such a poor use of his position and pulpit.
Posted by: CWS | May 16, 2007 1:49 PM
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Jerry Falwell promoted a cult of homophobia. That is his add-on to Christianity. If you want to believe in homophobia, then go ahead, and hold it up as your belief, but don't call it Christian.
Posted by: Daniel | May 16, 2007 9:48 AM
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Mr. Thomas worked for Falwell as VP for Communications, something he neglects to tell us in this essay. Journalistic ethics on display for all to see.
Posted by: Ba'al | May 16, 2007 9:25 AM
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Wasn't it the "Christian" demagogue Robertson that called for Chavez's assassination in the name of Jesus Christ? Oh, I guess it doesn't matter.
Falwell/Robertson/Dobson/Swaggart/Baker/Haggard -what's the difference?
Posted by: Roy | May 16, 2007 8:56 AM
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Dan makes a valid, realistic point. Immorality, cynicism, vehement hatred toward those who try to stand up for good character and principles (most of those admitting they are human..but show that one must keep trying, despite our human frailties)have been major factors that have always precluded a downfall of any society.
Posted by: DW | May 16, 2007 8:40 AM
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The "school" Mr Falwell founded has bones in its museum that it claims to be from a 3000 year-old Tyrranosaurus. If that kind of ignorance is generalized throughout Liberty Univ, then it is not a "school," but a place where bronze-age nonsense masquerades gaily in the robes of education.
Posted by: Phaedrus | May 16, 2007 5:27 AM
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Without disparaging Mr. Falwell directly, it should be noted that Cal Thomas raises valid questions:
Is political activism at odds with the Christian mission of advocating God's Kingdom? What exactly does "not of this world" mean?
Is politically neutral Christianity possible? If so, what would it look like?
If Christians are actually hoping for something better than what human governments can deliver, why bother with all the politicking in the first place?
Seeing that the megachurches that have followed in Falwell's footsteps have done works greater than his (in generating revenue, that is), these are serious questions that anyone who calls themselves a Christian ought to be grappling with.
Posted by: Spencer | May 16, 2007 2:18 AM
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I find the ugly comments piling hatred on a dead man far more disturbing than anything Jerry Falwell ever said or did. With their venom they actually do a good job of proving Jerry was right with his concerns about our nations character.
Posted by: Dan | May 16, 2007 12:10 AM
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Hello everybody. Jerry Falwell here. I know a lot of you didn't expect to hear from me until judgement day. Surprise, surprise! I am reincarnated already!!! That was quick, wasn't it? I am an internet server in Milpitas, California. (Gods who know about this sort of stuff tell me it's a new thing - kind of experimental.)
Here's the deal. It turns out the right answer was Jainism. I was really, really sure it was Christianity, but hey, when you're wrong, you're wrong. What are you going to do? Sorry about getting all you people to vote for Bush. But I am not going to dwell on the past. I was pretty disappointed at first, but then I realized it could have gone a lot worse. What if Islam had turned out to be the right answer? I would be in for some hot times, if you know what I mean. :-)
So there you have it. LOL. Everybody be sure to follow the Nine Tattvas. Talk to you later.
- Jerry
Posted by: Jerry Falwell | May 15, 2007 9:53 PM
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remembering the adage about not speaking ill of the dead, i'll hold my peace about mr. falwell. but, i recommend reading of the comments posted on the nyt story. i think its a fair sampling of his standing in our national community. when we hear numbers thrown about, such as the 16 million southern baptists, the 13 million who listen to limbaugh, or the 3 million nra card carriers, those are frightening numbers, until one remembers just how many americans there are. what's frightening is how the american people docilely let themselves be cowed by such small, willful minorities. falwell was a representative of a fringe group. but then, the nazis were a fringe group. that's what's truly scary.
