This morning the Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority and incredibly influential Christian conservative activist, died at the age of 73. The founder of Liberty University, a media empire, and pastor of the 22,000-member Thomas Road Baptist Church, helped remake the GOP from Rockefeller Republicans into Reagan Republicans with a strong emphasis on social conservative values. The often politically apathetic conservative Christians were convinced to rally against the liberal policies of abortion, homosexual rights, and pornography. His efforts helped elect Reagan and a Republican Senate in 1980.
Cf. http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/famed-televangelist-dies-at-age-73/20070515124309990001.
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Ann Coulter has an excellent column about Falwell: "Jerry Falwell, Meet Ronald Reagan!" I read it on townhall.com. It applies, to Falwell, the New Testament verse said by Jesus, "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."
Falwell did not always say things in the wisest manner, but most of what he said was the truth and was absolutely correct.
I agree, James. Christians are much indebted to Rev. Falwell for his brave stands for truth. Appropriately, Falwell's last post on moralmajority.org ends with the exhortation, "Boldly live out your faith!" What a nice summary of Rev. Falwell's life and work.
Click <a href="http://www.moralmajority.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43">here</a> for link.
G, as always Ann doesn't hold back or give a measly-mouth defense of Rev. Falwell in her article. She's not afraid to go toe-to-toe with any P.C. holy cow or to offend their coddled sensibilites. For those without DSL, a dialup-friendly site to read the article is Ann's official site. Cf. http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/welcome.cgi.
J, a testament to his witness is Larry Flynt of all people. Flynt said that he hated everything that Falwell stood for but that he had become good friends after personally meeting him years after the infamous First Amendment rights case, Hustler Magazine Inc. v. Jerry Falwell. (In that case, Falwell unsuccssfully sued Flynt for libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress after Hustler ran a satire that had the reverend recounting his first sexual experience in which he drunkenly had incestuous relations with his mother.)
"The founder of Liberty University, a media empire, and pastor of the 22,000-member Thomas Road Baptist Church, helped remake
the GOP from Rockefeller Republicans into Reagan Republicans with a strong emphasis on social conservative values. The often politically
apathetic conservative Christians were convinced to rally against the liberal policies of abortion, homosexual rights, and pornography."
It is very thrilling to see a man asnwer God's call. These are not a man's accomplishments, but rather the result of obedience to God.
I'm sure that this humble, loving pastor would heartily agree. He talked the talk and walked the walk.
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