Praise for Jerry Falwell? Why?

Question

Jerry Falwell passed on today and although I feel for anyone who loses someone close, I have a hard time losing any sleep over him.

Falwell was anything but a Christian by definition. This man had so much hate in his heart and was the first to point fingers and be judgemental.

He was a bigot, homophobe, arrogant and self-righteous - not the qualities that define a "christian".

Now don't get me wrong, I am no theologian myself, but I know a hypocrite when I see one.

TO MARK T: I am not judging anyone. It is a fact that he was full of hate and duped millions out of their cash for his hate filled ministry.

As for my dislike for him - that is what we civilized logical thinkers refer to as OPINION.

Answer 1

I'm with you on this one. Falwell was so full of hate. He hated Jews, he hated blacks, he hated gays...but he sure loved a dollar. He had a ball scooping up the Bakker's ministry....like he even had the authority! His Moral Majority organization was a sham. He was no Christian by any means. He was so deep into invading politics, that he even founded a university for that purpose.

Answer 2

I had no problem with Mr. Falwell, with the exception to some of the things he said was happening to the nation because of the gays and such. Everybody seems to point the fingers at God when some tragedy hits. Saying its God's doings or God allowing certain things to happen.

But he did call sin, for what it is (according to the scriptures) Sin.

But, what the World calls being Judgmental the Bible calls "Ground Testing" in essence, in comparison to the Scripture's. Now I will say there are some right wings that carry things way to far. Like Ann Coulter for an example. She herself says "She's a Christian first, then a mean spirited, Conservative, bigot second. Which is something that has no place in a Christians life!

And for that, they will give an account for one day.

It appears they have forgotten we are to love what the scriptures calls a sinner, and hate the sin.

As you can tell. I am a Christian. But this is what happens when you mix politics and beliefs. Maybe I'm wrong in this and maybe I'm not!

But, its the same thing that happen after the spiritual fires of the reformation. The church got involved in political affairs, and not long afterward the spiritual fires of the Reformation was extinguished.

Answer 3

In all honesty, I have been feeling the same way today. I feel bad any time anyone dies, but I am pretty sure I am not going to be losing any sleep about it any time soon.

Do you know the first thing I thought when I saw he had died? I thought, "Wow, I hope this takes some steam out of the Moral Majority." The really die-hard people who followed him seemed to listen very closely and let their opinions be dictated by him, and as you pointed out, he wasn't exactly a stellar example of the Christian ideal of loving one's neighbor.

I gotta say I am feeling a bit better knowing I am not the only one that isn't weeping about it. Thanks for sharing your opinion.

Answer 4

Well, I am not qualified to judge the man. I do know that he made mistakes and owned up to them. I also know that he was passionate about morality and greatly concerned about the moral and spiritual decline in this nation. If that makes him a bad person, then count me as one also. I don't consider him a bigot and homophobe. Yes, he spoke out against homosexuality, but I never have seen him display an attitude of hating gays. It was the lifestyle that he was against, as are most Christians. He was merely following the teachings of the Bible in the beliefs he was outspoken about. While there are definately ways to present the Bible with simple finesse (as in Billy Graham), and he was not always the best at not offending others, he was not so concerned with offending people as he was with offending God. Was he a hypocrite? Again, I can't judge - that's God's job, and my guess is that is taking place right now.

The thing that Jerry Falwell contributed to this nation is that he got Christians to stand up and take notice to the direction of our familes, our society and our morals, and to think before we vote. Whether or not he carried it too far is a subjective thing and each person will have their own opinion on the matter. There was good in bad with him, as there is with all of us. If you want to talk about a bigot, a homophobe, an arrogant and self-righteous person, please don't point at Jerry Falwell. He may not have been a perfect human being, but he did demonstrate true Christian love. The very things he spoke out against were ideas, certain moral values/practices etc., NOT the people associated with those things he spoke out against. If you want to call someone all the things you mentioned in your question, then point your finger at the Phelps family of Westboro Baptist Church. These folks do NOT represent Christians or Baptists (who happen to be Christians). The adjectives you described in your question fit this family to a "T" - they do not describe Jerry Falwell.

Answer 5

I listened to him, but it sounds like you just heard certain things then projected your opinions on him as your self-created arch enemy.

Are all Christians "homophobes" if they believe the Bible's clear teaching that it's a sin? Perhaps your definition of "Christian" ought to be a biblical one than a self-created one.

I listened to him carefully and heard his anti-homosexual comments in their context. I didn't notice any fear in his speech regarding homosexuals. He loved them as much as any other sinner.

What in the world would make Dr. Falwell a "bigot"? There was so much diversity in his ministries that I can't imagine a well-informed person making such an accusation. Maybe the problem is your definition of "bigot." Maybe the problem is ignorance.

Knowing him, rather than throwing proverbial stones at him from afar, I can understand how someone might mistake his confidence in his beliefs for being "arrogant and self-righteous." If it helps to look in the mirror, your rant reflects the same about you.

We're all hypocrites to one degree or another. The question for you now is: what are you going to do about your hypocrisy? What moron points a finger and judges another for pointing a finger and judging? Can you see the clear hypocrisy here? Deal with your own first, then you'll be able to see clearly to deal with the faults of others.

Answer 6

I'm sorry he died as I am when learning of anyone dying.

Getting caught with a prostitute shows he was human and that is none of my business.

The hate he spewed caused a lot of damage to the United States. Calling the deaths from 9/11 God's rath on the U.S. because of gays, prochoice avocates, and others who were not the terriorists was especially evil.

Answer 7

I posted a similar statement.. The problem with him and those like him is that they use the guise of religion to promote political and econmic interests, which have nothing to do with beliefs, and everything to do with their fat pockets. Ever notice they are all rich, white, upper class men (first of all) and Secondly, they have open and obvious relationships with President Bush. That's because their interests are all the same. Money-not religion, not morals. It's funny they call him the founder of the moral majority when the "majority" of them represent a economic minority, probably in the top 5 percent economically. Good riddance, thank God there's one less of those mind washing, rich, self-serving, secretive politicians.

Answer 8

Hi,Well for one I feel the same way,the man was a contradiction in himself Pray for his soul ,God knows where its going; Faith , We3inc

Answer 9

I am just waiting for the circus to begin as the surviving televangelists fight over who get to inherit his empire. I expect to see them busting each other bigtime in their battle for succession.
Falwell is dead. He has escaped any possible retribution. It is over. Now lets watch the rest of the show.

Answer 10

Well he's about to find out if the god he believed in is as harsh and judgmental as he made him out to be. All I can say is, I hope for his sake he's not.