A New Moral Majority: The Gospel and Guns
TimeWatch Ministries Editorial
December 7, 2015
The year was 1956. His name was Jerry Lamon Falwell. He was a relatively young man, who felt the call of God, and started a church with a small membership in Lynchburg, Virginia. The name of that church was, “The Thomas Road Baptist Church.” That same year, Jerry Falwell Senior started the “Old Time Gospel Hour , a nationally syndicated radio and television ministry. You will recall that these years, the 1950s and 1960s, were filled with controversy. These were the years of the Civil Rights Movement. Prominent in this period of anti-Civil Rights was the well remembered inaugural Address of the Governor of Alabama, George Wallace whose word resounded throughout the world. Wallace declared:
“In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”
This speech of Governor Wallace provided him with the basis of his support in Alabama. This support was not, however restricted to Alabama, but most of the south and beyond. It provided a backdrop, a new element of determination for the rejection of anything that would resemble de-segregation. One of the voices raised in unison with Governor Wallace was the young preacher, the pastor of “The Thomas Road Baptist Church,” speaker of “The Old Time Gospel Hour.” Not only did Falwell Sr. speak out in favor of “segregation forever” but campaigned against the Civil Rights Activist, Martin Luther King. When the federal government de-segregated the Public School system, Falwell founded “The Lynchburg Christian Academy” in Lynchburg, Virginia, which was:
“Described by the Lynchburg News in 1966 as “a private school for white students.” It was one among many so-called “segregation academies” created in the South to avoid integrated public schools.” Max Blumenthal, “Agent of Intolerance” Published in “The Nation”, May 16, 2007
Jerry Falwell Sr. was found unconscious in his office, and expired on May 15, 2007, at the age of 73. One of the memorable legacies of Jerry Falwell Sr. was the organization named, “The Moral Majority.” The Moral Majority was a prominent American political organization associated with the Christian right and Republican Party. It was founded in 1979 by Baptist minister Jerry Falwell and associates, and dissolved in the late 1980s .The history of the Moral Majority is well documented, also the opinions of Jerry Falwell Sr. It is nevertheless not as well known that his son, Jerry Falwell Jr. might well compete with his father for strong singular opinions. The Washington Post, December 5, 2015 carries the following headline:Jerry Falwell Jr: If more good people had concealed guns, ‘we could end those Muslims. That was a quote from a convocation service being held at Liberty University, the new name for“The Lynchburg Christian Academy” in Lynchburg, Virginia. Here is an excerpt from the news report.
“It just blows my mind that the president of the United States [says] that the answer to circumstances like that is more gun control,” he said to applause.
“If some of those people in that community center had what I have in my back pocket right now …,” he said while being interrupted by louder cheers and clapping. “Is it illegal to pull it out? I don’t know,” he said, chuckling.
“I’ve always thought that if more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in,” he says, the rest of his sentence drowned out by loud applause while he said, “and killed them.” “I just wanted to take this opportunity to encourage all of you to get your permit. We offer a free course,” he said. “Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.” Sarah Pulliam Bailey , The Washington Post, December 5, 2015
When challenged concerning these remarks, Jerry Falwell Jr. invoked the picture of Jesus driving the money changers out of the temple with a whip. He forgot that the use of the whip did not result in the end of life. He forgot that those money changers lived another day. Perhaps a more applicable example might be, Christ, standing in Pilate’s Judgment Hall, retaining all the Power of Divinity and yet, allowing the indignity of the farce of a trial by corrupt officials. He allowed them to place a crown of thorns upon His brow. He allowed himself to be subjected to horrible humiliation. Finally, the greatest example of all, Christ, while hanging on the cross, experiencing the excruciating pain of crucifixion, while bearing the burden of all our sins, and yet pleading with His father: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Perhaps if Jesus were just a little more prepared, he might have been able to “end those priests and elders, before they got Him on the cross.” It truly is amazing how Morality has changed.
Cameron A. Bowen
