I Was a Right-Wing Evangelical Pastor -- Until I Saw the Light

This has all to do with a growing political movement, but I can understand if this is the wrong forum.

I applaud this man who has had the courage to make a stand, against what he felt was an exclusive and racist message. The fact that the political arm of the religious right is firmly entrentched in DC, swaying policy and increasingly showing a lack of love for mankind is ironic in the least. Of course, all businesses attempt to sway via lobbys and $, and theirs is no exception. In any event, an uplifting read for those who believe people can change for the better. Of course, my opionion.

I was a Liberty University-trained evangelical pastor. I was sure that I was right and that every other person not of my faith was going to burn in hell forever. I was taught that we as Christians should take this nation back, only to find out later that we never had it to begin with.

If I told you that the Amish in Pennsylvania were running for public office in record numbers with the intention of outlawing electricity and forcing others to act, dress and think like them, you would not believe it. Well, that is exactly what is happening in America, only it is not the Amish, it is the fundamentalists. It is not outlawing electricity, it’s placing limits on being a human with free will. Enjoying art and music, loving the person of your choice, dancing, –; the things that fundamentalists call “sins” –; are a big part of what it means to be a human.

I was a Right Wing Pastor

I know a few politicians rolled through my campus in the day, but nothing like this roster:

Students who live on campus are required to attend convocation three times per week. At these convocations, they have the opportunity to hear from speakers in all walks of professional life, be entertained by performers and musicians, and participate in live praise and worship. Past convocation speakers have included Presidential candidate John McCain, President Ronald Reagan, President George H. W. Bush, Rev. Billy Graham, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Lt. Col. Oliver North, Steve Forbes, Leonard Davidson, former US Senator Jesse Helms, Sam Donaldson, John R. Rice, Elisabeth Elliot (wife of the late missionary Jim Elliot), Skip Erickson, Freddie Gage, Adrian Rogers, creationist Ken Ham, governor Tim Kaine, Sean Hannity, Bobby Bowden, Carrie Prejean, pro-wrestler Lex Luger, Gianna Jessen, and 2008 Presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul. Jerry Falwell regularly spoke at chapel, giving his "Never Give Up" speech in the first semester.

Liberty has $530 million in net assets, which is expected by Chancellor Falwell to rise to 1 billion Dollars by 2014. On December 7, 2010, Liberty sold $120 million in facilities bonds which will be used to finance recent and future expansion.[46]

In 2010, students at Liberty University received approximately $445 million in federal financial aid money, the highest total of any school in Virginia and one of the highest in the country.[47] The total, a 56 per cent increase over the prior year, was mostly in the form of student loans, but also included some grants and other forms of aid.[47] The University's financial aid office has 138 employees.[47]

And really, who DOESN"T want to be associated with renowned loony toons star Sun Myung Moon?

Affiliates of Sun Myung Moon, controversial leader of the Unification Church, have a history of supporting and courting conservative evangelicals. Now, according to published reports, financial support has been filtered to Liberty University from Moon-related enterprises. But Liberty founder Jerry Fallwell told Christianity Today that the source of the funds does not influence his ministry.

money from the moon

This is the tip of the iceberg. Here is a quick snapshot of their "religious beliefs" in action on their own campus:

On May 15, 2009, vice president of student affairs Mark Hine sent an e-mail to the president of LU's College Democrats, Brian O'nill Diaz, revoking the university's recognition of the club. "The Democratic Party platform is contrary to the mission of Liberty University and to Christian doctrine," Hine's e-mail stated, citing the party's positions on abortion, same-sex marriage, hate crimes, LGBT civil rights, and socialism as justification for the dissolution. While the club can still meet on campus, it cannot use the university's name or reserve university facilities.[66]

At a meeting with Administration officials, the group was asked to publicly apologize for statements they had made to the media about this controversy. The head of the LU College Democrats, Brian O'nill Diaz, was quoted as saying he was baffled by the administration's decision, "I want to be able to share the love of Christ, but I guess I can't do that on campus because I'm a Democrat as well."

liberty u

CPAC Controversy Shows True Colors

The annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) begins this Thursday in Washington, DC. With an expected 10,000 attendees and hundreds of groups participating, this is one of the largest conservative political events of the year. It is also one of the most controversial conservative events this year because of the American Conservative Union’s decision to allow GOProud (a gay conservative group) to be a CPAC Affiliate (ACU sponsors CPAC, and “Affiliate” groups give the ACU money for a table and other benefits). GOProud participated in last year’s CPAC, and several conservative group like Liberty University boycotted as a result.

Shocker.

Not in MY name!

ColoradoJens

reply to post by ColoradoJens


Hi, added a little more info to the original. Also curious how you get stars/flags when no one has read it yet?

CJ

reply to post by ColoradoJens


Hola? Comments? Nada? Porquepss pues? Estoy "blackballed?"

from the now deceased spiritual leader:

ZAHN: One final question for you about this administration: A number of evangelicals have also told me they are very angry about how government spending has increased during this administration -- the highest rate since an administration going back to the '60s. Are you troubled by that?

