Jerry Falwell, at 73...I don't know what to think about you.

So I checked my KC Star RSS Feed this morning, and I guess last night an article was released telling of the death of Rev. Jerry Falwell, at age 73, of heart complications.

I was immediately torn in my heart. Here is a man that has done some great great things in the past to further the Kingdom of God, yet in recent years it seems he's done a great deal to give much of the rest of society a reason to hate Christians and the God we follow.
And I think that blows.

I do grow tired of feeling like at every corner Christians are playing catchup with everyone else. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 tells us as Christians we shouldn't suck at what we do. We should be the best. That doesn't mean a better person, but that we should be able to be able to reach a pinnacle of greatness in our own journeys and workings. I question how often Christians do their (our) best at what we put our hands to.

Jerry Falwell made villains out of the gay community at every turn, and made not amends for his harsh words. And though I feel homosexuality is a sin and is painful to the eyes of God, that doesn't give way to verbal, emotional and spiritual abuse of anyone. I doubt Jesus, were He on the earth doing His goodness in person, would look at a homosexual man or woman and call them a "brood of vipers". That claim was, and is, left to those long bereft of a heart open to the whisper of God. I imagine He'd sit down with them at the bar and talk the night away, like old friends. I imagine He'd show them that, though the stereotype of His followers is sadly perpetuated by many, it is a veil that hides the truth and goodness that can come from responding to His whisper.

I suppose I feel such a strong wretch in my stomach on this issue because recently a co-worker of mine and fellow believer in God decided to warn me and admonish me on the dangers of having a friend who was gay. His overall argument, due to past hurts and lifestyle choices, was that if a gay man is my friend that there is no misunderstood message: He's interested in me, and that's why he's my friend.

I say that's bull. I say that he's not trying to get with me, and I have a mountain of evidence to prove as such.

But I digress.

Jerry Falwell has done so much to make what I know of the homosexual community despise Christians for being spiteful and critical. Take his tirade on the Teletubbies. Apparently one was gay. And though these cartoon characters weren't even promoting moral or ethical values, he seemed so sure that TinkyWinky's antics were pushing a gay agenda.

I hope we can move forward as a Faith. I hope that we can more so than ever prove that being a Christian doesn't mean carrying a soapbox waiting to force the Bible down someone's throat in an effort to get them to see how wrong they are. It's not about that at all, but I'm el fin for the moment.
I leave you with this lovely quote from Casey McCall:

"...Who takes Jerry Falwell seriously? Charo's got a bigger fan base...I know I'm alone on this. I know the vast majority of people consider Jerry Falwell a spiritual pillar of great and gentle wisdom. I know that most people consider him a scholarly and tolerant man who would never judge others harshly just because they were different. I know that most people find his calm leadership to be a gentle soothing beacon at a time of great social chaos. His guidance, for instance, on the great purple Teletubby matter was fraught with the kind of theological sophistication that only Jerry Falwell and a cafeteria full of sixth graders could devise. I know, I'm going way out on a limb, but I think Jerry Falwell's a fat-ass. Who did I just offend? I'm eager to talk to them."