And, so, what are we to say about Pastor Jerry Falwell, who passed away yesterday of apparent heart failure? We are, I presume, to celebrate the enormous good he did for the Kingdom of God, while not over-looking or white-washing the enormous damage he did to the cause of Christ. A model of Christian conservatism, Falwell’s laudable activism energized a diminishing American moral conscience, harkening this country back to God’s values and Biblical principles. The unfortunate side effect of his Moral Majority movement, however, was to marry a conservative culture to conservative values, and a equating of morality and spirituality, blending these qualities into a kindly Ronald Reagan-Ozzie and Harriet vision of moral purity that insidiously placed white, middle-class Americans at the top of the food chain while omitting blacks and other minorities. Falwell’s palette for Christian purity kept us waiting tables, voiceless and faceless, our cultural accents eliminated as most Falwell-approved blacks looked and sounded a lot more like Wintly Phipps than Cornell West or Jesse Jackson. The easy-going, soft spoken, rounded-edge blacks of Falwell’s world were the only ones seen within his many years of faithful service to the religious right.
Falwell’s movement was an unabashedly white movement, a white moral rights movement which eclipsed the black civil rights movement as our great civil rights leaders moved off the stage, replaced by minstrels like Jackson and Sharpton. Left virtually unopposed by the fractious political doddering of the Democratic party, Falwell rode the political corpses of scandal-plagued televangelists Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart to national attention and power. In so doing, he so polarized his conservative message that many people, to this day, cannot separate Falwellian philosophy from the simple message of truth in the Bible. Christianity, most especially fundamentalist Christianity, has become socialized into a vision of the double-chinned conservative wack job, a stigma I and many pastors have to constantly combat when we seek to engage people with the message of Jesus Christ, a message Falwell distorted and a work he and like-minded conservative clones like him has made all the more difficult. The “moral” Christian right has made it exponentially more difficult to share the message of Jesus Christ.
The most significant flaw to the Christian “moral” right is their equating of morality with spirituality, when these are two very separate qualities. Their message seems to suggest that merely being moral will somehow please God and win you a place in heaven. It also suggests that, by being spiritual, you are, by default, a moral person. Neither statement is true.
Morality (the quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct) has no external or infallible truth to it. Theology (rational inquiry into religious questions), ideally, should be based on eternal truths, which have nothing to do with morality per se, other than that our adherence to these eternal truths forms opinions we express as guidelines governing our moral conduct. Theology and morality are hardly one and the same. A decent and moral idea, rule, or concept can still, in all its purity, transgress the holiness of a divine God. As such, our sense of morality is of not much use to God (Isaiah 64:6). Churches relying on their sensibilities of what is good, right, and moral (i.e. music styles, dancing, etc.) to dictate their interpretation of scripture is, in and of itself, faulty exegesis. The Church should not be in the business of dictating morality, but should be proclaiming truths both eternal and infallible. We, as individuals, having been presented with these truths, are a people at liberty to embrace or reject those truths, and our sense of morality is the expression of that decision.
Falwell’s philosophy was a philosophy of ignorance and a culture of coercion, bringing politics into the church and trying to force a pax-Christiana mindset on society. Jesus Himself was hardly political, and Jesus never forced Himself or His values on anybody. Falwell’s methods and goals were largely out of step with the personal example of Jesus Christ. Sadly, the overwhelming majority of fundamentalist Christians in this country likely do not realize that and likely do not have an accurate view of Christ’s ministry on earth, one done without fanfare, without media attention, and without discrimination. Jesus never made Peter get a haircut. Jesus never registered a single voter or demanded that Herod change the laws. Jesus, look it up, never claimed to be moral or talked much about morality. He talked only about the kingdom of heaven, about why it has worth, about why we should follow Him.
Jerry Falwell had it wrong. Way wrong. He, and many men like him, have so distorted the purpose and truth of the Gospel that it is quite possible they have turned off at least as many people as they have energized. They have complicated a simple and beautiful message by layering it with cultural and political components, compelling the believer to accept the Stepford Wives brainwashing in order to find acceptance by God. And this is his legacy: leaving us to fight on, trying to slay the “moral” right Christian dragon and overcome people’s erroneous perceptions about what a spiritual life in Christ could or should be, because their base reference is this chubby guy whose agenda was more about making everybody Republican and turning the clock back to 1952.
None of which should suggest the pastor did not serve his God or his country well. I’m sure he did. I just wish he’d tidied up on his way out.
17 Comments
Aye, and there's the rub. Did Falwell, on the whole, do more good or more evil? Answering that depends a lot on where you stand. If you're a member of one of the groups Falwell tended to attack or at best marginalize, he was a monster who just happened to do a little good on the side. My LiveJournal friends list is overwhelmingly full of rejoicing at the death of an evil man who cloaked his vileness in holy words, with only a few "we shouldn't demonize someone" or "you're all going too far with this" counterpoints.
