[jcmanson]

Has anyone read this? Or even heard about it?

http://www.amazon.com/Other-Preacher-Ly ... 0312538588

[Kolzilla41]

By Robert Schmidt (Honolulu, HI & Logan, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

I picked up a copy of this book in Lynchburg, in a bookstore across the street from Liberty University (founded by Jerry Falwell). I don't think the author, John Killinger, will be invited there anytime soon to autograph copies of his book.

The Other Preacher In Lynchburg: My Life Across Town from Jerry Falwell, is Killinger's recollections of the 6 years he spent in Lynchburg as the minister of a Presbyterian church on the other side of town.

Killinger states that he became a better pastor because Jerry Falwell made him think, reflect, and write about issues raised by Falwell, Thomas Road Baptist Church, and the Moral Majority.

He also states that Falwell was a liar, a con man, duplicitous, and undereducated while envious of the educated, surrounding himself with people who were more concerned with running his evangelical "business" (like some other American television evangelists who later were disgraced) than embracing Christianity. Wow.

Killinger really emphasized his formal education, and many associations with institutions of higher learning, versus Falwell's lack thereof. There is a strong "I'm smarter than most ministers" thread in this book.

Killinger also seems to wonder why Falwell ganged up on him, although when you read the comments in Killinger's sermons, his claim of innocence is weak. However, if his comments did lead to death threats, tire slashing, and other minor and major pestering behaviors, there was a need by Falwell to demonstrate less condemnation of Killinger's sermons and more condemnation of these egregious behaviors.

I guess Killinger kept a journal of his conversations with his parishioners and Falwell, because he recreates specific conversations in this book. I was surprised that Killinger thought he could attribute conversations to people in his ministry. What happened to the privacy of a conversation between a minister and his congregation? The lesson here might be to chat with Dr. Killinger at your own risk.

Now I have to admit a level of irritation when I read, three times, that Lynchburg was home to "Randolph Macon College" [sic]. As it turns out, Randolph-Macon College is in Ashland, Virginia. Lynchburg is home to Randolph-Macon Woman's College (now Randolph College). People in Lynchburg know this difference, and you would think that a minister who had to drive by it on his way downtown would be aware of it.

That is the only fact-checking I could do. What else did Killinger get wrong? I was reading the St. Martin's Press version, but the book cover was the same as this edition. I suspect they are the same.

Overall, this book reads too much like a complaint that people in Lynchburg, and America, picked the wrong horse. Dr. Killinger shares the characteristics of scientists who seem to claim, "I'm very knowledgeable in [a subject matter, whether nuclear physics, climate change, or energy economics], therefore, you should listen to me and not my opponents." The question I would ask Dr. Killinger is this: when you are asking people to believe, on faith, your discussions of the mysteries of the Bible and God, how can you criticize those people who, on faith, are believing other preachers who have 'answers" to these same mysteries? In other words, apart from all the sheepskins, how are you different?

Think about it.

[jcmanson]

A couple of quotes:

Falwell was genuinely insecure around people whose education was more extensive than his. I didn't want to embarass him, so I let it drop.

He also gives the impression that Dr. Falwell had a secret crush on his wife, and even one time asked her to go England alone with him.

He (Dr. Falwell) wasn't afraid to pick a fight with anybody. I often thought of him as a street brawler.

He claims that the people at Thomas Road Baptist Church

were far from having spiritual depth and discernment.

Christians who do not know their own history cannot claim to be Christian

[jinxy]

guys just bitter, wants to make a buck. What a miserable life some people live to constantly fester over such things.

[Ed Dantes]

How long before Liberty Freelance posts an interview with this author?

[LUconn]

I think it's funny that nobody would ever sniff a book written by this toolbag unless it is written about such an inferior man.

[Sly Fox]

Earlier Thread on Killinger

[ALUmnus]

The guy's pretty arrogant to think that, if there was a "#2 preacher" in Lynchburg, that he'd be it. Dude, in a city with a triple-digit number of churches, nobody has ever heard of you.

[ATrain]

How long before Liberty Freelance posts an interview with this author?

I'm still waiting to be contacted for an interview
Freelance must be on vacation or decided that this forum wasn't a "free market of ideas,"

[LUconn]

he'll show up when he needs to get his site a traffic boost.

[Ed Dantes]

The guy's pretty arrogant to think that, if there was a "#2 preacher" in Lynchburg, that he'd be it. Dude, in a city with a triple-digit number of churches, nobody has ever heard of you.

