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06/11/2007: "On Jerry Faldwell"
Jonathan Falwell on What's Next for Dad's Church - Newsweek Beliefs - MSNBC.com
I happened to find an interview with Jonathan Faldwell, son of the late Jerry Faldwell. I don’t know anything about him personally, but he certainly speaks the words of a man who has his life invested in the Bible. Here are some excerpts:
We’ve had some good times and some bad times and certainly there are days when things aren’t quite as good as we would hope, but we have faith that God will lead us through.
Through tragedy, he depends upon the strength of God to get them through.
Q: Do you intend to take over your father's role as the leader of the Thomas Road Baptist Church?
A: I’ve been the executive pastor since 1994, which is a role that would be second to a senior pastor. But in a church setting the congregation [chooses] the pastor, so it’s not automatic. I know my dad wanted me to do that role and I feel that God is leading me that way, but again that is up to the church. God has called me to serve in whatever capacity that the church decides.
He understands that the blessings come from God. Jonathan has put aside his ego in this matter.
Q: Your father was a very charismatic man. Is it intimidating to try to step into his shoes?
A: God used him in incredible ways and I don’t think that I can fill his shoes. God gave me certain skills, so I am going to stand up and do what God has equipped me to do, but filling his shoes is not something that I, or I believe anyone else, could do.
Again, he understands that God has given him certain gifts, and filling his father’s shoes is not one of his gifts.
[Jerry] spent his life serving God; and while he was a visionary and a man who led us all, the vision God gave to him didn’t die and that vision and that message of taking the gospel of Jesus Christ continues, and we in our church are going to continue to preach that message.
I’m pleased that Jonathan did not water down the message from his pulpit for this interview. I’m also pleased that the magazine did not dodge the issue of Jesus.
Indeed there are some who have made negative statements about dad since his death; of course, these have all been made by those who totally disagreed with dad on the issues. Dad was controversial, but as Franklin Graham stated at Dad's funeral, the truth is always controversial, especially when you disagree with it.
That is our daily struggle as we live the life Jesus set before us. If Christ was killed for what he said and did, will the world treat us with any less contempt?