I know, I’ve been notoriously hard on the late Mr. Falwell.

I haven’t really had much to post on his death that hasn’t already been covered by others, so I figured I shouldn’t say anything.  He was a man who did many great things. My issue wasn’t against him personally, but more of the political mouthpiece he became and how that, I believe, hurts Christianity.

Then this morning I ran across this blurb in an article about him. I think it shows much more his heart than his political stances ever did.

He [Falwell] clashed frequently with porn mogul Larry Flynt and sued Flynt for slander when Flynt’s Hustler magazine satirically suggested that Flynt had sex with his mother. (Falwell lost the law suit when it came before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1988.) Hearing of Falwell’s death, Flynt sent a statement to the Access Hollywood magazine show saying, “I hated everything he stood for, but after meeting him in person, years after the trial, Jerry Falwell and I became good friends … and we would debate together on college campuses. I always appreciated his sincerity even though I knew what he was selling and he knew what I was selling.”

He loved and befriended his enemies. And under all of his politicizing was a heart more like Christ’s. Jesus was a friend of sinners and so was Jerry Falwell. So there’s definitely something we can learn from his life and hopefully apply to ours.

I read some shocking news on a prominent evangelical blog that was insinuating that to unite the Christian right many churches were coming together in unity to elect their own Pope! This action is in hopes to make one large evangelical “mother church” that can rule as one. So far the United Methodist, Southern Baptist, and Seventh Day Adventists have come together in agreement.  There’s even word of a pact with Jehovah’s Witnesses and Purpose Driven Churches.

So far they’re calling themselves Churches Reuniting Amongst People. And someone close to sources in the organization has commented about a new Christian Pope ”I think someone like Jerry Falwell in a big hat [and robe], driving around would inspire people.” Even Dobson chimed in on his daily broadcast, “I think this could be what we need to mobilize the right.”

Jerry Falwell the new Pope!?! Now, I’m all for unity, but this sounds crazy or some sort of sign of the end times.

Any thoughts?

Alright religious right… start your opinions!

It appears that if you’re Republican and a Christian you’re being represented by one of the three Stooges.

The Republicans’ first primary contest is next week, and it’s not in New Hampshire. It is in Orlando, at the annual meeting of the National Religious Broadcasters. GOP presidential candidates will be there to try to generate buzz that will translate into evangelical airtime — and support in the “base” in 2008.

Because there is no obvious and overpowering standard-bearer for the cause of the religious right, age-old fault lines and feuds are re-emerging among the titans who control the Sacred Satellite Dishes. Each of them thinks that he can anoint the One. 

The Three Kingmakers have familiar names and big, traditional audiences on radio, television and now, the Internet: the Rev. Jerry Falwell, Dr. Pat Robertson and Dr. James Dobson.   [MSNBC]

So how any opinions about having Falwell, Robertson or Dobson being a mouth piece for you to the political world?

For me, that idea is scary. Falwell (blowhard windbag), Robertson (wait, the Lord is giving me a word…. kook!) and Dobson (stick to the psychology buddy) don’t speak for me. When you mix politics and religion it’s a bad cocktail. Both sides are trying to take a piece of each other. Is it a godly pursuit? No. In the end to be a follower of Christ and mixed in with politics,  you end up very Machiavellian (”the end justifies the mean’). And the last time I checked we’re supposed to be in Christ’s image not one of a scheming Italian.

So I abdicate being religious or being right (either conservative or correct). So do I go left? No, any Hilary prospect scares me. Nader? Ha ha NO.

So where am I to go?

Any advice?

Over the weekend, in a talk Jerry Falwell insinuated that Hillary Clinton was the devil (Lucifer). Now, I’m not putting any validity into Faldie - he’s a joke into himself. But he does bring up an interesting question: is Hillary evil? Christian conservatives have long demonized her (and some times for good reason). She’s liberal and morally left… and she’s a Clinton!

But comparing her to the devil, in my opinion, actually underscores the capacity of Satan and falsely establishes our opinion of what evil actually is. As Christians we engage daily in spiritual warfare against an the enemy of the cross and our Lord. There is a formidable enemy. Hillary is not that enemy. As Christian we know that victory is already won, Christ has come, died on the cross and conquered death. So we know that evil doesn’t win. That’s something to put our hope in, but that doesn’t get us off the hook or pull us out of the battle that we find ourselves in.

To see Hillary (an anyone else on this earth) as the ultimate enemy is foolish and wrong. All it means to do is take our eyes off the calling, our Lord, and the one who opposes it. It forces us to focus on the wrong thing. That’s one thing that makes me sick with conservative Christians. The focus on the wrong thing. I’m not saying that abortion and the plethora of other causes that liberals push are good. What I am saying is that you can choose to fight the symptoms or the source. Fighting the symptoms leads to an endless race of putting out fires. It’s kind of like playing whack-a-mole. You squish one and then another pops up.

Now, to fight the source that’s another story. Once we focus on this, then our perspectives change. Then we find our true selves and calling and see that we are set into a battle that’s been raging on for centuries. Then we truly realize that this story isn’t all about us. Sure we’re apart of it, but it’s about our Lord. Once we have this perspective our outlook on life changes.

If we were to spend our time focused on our Lord and what he has for our lives and less on poloticizing our faith our country would be transformed. But, we would rather follow enlist a program or picket a clinic than spend time with Jesus. We would rather do things in on our own power, in our own strength, as opposed leaning on the strength and power of our Father and walking in faith. Do we even know what that is anymore?

Your thoughts?