FALWELL: Well, I have to admit that I am not -- I am more of a fiscal conservative than some there -- but I want to say that I -- that is not where my heart is. My heart is in the sanctity of life and marriage and values and defense against terrorism. I support what the president's doing in Iraq, and if they're spending too much money, then I'll let someone else yell about that. But this president -- it's like this Mark Foley thing -- that's not going to discourage any evangelicals I know from voting. We lived through Bill Clinton, and this situation with Foley is minuscule in comparison. So, I really think it's making a mountain out of a molehill.

Mark Foley is the religious nut who was sending nude pics of himself to underage staffers...of course.

Ya'll know the Moral Majority right?

In 1979, Falwell founded the Moral Majority, which became one of the largest political lobby groups for evangelical Christians in the United States during the 1980s.[6] The Moral Majority was founded as being "pro-family", "pro-life", "pro-defense" and pro-Israel.The group is credited with delivering two thirds of the white, evangelical Christian vote to Ronald Reagan during the 1980 presidential election.[7][8] During his time as head of the Moral Majority, Falwell consistently pushed for Republican candidates and for conservative politics leading Billy Graham, and other conservative Christian leaders, to criticize him for sermons about political issues that lacked a moral element.[6]

I wonder if God has backtracked on his position on this

"If Chief Justice Warren and his associates had known God's word and had desired to do the Lord's will, I am quite confident that the 1954 decision would never had been made. The facilities should be separate. When God has drawn a line of distinction, we should not attempt to cross that line."

How about some treason added in?

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Falwell said on The 700 Club, "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'" Fellow evangelist Pat Robertson concurred with his sentiment.[41] Falwell further stated that the attacks were "probably deserved," a statement which was described as "treason" by columnist Christopher Hitchens.[42] After heavy criticism, Falwell apologized

nice one

If you have the stomach for it, here is Hitchens on Hannity talking about Falwell.



CJ

reply to post by ColoradoJens


So, this thread gets more stars than most of mine (I know, I know) and yet not a single response? Not one? Help me out here...there is a goldmine about a centimeter below the surface.

ColoradoJens/

Nothing special here.

Just another Christian bashing thread.

There......that should get you going.

So.....You are now born again, saved and ready for the rapture?

reply to post by Carseller4


Thanks for that. It is an attack on the evangellical push into politics and their agenda against people other than themselves. Did you read any of it? Thanks again for posting...

ColoradoJens

jesus did say DONT LOOK FOR ME IN A CHURCH, LOOK UNDER A ROCK!!
Main stream religon took over the church, running contrary to gods word.
WE hero worship the soldier, when god and jesus forbid them. killing is murder even when your country says to, But churches praise the soldier==false church
. Jesus said do as i do---JESUS stayed out of politics, but churches today [except jehovah's witness] love politics==false church
false churches are everywhere today

I think everyone should be able to believe and practice their religion as they see fit, as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others. But once you start to legislate how I, or anyone else should live their lives to fit your believes or religion, then I have a problem.

Live and let live. Please stay out of my life and telling me what choices I should make. Religion and politics are like oil and water. They do not go together.

I am glad that you have come to see the light. As a pastor, your mission in life is to feed and water the flock with the word of God and not run after politics. It is sad that the "Evangelical" movement has lost sight of what Jesus told them to do, MK 16:15. Movements become monuments then mausoleums.

What can be said for the Evangelical movement is that they missed the point of Proverbs 11:13 and it is doubtful that they ever will. Sadly denominational organized Christianity is nothing more than church-inanity without Christ. It has become a for-profit business with political agendas. Apostasy and hearsay are down right rampant throughout Christiandom.

A really great read OP, and an interesting article.
With all the recent focus on extremist Islamists and Westboro, it seemed that the broader Christian community had become more tolerant, and therefore others also more tolerant of them.

The fundamentalists do seem to have lost some popular spokesmen to death or retirement recently.
But it's good to be reminded that their leaders also blamed gays for natural disasters, and aren't far removed from Fred Phelps.
I'd love to know more about their inner circle, and their secret society called The Family (which was involved in Uganda's proposed anti-gay law. This and some fornicating preachers brought the large cult into further disrepute. That's possibly one reason that they're not that vocal at the present, and they're probably waiting for the scandals to blow over.) I'd also love to know how many of them are high-degree Masons, considering that Billy Graham is allegedly a 33 degree Mason. Nothing against Masons, it's just that they preach against it. But then they do all kinds of naughty things they preach against. I also wonder what they do with all the cash they fleece form people.

I suppose after President Obama they'll be back in force, and the next conservative president will re-establish their influences, just like under George W. Bush, when Aids funding was guided by "Biblical principles" that disastrously pushed for abstinence campaigns instead of proven public health measures.

How can this be a Christain bashing thread?

