OPINION

In Memoriam: Jerry Falwell

Written by Warren Kelly
Published May 17, 2007

A lot of ink has been spilled, and a lot of electrons spent, in the past 24 or so hours, on this topic. And it would be very easy for me to simply sit down and write a defense of Jerry, or a critique, or to simply post a rant against the people who (as happened last night on Anderson Cooper 360) will simply choose to call names and hate, even as they cry out against his "hatred."

But that's all been done before. Ever since I walked on campus at Liberty University in August of 1986, I've been defending my chancellor. And it often wasn't an easy job. When my sister called me yesterday at about 2 and said "Did you hear about Jerry Falwell?" my gut reaction (though thankfully unspoken) was "Oh, no. What did he say this time?"

Jerry had a habit of speaking what was on his mind, without realizing (or sometimes caring, I guess) what it would sound like. Just a few weeks ago, he announced that he considered the doctrine of limited atonement (a cornerstone of Calvinist theology) "heresy." Immediately, I thought of people like Charles Spurgeon, William Carey, Al Mohler, and John MacArthur — all good men, men of faith and conviction, and all fervent five-point Calvinists. All heretics, I guess, according to Jerry.

Needless to say, I didn't always agree with Jerry Falwell. But one of the things I learned in my time at Liberty was that that was okay. I attended classes with people from all over the evangelical spectrum — old-school fundamentalists, Southern Baptists, evangelical Methodists, Pentecostals, you name it. Even when Jerry didn't always express tolerance in minors, the culture at Liberty thrived on it.

People enjoyed attacking Jerry Falwell. And I could tell that they really didn't know the man — the man, not the preacher. The preacher preached against all forms of vice. The man, the Christian, often loaned his ministry's plane to Larry Flynt (yes, that Larry Flynt), who Jerry was actually friends with. People attacked Jerry for his lack of compassion, but Jerry rather quietly founded and operated the Elim Home for alcoholics and the Liberty Godparent Home for unwed mothers. Jerry was pro-life — he was more than willing to take care of young women who made a mistake, and wanted to do the right thing — including offering scholarships to Liberty for those who wanted it.

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Warren Kelly is a graduate student studying church history at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. His personal blog, View From the Pew, is a repository for his cultural criticism and theological/historical writings, and his weekly podcast features independent music from all over the world.
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In Memoriam: Jerry Falwell
Published: May 17, 2007
Type: Opinion
Section: Culture
Filed Under: Culture: Religion
Writer: Warren Kelly
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#1 — May 17, 2007 @ 10:02AM — Zedd

Warren,

I appreciate your peice.

I am certain that Saddam has people who would say similar things about him. So would Hitler as would Mother Theressa.

We are just people. The tendancy to pegion hole individuals takes away from the truth of how we are capable of making the same choices as they did circumstances allowing.

#2 — May 17, 2007 @ 10:10AM — J.J. Hunsecker

"yes, that Larry Flint"

you mean, as opposed to Larry Flynt?

#3 — May 17, 2007 @ 11:04AM — PDXbogger

I feel, people should really know who he was in life, nothing but a hateful, BASTARD.

"In my country, where I come from...." (trade mark phrase)

We would say:
You Sir are nothing but a "tub of goat crap, loved by the flies"

#4 — May 17, 2007 @ 11:21AM — Jet in Columbus [URL]

Jerry Falwell had only one God-the Almighty dollar, and spread controversy as a means of publicity toward that end.

Falwell may not have been a hateful man, but he inspired and encouraged it. He gave simple country folk who felt no place in life, the ability to feel superior to others because they were "saved" by Jerry.

This tradition of sainting cannonizing anyone who dies needs to come to a stop in our culture.

If Jerry is in heaven, it's only because the Devil was afraid Falwell would take over Hell if he were let in.

#5 — May 17, 2007 @ 11:32AM — Nancy

I'm sure even vipers have good days; so it is with Jerry Falwell. Good riddance.

#6 — May 17, 2007 @ 14:09PM — NR Davis [URL]

I met Jerry. Actually found him quite the funny guy. Indeed he did some good in this world, though I believe the evil far outweighs it. Still, I met and talked with him. And his wife and one of his children. I pray for Falwell's soul and for all those he hurt directly and indirectly. Condolences to his family and those who loved him. Whatever happens now is up to his maker.