The strongest defenses of the man I've seen are on a par with yours...that he did both good and evil, but that he probably meant well, even if he was misguided.
scrawled by David Van Domelen | May 16, 2007 10:47 AM
It's official....PRIEST IS BACK!!
I was ALMOST feeling a little bad by not caring too much on his passing. Not that I wanted him dead...I just didn't care for him or his views. Now, any remote feelings of pity have been officially removed. Your words have summed up perfectly my inner feelings on Falwell, and his death.
Did I mention that I'm glad "The Writer" is back??
scrawled by Ty | May 16, 2007 12:08 PM
I swear you're the only preacher I'd bother to go to Church for.
scrawled by Blaine | May 16, 2007 6:53 PM
Great take, I myself have had trouble witnessing to folks because of the perceptions of our faith you just described.
scrawled by Chris Rucker | May 17, 2007 5:42 PM
I have to be honest and say that I am no fan of Falwell's, and in many regards I am incapable of seeing past the worst aspects of his character.
Regardless, it has irked me considerably to see some people out there rejoice in his death, as if he wasn't a human being who loved and was loved when he was alive. I see absolutely no point in proverbally dancing on somebody's grave, and I think it's incredibly disappointing to see otherwise good people react with such glee because somebody they hated has died. Again, I didn't like Falwell, not at all, but I just think it's wrong to celebrate death. Ever.
The really shocking thing to me is that many of these individuals who are celebrating his death, who believe they are morally superior to this man who was a bigot, when called on their inhumane and cruel actions, they tend to respond by saying "it's no worse than the way Falwell treated homosexuals." Isn't it a little disconcerting that, in this case, a man they think they are better than has become their moral compass?
But I digress.
scrawled by kurt | May 18, 2007 1:16 PM
And the spammers are back....
scrawled by David Van Domelen | May 19, 2007 11:34 AM
Not so much...
(Keeping an eye out!)
scrawled by priest | May 19, 2007 11:51 AM
I suspect the hardest part of being a minister/preacher/priest/man of God would be trying to recify your own beliefs with the beliefs of our government and still stay true to the word of God.
scrawled by Jp Pollard | May 19, 2007 4:16 PM
Charitable yet factual. Well done. I'm still not going to mourn for the man, although you make a good case for mourning the potential lost by way of the choices Falwell made over the decades.
scrawled by Dwight Williams | May 21, 2007 2:05 PM
I'll aways remember Jerry Fallwell as the man caught in a motel down the street from my high school with a prostitute who lived down the street from my physics teacher.
scrawled by Scavenger | May 21, 2007 3:12 PM
Hey Priest! Been checking in every few weeks... I saw you've been posting over on your ministry site, so I thought maybe you'd just given up on this blog. Glad to see you back! What are you working on in the world of writing these days?
As for Falwell... I admit, I've always been suspicious of any system of belief that claims to know with certainty what a higher power wants. I'm more comfortable with philosophies that say, "I don't know what's behind all this, but let's behave in a way that's conducive to finding out."
scrawled by Matt Adler | May 21, 2007 8:21 PM
JP—I’d imagine that’s be the hardest pat of being a *politician,* not a minister. As a minister, I have a license to be a crackpot about things,
Dwight—yup. Kurt: well put, and I agree. I’m not dancing on any graves, here. But I minister at a local Southern Baptist church (long story), so I’m inundated by the right wing. I am certainly morally superior to no one. I believe the best form of evangelism is a life lived in service to what you believe. Pointing fingers is counterproductive to that goal.
BTW, I’ve also come to understand why some people get religiously hostile around me. If you live your convictions, whatever they may be, people tend to see you coming. Even having not said one word about [Insert Your Deal Here], people who know what you believe tend to become defensive and sometimes hostile. There have been times when all I’ve said was, “Good morning!” and people have just gotten ticked off at me because they assume I’m going to hand them a tract or accuse them of being bad people.
Honestly, I don’t do that. When Jesus called people “Vipers,” and so forth, He was usually talking to the church folk of His day (the religious community). I do not believe there is a record of Christ tearing people down in order to win them to Him. I don’t think there’s a biblical model for the Falwells and Dobsons of our acquaintance.
Scav: I believe you’ve confused Falwell with Swaggart.
Matt: nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’ve been talking to folks at Marvel abut doing stuff, but I’m honestly not focused on comics anymore. Never say never, but it’s really not on my radar. As for knowing what the Higher Power wants? Anybody, Christian or otherwise, claiming to know is lying to you. Watch your wallet, bub.
Faith, at the end of the day, involves a choice to believe in something that ultimately cannot be absolutely known or absolutely proved. Pursuant to that choice, a relationship develops that is both fulfilling and assuring, that fills in those gaps. I used to hope, now I know. But it’s not something I can explain to you or fact-check for you. I completely respect your opinions and choices.
scrawled by priest | May 24, 2007 6:05 AM
But Minister Preist, we Know exactly what the Higher Power wants of us: To love him, and to love one another as he loves us. For believers, to then spread the good news of that love.
