[Sly Fox]

Falwell addresses BR church dedication

By BY MARK F. BONNER
Advocate staff writer
Published: Aug 21, 2006



Not long after the Rev. Jerry Falwell’s plane touched down in Baton Rouge on Sunday, he was informed that a small contingent of people was unhappy the televangelist was in town to dedicate a recently built church.

“If you don’t get demonstrators, we usually hire some,” the 73-year-old Falwell quipped to about 1,000 members of the newly renovated $4 million Greenwell Springs Baptist Church during its dedication ceremony. “If it isn’t controversial, it isn’t worth talking about. I could care less what people think about the things I say. I speak the truth, as does your pastor.”

From the global war on terrorism, which he supports, including having American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, to gay marriage, Falwell said in an interview Sunday, no topic is too mundane and he offers no apology.

“I’ve been at it so long controversy is just a part of my life,” Falwell said as he prepared for the service. “I am pro-life and pro-family.
There are those people who do not agree with my stance against same-sex marriage. That’s unfortunate, but I cannot compromise what I believe, and when I go out there in a few minutes, I guarantee you there are not more than 10 people in that room who do not know what I am all about.”

Falwell, who founded the Moral Majority organization, Liberty University and the 24,000-member Thomas Road Baptist Church, said he was invited to the Greenwell Springs Baptist Church ceremony by the church’s pastor, the Rev. Dennis Terry.

“He assured me this was a part of Louisiana that had not washed away, Falwell joked. “My church, in Lynchburg, Va., is in a small town — maybe half the size of Baton Rouge. So I couldn’t miss coming to a big town.”

Terry admitted there was some concern locally when he announced Falwell would be attending and he has a message for them: You have the right to be wrong.

“A couple of folks didn’t want it,” Terry said. “But we are not here to please man, we are here to please the Lord.”

Although there were no demonstrators at the dedication, there were patches of empty seats. But when Falwell took control of the lectern, he filled the void with 45 minutes of spiritual guidance and humor along with mild political jabs.

Aside from recounting a digest of his life story, Falwell’s most driving message was urging people to stay the course with God into the fourth quarter of life.

“The Christian life is not a sprint; it is a marathon,” Falwell said. “Don’t get off the track. So many people get off the track right at the end.”

At the end of his speech, Falwell spoke about his Liberty University, which also is in Lynchburg and has grown to accommodate more than 21,000 students in undergraduate, law and doctoral studies.

Falwell asked the Greenwell Springs congregation to grant him one favor before he left to return home: consider Liberty University.

“If you give them to me for four or five years,” Falwell began the self-deprecating joke, “I promise you I will send them back as Christian-loving conservative radicals.”

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/362987 ... ndex=1&c=y

[A.G.]

He should stick around for the MNF Game, today.

[01LUGrad]

I love this guy! I am so tired of political-correctness. It has been a few years since I have lived in the 'burg and I really miss Dr. J's "this is what is right, I don't care if that makes you feel uncomfortable" approach.

Yes world, there is such a thing as right and wrong. I hope LU never ceases to make that point clear.

[PeterParker]

“If you give them to me for four or five years,” Falwell began the self-deprecating joke, “I promise you I will send them back as Christian-loving conservative radicals.”

I'll be glad when blanket statements like this aren't made...JF doesn't speak for everyone who is, or will be, an LU graduate (perhaps SuperJohn & others on here might concur with me on this)...many people come to study in the Christian tradition, but are not of the "radical" persuasion. With all due respect, I would appreciate if JF would be cautious to remember that he doesn't create drones who simply adopt and repeat his political rhetoric and comprehensive views across the spectrum of issues, rather LU provides academic study in the christian tradition in which students pursue academic inquiry and form their own opinions and judgements.

If LU's slogan was "Creating JF clones in the conservative radical mold" instead of "Challenge Your Mind, Build Your Faith," I probably would have opted to go elsewhere. The former is how many of the general population view all LU students, although it is not an accurate reflection of the variety of students that graduate. Don't misunderstand me, I respect JF and much of what he has accomplished; however, one caveat, JF does not speak wholly for me and I would imagine that I am not the only alum who feels this way. [3..2..1...enter Tally...]

Both Rick Warren and Gregory Boyd were on Charlie Rose last Thursday speaking about the very issue of Christians and combative posturing with the culture.) See:

http://www.newstex.com/products/story.p ... ion_id=629

[El Scorcho]

With all due respect...

You sound like Ricky Bobby.

Anyway, whether or not he speaks for you or all alumni, he founded and is the Chancellor of this school. He can make blanket statements if he wants. It's not like he's changed his attitude or approach in the last 50 years. You can't really be mad at him for being who he's always been. The other important part of that quote was that it was a "self-deprecating joke." Yes, he'd like to see some kids change the world in the way that he thinks, but you can't believe that he thinks that every Christian should approach the rest of the world in the way that he does. His personality and approach fill a niche, and making big bold blanket statements is a part of that.