For six years I criss-crossed this country with The Life Action Singers performing “America, You’re Too Young to Die.” (that’s me – marching on the far right – how appropriate.) It was a splashy musical/multi-media extravaganza with a hard-hitting God-n-country message (hence the title.) It was the beginning of the Reagan era and the Christian right had just risen from its slumber – and much of the credit belonged to Dr. Jerry Falwell.
Prior to that time, we were convinced that politics was dirty and no place for Christians. Falwell taught us that politics was dirty because Christians weren’t involved. The salt needed to come out of the shaker, and Falwell was in the mood to shake things up. I had the pleasure of meeting the man on 2 occasions. I found him to be kind and soft-spoken - known for his practical jokes. Several of my closest friends worked on his staff. They had nothing but good to say about him. So why is that when you mention his name – even in Christian circles – you either duck or pucker?
I have more theories than I have time. He was controversial on many levels. Controversy is not a bad thing. There was a camera in his face for most of his life. If my every word was recorded for the next 20 years, you could probably build a case against me as well. And while we should always tell the TRUTH - we shouldn’t always TELL the truth. Pearls and swine come to mind. Did he ever go too far? Sure. He admitted it. Did the good outweigh the bad? I think so.
I really believe that in 2007 the church has an inferiority complex. We want to be loved by everyone. We don’t want to appear out-of-step with a “progressive,” modern society. Those whose highest virtue is that of tolerance, and those who find most of their heroes in the 90210 zip code must find it difficult to reconcile the words of our Savior. “you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9).
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