How we do that is the hard part. And that's where I have to defend the aims if not the goals of the morallity folks. Christ, in his wisdom, ascended without telling us how to do so. So we have to trust the Spirit, both its presence in us and its presence in the saints departed. So we look at the acts and letters of the apostles as we have them, as well as other examples, and try to live as a light in the world. And that's where morality comes in.
The problem inevitably arises when the message to the faithful to keep the faith in their own lives gets extended to those outside the faith. Which is probably an artifact of state religion, when it was just assumed that everyone was a member and rightly up for discussion.
Additionally, as hard as it is to believe, some people actually do respond to the "Sinner Repent!" style of evangelizing. So, sadly, it gets reinforced.
You're right, of course, that the work of Christ - loving one another, is primary. I don't think it's fair, though, to be too harsh on the churches that mix-up mission and process. It's a supremely human failling.
scrawled by Greg Zywicki | May 25, 2007 8:49 AM
[Christopher Plummer voice] Oh… how I have… missed you… [/Christopher Plummer Voice]
I think it’s totally appropriate to be harsh on churches that practice specious theology and employ aggressive tactics. I am pro-God and anti-brainwashing. I don’t think we are required to check our intellect at the door, and I do believe our leaders should know enough about the qualities and perfections of God to clearly see the disconnect between the simplicity and elegance of the Gospel and the fractious, politicized bullshit many of these folks foist upon us in the name of Jeee-zus.
Minor corx: the Holy Spirit is a person. He is not an “it,” but I get your point.
This is probably a semantic argument, but you are telling us what our Higher Power has *asked* us to do. I am referring to people claiming to be doing things, usually destructive things, because this is what “God” told them to do. Or spiritual leaders emptying your pockets because “God” wants us to do thus and so. Anybody claiming to have an exclusive insight on what a Higher Power currently (i.e. beyond the scriptural commands) wants is usually mistaken. God leading the president to attack Iraq, for example, or God destroying New Orleans because of their sin or God sending AIDS to wipe out homosexuals. This is inconsistent with the current dispensational function of the triune Persons prevalent in most interpretations of Christian theology. Under the Dispensation of Grace, God is Mr. Nice God. The Old Testament Mr. Vengeful God is being held in abeyance for the end times. I do not believe God, as I understand Him, would encourage us to go out and slaughter people in a mismanaged war. People who believe God has somehow inspired the president’s policies really scare me.
That’s why I loved the TV series, “Joan of Arcadia,” so much. It was the first time I thought TV treated this whole matter of godly inspiration with respect, with humor, and with intelligence.
scrawled by priest | May 25, 2007 9:22 AM
Just curious--did you know Falwell personally? If not, how can you claim to know his thought so well?
I'm not disagreeing with you, but I have learned that the man presented by the media ain't always the real man.
scrawled by Thales | May 30, 2007 1:31 PM
[Kenny the Intern Voice] I've missed you too Mr. Priest [Kenny the Intern voice]
(From 30 Rock. Kenny is Impervious, or oblivious, to sarcasm)
Oh absolutely, total accord on the whole "God wants this specific thing" mentallity. I despise that as much as you. The "He hates queers" mentality and suchlike is an abomination.
My only point was that there _is_ merit in speaking about (but not preaching) morallity in the Christian setting. We are all called to go forth and sin no more. It does enrich and make abundant our joy when we remember that. When we refuse to shackle ourselve to sin. So the problem, as I see it, isn't that certain churches speak on Morality. It's, as you rightly point out, that they make that the primary mission. Such is man's Folly.
And there's so much Righteous Indignation within the Church being directed at the Church. I don't see much gentle rebuking. We spend so much time on self criticism we don't see that the people on the outside only notice bickering.
scrawled by Greg Zywicki | May 31, 2007 7:17 AM
Thales: I’m not certain that’s what I’m doing, here. I’m reacting to Falwell’s public statements and positions. It’s possible his inner thoughts are somehow different, I’m just not certain how that could be possible.
Greg: it may shock you to read this, but I agree with you. There certainly *is* merit to speak out abut those things. I just don’t like it when, as you say, people start targeting others in a bigoted manner or forcing their views onj others. I don’t believe Jesus ever did that.
As for the bickering within the church at the church: is that really going on? Honestly, I have not perceived that in either white conservatives or black Baptist-type churches. IN our thing, criticizing the church is all but unheard of. Well, publicly at least. And I’m not certain I’ve *ever* heard a white Christian conservative criticize the Christian right. Ever.
Honestly, if someone else were doing it, I’d probably stop. I feel like I tend to speak out abut these things because I’m surrounded by don’t-rock-the-boat cowards out here who see hypocrisy and wrong things and do nothing about it.
scrawled by priest | June 1, 2007 10:31 AM