www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Jerry Falwell dead at 73

Rev. Jerry Falwell passed away today.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18679412/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18679412/

I'm trying very hard not to say anything cruel. It's not easy.

May the Lord God welcome His servant, Pastor Falwell, into His kingdom and reward him richly for his lifetime of dedication and service to Christ.

Eternal Memory! Christ is Risen!

Thank you John. We don't have to agree with how he promoted his politics to honor his memory. Thank you.

CDL

My own family makes me sensitive to the issues of race and racism and I lived long enough to watch as Pastor Falwell changed his approach to issues of race in this country. That is not an easy thing for a man convicted as he was.

I do hope and pray that any shortcoming of his own at the end may be filled by those of us who wish to pray him home.

Mary

Amen !

Can't say I had much use for the man or the things he said or promoted but Our Lord's Mercy is more then a Mother's love and I commend him to that Mercy

If I had to choose between Mr. Falwell and these sorry sobs I know which one I'd choose.

I simply don't understand these kinds of people.

CDL

That link is full of profanity. I don't see the point in posting it. What difference does it make what his enemies thought of him?

Dear John,

I totally agree with you. The man not only dedicated himself to Jesus Christ, but tried in whichever possible, to keep this nation Christian.

That he might have been a little inflexible in his beliefs, only means that he too had some human frailties...as we all have. May his memory be eternal, and may we all thank him for what he gave and sacrificed.

God Bless,

Zenovia

By presenting his extreme, opinions cloaked in Christianity he probably turned more people away from God then anyone can count. And he was no friend to Catholic or Orthodox Christians. His congregation, Thomas Road Baptist, funded missions to Latin America, Russia and even the Republic of Ireland. I wonder how many RC & EO Christians his missionaries lured away from the true Eucharist to crackers and grape juice?
I don't think dying automatically makes you a good person.

I disagree.

Rev. Falwell stood up for Judeo-Christian morals; and he created the political movement to counter the forces of secular humanism that were overtaking the U.S.

As for his missionary activities, God bless him. The Evangelicals might not have the fullness of Tradition, but they do have Christ: and they are eager to share Him with others. That is a far cry from much of mainsteam Churches, which seem content to not evangelize.

I do not agree with everything Rev. Falwell said or stood for. And he said some zingers, which made me and others cringe.

Nevertheless, I think he was a leading light for Christianity in the U.S.; and I was saddened at his passing.

-- John

Yes, Reverend Falwell preached an errant form of Christianity and supported some things that were simply wrong. But, that is all the more reason why we should pray for him. Even if he was our worst enemy (which he is not), we would be obligated out of love to pray for him. Here is an interesting question for us all: Do we pray for Osama Bin Laden and hope for his conversion? As difficult as it sounds, the command of the Gospel is that we love Osama Bin Laden (now you can see why I would never make it in American politics).

So, Reverend Falwell was a flawed man with good intentions who did some good things and some bad things (sounds like humanity in general). Let us pray for the repose of his soul and mercy from the Lover of Mankind.

Joe

Amen, John. All one has to do is have a television with cable tv to note that this country is falling farther and farther away from God and Judeo-Christian values with each day that passes.

Mr. Falwell tried to counter that and fight that, and for that in itself he deserves respect.

May our Lord God forgive his sins, and remember him in His Kingdom!

Alice

Just a quick note. I was not comparing Jerry Falwell to Osama Bin Laden and I was not suggesting that he was our enemy. I was only saying that even if we did think he was our enemy, we are still obligated to pray for him and wish him good. I just thought I needed to clarify this to avoid any unnecessary confusion or anger. And what John said was beautiful, Amen.

Joe