“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person and I say: heavily arm yourself.  (Matthew 38-39 Falwell 12/2015 )

After a mass shooting in San Bernardino CA, Jerry Falwell Jr. stood in front of the Liberty University convocation service and not only announced he was carrying a concealed weapon but went on to say, that if more people had a concealed carry permit, “If more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in and killed them.” Falwell continued by encouraging students to get a concealed carry permit and informed them that Liberty offered a free course needed for that permit.

Falwell, head of Liberty University who is training up the next generation of “Culture Warriors” for Christ shows how far Fundagelicals have drifted from the actual message of Jesus and moved towards the gospel of the NRA.

Consider how Jesus responded to His arrest, violence, and His upcoming Death, at the Garden of Gethsemane.

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested him.With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. (Matthew 26:47-52)

Jesus understood that violence only leads to more violence, and revenge only leads to vendetta. Falwell in a display of toxic masculinity offers to whip out his pistol. Worse yet, the students cheer.

The Moral Majority and Religious Right co-founded by his father Jerry Falwell Sr. was founded on racism and segregation. Jerry Falwell Jr. is the child of his father. “Let’s kill Muslims,” he teaches his students. “Let’s buy guns and be ready at all times to kill Muslims,” he encourages. He certainly isn’t imitating Christ who lay down his life for others. He certainly isn’t responding to the words of the Middle Easter Nazarene who said: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

Falwell was quick to respond to the San Bernardino shooting which involved two Muslims from Pakistan but has remained silent about the Gilroy, El Paso, and Dayton shooting. After the Gilroy shooting, Falwell retweeted an attack on Joe Biden.

After the El Paso shooting and Dayton shooting, Falwell waited two days and tweeted about how open-minded and service-oriented Liberty University Students were.

Is Falwell silent because these crimes were committed by white nationalist? Why isn’t he promoting concealed carry to kill white nationalist before they can kill others? Fundagelicals are complicit in creating a culture, using Jesus’ name, which is both racist and violent. Christians, we must loudly and clearly denounce both racism and violence. We must denounce anything that doesn’t align with “love one another.” We must denounce it as Jesus denounced it or we will see the Church continue to hemorrhage former followers of Christ who are totally disillusioned.

 Thanks for reading! Please take a moment and share this post.  Don’t forget to like the post and subscribe if you haven’t already. You can watch my vlog at Rev’s Reels on YouTube. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Join me and a bunch of other former Fundagelicals at Open Door Ministries in Westminster at the Westminster Mall.