Jerry Falwell 1933-2007

Jerry Falwell died this morning at the age of 73 of apparent heart failure (nothing definitive yet). Whether you agreed with him or not, he left a mark on American Politics that will be felt for decades to come.

He founded Thomas Road Baptist Church in 1956. He eventually began to broadcast his services from the Church on the Old Time Gospel Hour. In 1971 he founded Lynchberg Baptist College (now Liberty University).

But he will probably be best remembered as the founder of the Moral Majority. This group, which consisted of evangelicals, pentecostals and conservative Catholics, went on to be a force in the Republican party & in several of the elections in the 80s. Sometimes derided as the "religious right" (a name that came to be worn with pride by many) its strength seemed to die out during the 90s. The theologically diverse group coalesced arround several commonly held values, pro-life, pro-family, & traditional Judeo-Christian morality. & despite what will be claimed by many as intollerance, the truth is, he was speaking out about lifestyles that were, plain & simple, sinful. He didn't hate a person, just sin. & to speak out against homosexual llifestyles, abortion, premarital sex , etc was to get those people involved in those lifestyles to repent & turn from God. Yes, they saw it as hateful because they didn't want to admit what they were doing was wrong. When you don't like the message, ususally you attack the messenger. & they attacked him.

While I didn't always agree with everything he did, I respect what he did & what he stood for. He was a strong force in helping Christians to speak up for their values in the political arena. he showed that those who upheld the traditional views had the right to be a part of the political process, despite the BS claim of those on the left about the seperation of Church & state. (Something that was always ignored by those on left when the Church supported their views.) In the end, it CAN be said that he helped to make the United States a better place.

Falwell Remembered for Impact on Conservative Movement

Falwell, Founder of Liberty University, Dies