He claimed that the American tragedy of 9/11 was because of the acceptance of homosexuality and abortion. He claimed, with all of his authority, that God doesn’t hear the prayers of Jews and that the anti-christ is alive today and “of course he’ll be Jewish”. He called churches with gay constituencies “vile and satanic”. He illegally transferred funds that were supposed to be used for church purposes into political funds to help defeat people he didn’t agree with. He bankrolled and helped direct a deceptive infomercial where he used a fake reporter who claimed that then-President Clinton was a drug addict who had his political enemies killed. He anonymously wrote a book in which he said, “I hope to live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won’t have any public schools” and when he was confronted with the book he denied having written it. The publisher later confirmed that he was the author.

I’m talking about Reverend Jerry Falwell.

Falwell died yesterday. Normally I’m inclined to simply look the other way when a person I disagree with passes. Normally it’s simply time to say, “well, they’re gone” and to say a prayer for the family members of the deceased.

But Jerry Falwell was a vile and disgusting man who said many horrible, horrible things that were not only hurtful to many, many people, but also attempted to strip them of their personal relationship with God.

In our lives we rely on the clergy for wisdom and understanding of many of the things in our lives which are confusing and cause inner conflict. Oftentimes, the clergy can help us find the answers that give us comfort and direction.

When those people, whom we put our trust and faith in, use their position as clergy to spread a message of hate and intolerance, it is time to turn our backs on them. It is time to reject that which a benevolent God would reject.

As people of faith we are raised to hate the sin but love the sinner. But what are we to think when a man with a massive pulpit preaches hate? It is a conflict that cannot be resolved by thinking people.

###
Hat tip: Brew City Brawler