The Rev. Jerry Falwell, founding pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, chancellor of Liberty University, and founder of the now-defunct Moral Majority, has passed away at the age of 73. Falwell was found unconscious and unresponsive this morning (Tuesday, May 15) in his office and rushed to the hospital. News reports are still coming in as to the details.
Many of my readers (probably most of the active discussion board participants) here probably hold Jerry Falwell in low regard. I can only hope that most will take some time to reflect on Falwell's overall legacy, and will look for the positive in doing so.
In Falwell's case, however, this may be difficult for many. Jerry Falwell was no stranger to controversy. In fact, it sometimes seemed that he relished it. He was unapologetic and emphatic in his Christian and conservative convictions.
But Jerry Falwell was more than a controversial "Religious Right" spokesman. He was known by friends, family, and associates as a kind and generous man. Much of his generosity - if not most of it - went unnoticed. He was not the type to grandstand with his compassion.
When Falwell did publicly show his compassion and generosity, it was through the efforts of ministries like Liberty Godparent, which worked with mothers in need -- promoting adoption and providing assistance in crisis pregnancies.
Recently, Falwell sent counselors and made Liberty University resources freely available to Virginia Tech in the wake of its horrific tragedy.
Falwell's ministries have also been involved in helping the homeless, providing food for the hungry, and lifting people out of poverty.
As a distance-learning student at Liberty Theological Seminary (and a visitor at the campus of Liberty University many times in the past), I can tell you that the atmosphere Falwell cast over the campus was not one of harshness. Most of the students knew him as "Jerry" and considered him as much a friend as university chancellor.
Say what you will about Jerry Falwell, the people who knew him the best will miss him the most.