Posted by: James Filyaw | May 15, 2007 8:57 PM
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As a person who knew Falwell and seem to be of the same cloth, it kind of interesting that you have not lauded all kinds of praise on the man. Reading between the lines, you seem to believe that he would have served us better by staying out of politics and keeping to his spiritual role. Uncharacteristically, you have been ambivalent in this posting so my assumption is that you are also ambivalent regarding Falwell except for his University. This is something I wish you would expand on in the future.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 15, 2007 8:12 PM
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Oh Cal, shouldn't you at least run some sort of disclaimer, that you were the VP of Communications for the Moral Majority at one point? That at least helps us understand why you're fawning and heaping praise on the individual who passed today. Your obsequiousness knows no bounds, and you refuse to castigate this person for his many and varied words of hate, as you castigate those across the aisles for words far less offensive. Your presence as a biased hack is now well known, and you should begin to take your leave of this business Cal, for it has begun to take it's leave of you. You no longer, or more accurately you never did, represent the majority, and even those who once listened to you are now discouraged as you NEVER SEEM TO LEARN. You reap what you sow.
Posted by: Fred Evil | May 15, 2007 6:54 PM
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Shush, Cal Thomas-- you should write for the Washington Times.
Falwell was a charlatan pure and simple.
Posted by: ADIOS JERRY | May 15, 2007 6:51 PM
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Mr. C. Thomas, et al;
Besides telling about Mr.Chavez (Venezuala Prez) that "He should Be Assasinated" {Similar}, And that He knows best, is just an expression, of Jerry's LOVE & thus frustrations with AMEROCA politics & More in OURs hemesphere & whom was "steadfast" and upheld, Honorably, Ours "MONROE. DOCTRINE!
Mr. Falwell, Jerry;
Is and was a "Rock of hope" for Eclatians [ECLATi-On(s) of "Joktan" descent not "Peleg!"] in "American Solidarity" for Our Absorbing Mexico (1st) & then Guatamala (2nd) into OURs current Fifty States (50) and thus producing Five (5) additional Sates into OURs UNION & FLAG. Ya Ya Monsa Mono's et al!
May ECLAT Give you a right of correct Passage again. Praise thed Holy No Mon Eclati in ALL!
S H o l O M , IS IN "SHILOH" THE "Light/Photon Bringer", that has and is ushering in the "FAITH EXCHANGE" for World Peace & Healing of Nations via The O. System! And in a Neighborhood near You soon.
VOTE: (((((((( Peace-Love-Rock_n_Roll, Mitt-ROMNEY! Now! ))))))))) Thank You all!
"SHILOH" is OUR(s) S H O L O M! Good bye Brother "Jerry FallWell" the ECLATARION "Rock of [american] Hope"! Wa Salaam always! and Sholom!
Posted by: Jacob Jozevs et al | May 15, 2007 6:08 PM
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Everybody knows the big bucks go to those who lead the multitudes to hell.
http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. There is no money in the truth while the lie is worth a fortune.
The poet said, "grass covers all"
Posted by: BGone | May 15, 2007 5:55 PM
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Was all the great work Jerry did his work or that of God? He did use funds gifted to God to do his work did he not? Was it Jerry or God that founded Liberty University, started the moral majority?
Suppose you were God. Now Jerry is standing before you. What question do you ask: where's all the money people gave to me that you spent?
When the Mafia "runner" takes a little of the money for himself it called "going into business for one's self." Jerry was God's "runner." Did he "go into business for himself?"
I recall hearing Jerry relating how he "risk" his measly dollars gained from being a "bootlegger's assistant" by investing it in his ministry, the "Geraldo" show on MSNBC. He couldn't have been prouder of himself if he had founded Microsoft.
Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Just more evidence that he who dies deepest in debt wins. That's contrary to the accepted, "he who dies with the most toys wins."
Jerry is not dead. He is now in a new world and knows for sure the Bible is a hoax. Of course he like Mr Cal Thomas already knew that before today.
Posted by: BGone | May 15, 2007 5:46 PM
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easy question, in the words of 'deep throat'; "Follow the money"
Posted by: Lamont Cranston | May 15, 2007 5:46 PM
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