#7 — May 17, 2007 @ 15:18PM — man

Ah, what a great man

"The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'" --on the 9/11 attacks

#8 — May 17, 2007 @ 16:15PM — Baronius

Warren, I appreciate your article.

#9 — May 17, 2007 @ 16:29PM — Matthew T. Sussman [URL]

""yes, that Larry Flint"

you mean, as opposed to Larry Flynt?"


I believe Larry Flint was the mascot promoting Roger and Me.

#10 — May 17, 2007 @ 19:57PM — Darron [URL]

What an interesting article. Thank you for sharing. It's too bad many people will never know who he really was.

#11 — May 17, 2007 @ 21:24PM — J.J. Hunsecker

It's too bad many people deny what he really was.

#12 — May 17, 2007 @ 22:59PM — Leigh Ann Wayne [URL]

Thank you. It's good to see fellow Liberty grads writing out their thoughts & appreciation. Despite what the comment section looks like, there are a LOT of us out here & the numbers are only growing bigger.:) God used Dr. Falwell to do some great things in the world & in my life personally. For both I am eternally grateful. Thanks for sharing your story.

#13 — May 17, 2007 @ 23:01PM — David C in SC

Thank you my Brother. Thank you for your convictions and for standing firm til the end. The WORD OF GOD was your guide and may it continue to be our guide and solid rock in the days to come.

To the family, Our prayers are being lifted for you here in South Carolina.

#14 — May 18, 2007 @ 16:10PM — Warren [URL]

One thing I noticed that a lot of commentors have missed -- I said that I didn't always agree with Jerry, or like what he had to say. The problem is that people take sound bites and think that they know what the man was actually like, and they are totally wrong. They've never listened to him for more than five minutes. Everything they know about him is limited to soundbites and hearsay. I'd imagine that if people formed their opinions of any of us that way, we'd be pretty heinous people.

#15 — May 18, 2007 @ 16:17PM — Jet in Columbus [URL]

Warren, I listened to him enough to have actually set away for a "Jesus First" pin from him. Then I found out what a smiling lovable con man he was.

They're right you know. You can't admit what he was because you're blinded by the con.

I was too.

#16 — May 18, 2007 @ 16:25PM — Warren [URL]

lol. I admitted (three times now) that I didn't always agree with what he said. I also studied enough on my own to know where I could agree and where I couldn't, philosophically and theologically. I've been pretty upset at him for some of his dealings with the city of Lynchburg for quite a while now, actually. He didn't do a lot of things at Liberty that needed to be done, from a traffic control perspective -- things that he had told the city he'd do. I've seen his warts. So no, I've bought into nothing. The only money he ever got from me was my tuition, and I got something back for that.

Point is that I knew him well enough to see a man that most people couldn't be bothered to see. I've seen the positive things that he's done that people totally ignore. We've all got warts. I know I wouldn't stand up to the scrutiny that Jerry had to endure.

#17 — May 18, 2007 @ 16:27PM — NR Davis [URL]

The assumption being that those with a different view of Rev. Falwell are *not* guided by God? That would be a presumptuous and fallacious statement.

#18 — May 18, 2007 @ 16:30PM — NR Davis [URL]

Sorry... #17 is in answer to #13.

For the record, thanks to the author of the article. As we look back at Falwell's life, hearing many perspectives is much more helpful than limiting what we read and/or hear to one particular viewpoint if we are truly going to give him a fair assessment.

#19 — May 18, 2007 @ 16:33PM — Warren [URL]

"The assumption being that those with a different view of Rev. Falwell are *not* guided by God? That would be a presumptuous and fallacious statement."

Huh?? Where did that come from? I don't recall ever saying that God guided my understanding of the man -- my personal experiences have. Even when I disagree (often pretty strongly), I've been able to look at the man, not the public figure or soundbite. Most people can't be bothered to do that.

#20 — May 18, 2007 @ 16:35PM — Warren [URL]

OK -- ignore my last remark then. I got a little confused.

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