Just outta curiosity, who would the #2 preacher in Lynchburg be?

[Kolzilla41]

The guy's pretty arrogant to think that, if there was a "#2 preacher" in Lynchburg, that he'd be it. Dude, in a city with a triple-digit number of churches, nobody has ever heard of you.

Just outta curiosity, who would the #2 preacher in Lynchburg be?

My vote is Ben Guiterrez, formerly of Living Word and now at TRBC.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

The guy's pretty arrogant to think that, if there was a "#2 preacher" in Lynchburg, that he'd be it. Dude, in a city with a triple-digit number of churches, nobody has ever heard of you.

Just outta curiosity, who would the #2 preacher in Lynchburg be?

My vote is Ben Guiterrez, formerly of Living Word and now at TRBC.

Had him for a class... Hes Great

[Ed Dantes]

The guy's pretty arrogant to think that, if there was a "#2 preacher" in Lynchburg, that he'd be it. Dude, in a city with a triple-digit number of churches, nobody has ever heard of you.

Just outta curiosity, who would the #2 preacher in Lynchburg be?

After a 'megachurch' search, the only one over 2000 in Lynchburg is Tree of Life.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

The guy's pretty arrogant to think that, if there was a "#2 preacher" in Lynchburg, that he'd be it. Dude, in a city with a triple-digit number of churches, nobody has ever heard of you.

Just outta curiosity, who would the #2 preacher in Lynchburg be?

After a 'megachurch' search, the only one over 2000 in Lynchburg is Tree of Life.

That place is Crazier than Britney Spears in a barber shop.

[Kolzilla41]

Just outta curiosity, who would the #2 preacher in Lynchburg be?

After a 'megachurch' search, the only one over 2000 in Lynchburg is Tree of Life.

That place is Crazier than Britney Spears in a barber shop.

Out of my 4 years in the Burg, that is probably one of 20 churches I have never met a member or attendee of.

[SuperJon]

I'm biased but Jon Dupin's at least in the top five. He's my favorite of anyone I've heard in Lynchburg.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

After a 'megachurch' search, the only one over 2000 in Lynchburg is Tree of Life.

That place is Crazier than Britney Spears in a barber shop.

Out of my 4 years in the Burg, that is probably one of 20 churches I have never met a member or attendee of.

"Luckyyyyyyy"

[Kolzilla41]

I'm biased but Jon Dupin's at least in the top five. He's my favorite of anyone I've heard in Lynchburg.

I also enjoyed Jon and Brentwood. IMO, it is a theologically sounded, contemporary chruch. Plus their band did an amazing rendition of "Marvelous Light" by Charlie Hall.

[ALUmnus]

The guy's pretty arrogant to think that, if there was a "#2 preacher" in Lynchburg, that he'd be it. Dude, in a city with a triple-digit number of churches, nobody has ever heard of you.

Just outta curiosity, who would the #2 preacher in Lynchburg be?

I wasn't trying to imply there was one, but if there was, this guy thought he was it. That's the only point I was trying to make.

Ben Gutierrez is awesome, but he's more of a teacher than a pastor. He doesn't have a forum to preach.

[ATrain]

Outside of TRBC, I would say the pastors of Heritage and Hyland Heights Baptist churches, since I meet more members from there than any other outside of TRBC.

[SuperJon]

Those two would be my other two as well. Those two churches are the ones that a lot of people point towards when they want to show something good other than TRBC.

[Ed Dantes]

The guy's pretty arrogant to think that, if there was a "#2 preacher" in Lynchburg, that he'd be it. Dude, in a city with a triple-digit number of churches, nobody has ever heard of you.

Just outta curiosity, who would the #2 preacher in Lynchburg be?

I wasn't trying to imply there was one, but if there was, this guy thought he was it. That's the only point I was trying to make.

Ben Gutierrez is awesome, but he's more of a teacher than a pastor. He doesn't have a forum to preach.

Ohhh, don't take it the wrong way. I wasn't confronting you. I was asking a random question -- directed at everybody -- about who the #2 pastor would be.

And yeah, I agree. This guy ain't it.

[LUconn]

Well, are we assuming that Jonathan is #1? Because who knows what the criteria is at that point. And whenever the events took place in this book, you can be sure Elmer was #2 in town. TRBC has/had a deep roster.

[Rooster Cogburn]

my vote is for my pastor Dr. Jerry Kroll at Hertiage Baptist.