It does bash the fundamntalist.
And I have a hard time believing fundamentalist are really christain.
Are their actions Godly?

I put radical Muslims and fundamentalist in the same group and consider them equally dangerous.

Both these groups do not believe in freedom of religion.
It is their way or it is wrong.

Good thread Jens.

reply to post by Jetman44


Me? No. Reread.

CJ

Originally posted by GAOTU789
I think everyone should be able to believe and practice their religion as they see fit, as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others. But once you start to legislate how I, or anyone else should live their lives to fit your believes or religion, then I have a problem.

Live and let live. Please stay out of my life and telling me what choices I should make. Religion and politics are like oil and water. They do not go together.

Thank you. Seems simple enough. Logic goes out the window when faith is involved, for the zealot types. Live and let live. We are all one in the same - trying to find happiness in our ever turbulent lives...this speach makes one think: one, for me, I am proud to be living in a country where voices can be heard, however minutely.

Iraq Vet in Congress

Thanks for the thoughts.

Edit to add: Here is where we are now with all of this:

Palin, dubbed by Newsweek last summer as an “earthy Jerry Falwell,” employed Liberty University’s director of debate as a coach during the 2008 presidential campaign. So Palin should be comfortable on campus — she just has to dress carefully. At Liberty University, even extraordinary women aren’t allowed to wear dresses that end above the knee.

Oy Vey!

ColoradoJens

reply to post by pstrron


Amen to that brother. The church functions as a business and when the radical element gets big and influental, it kinda ruins the message of brotherly love.

Falwell fully supported the Invasion of Iraq. Here is some food for thought:

WIthout a Person to Pull the Trigger, the gun is USELESS

CJ

Originally posted by itsawild1
jesus did say DONT LOOK FOR ME IN A CHURCH, LOOK UNDER A ROCK!!
Main stream religon took over the church, running contrary to gods word.
WE hero worship the soldier, when god and jesus forbid them. killing is murder even when your country says to, But churches praise the soldier==false church
. Jesus said do as i do---JESUS stayed out of politics, but churches today [except jehovah's witness] love politics==false church
false churches are everywhere today

Thanks for that. Ever heard of a preacher named "Creflo A Dollar?" I mean, come on now. What is wrong with so many people? Tell me this isn't a business.

creflodollarministries

CJ

reply to post by halfoldman


Halfoldman, thanks for bringing up The Family. In its most bare essence, the decisions of Falwell ministries and Jerry personally regarding the anti gay measures of Uganda have led to murder, pure and simple. If they wouldn't sabotage a backwater joint with $ and "love" many of those folks would be alive today. Tsk Tsk.
I understand this is on a basic level, but it always bears witnessing.

TEARS FOR THE DEAD

and a good source (suprisingly) all Falwell:

falwells closet

ColoradoJens

Originally posted by dizziedame
How can this be a Christain bashing thread?

It does bash the fundamntalist.
And I have a hard time believing fundamentalist are really christain.
Are their actions Godly?

I put radical Muslims and fundamentalist in the same group and consider them equally dangerous.

Both these groups do not believe in freedom of religion.
It is their way or it is wrong.

Good thread Jens.

Hey dizziedame, thanks for that! I am anti all religious fundamentalism, be it muslim or christian or whatever! There is a history of a small amount of nut jobs hijacking the asylum ie Tehran, Somalia, etc. It can and does happen and we need to guard against it. Hope all is well! Also, I started a thread a while back regarding this humans story...these are the people who are truly the fodder in this sad game...

www.liveleak.com..." target="_blank" class="postlink">www.liveleak.com...

CJ

reply to post by ColoradoJens


Very true, I could get on a serious rant regarding the hundreds of millions taken in via the TV evangelicals and then lavished upon themselves or used to promote their agendas.Begging for money so that you can have a Rolls Royce, a million dollar home and a jet while letting your fellow man starve just doesn't set well with me. Then top it off with lobbying Washington for favors, its time to clean house.

Preaching morality is one thing, legislating it is another. The more you try and legislate something away will only promote its spread. Sadly given the opportunity they will try and regulate peoples morality instead of teaching it to the children with disastrous results. There is much to be said for virtue and integrity, both of which are lacking in copious amounts in today's society.

The evangelicals need to understand that when you go whore-mongering in Washington for favors, you will receive a whore-mongers reward. Politicians prostitute themselves for money yet the favors they give always come with hidden prices.

reply to post by pstrron


I volunteered for a Jesuit Mission in Ecuador in the 90's. I know more about the Jesuits now, but my experience remains the same - they didn't care what demoniation you were as long as you worked...for the poorest of the poor. Irony abounds but the simple idea that the big guy and his son love everyone no matter what was always something I thought was clear to everyone (ahh college years). Amazing how hard it is for the majority to come out of their very thin shells of reality....here is the link to Centro Del Muchacho Trabajador where I worked...amazing place...kicked Peace Corps butt...

www.centromuchachotrabajador.org...