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.