The President of Liberty University Jerry Falwell Jr. sounded like a complete idiot, when he spoke at last week’s convocation. Without permission or discussion of its consequences and or repercussions, the president of the school that is Liberty University, (which is a private, non-profit Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States.) with a residential makeup of 48% male student body said, that it would be justified and a good ideal for them to carry arms, to compete and win the battle against the Muslims.
One of the motto's of liberty University is “knowledge Aflame” because of its ability to make learning strong using its biblical foundations and in its academics One student says..“Liberty’s goal of ‘Training Champions for Christ’ only enhances the education that we are receiving here. In fact, Liberty is perfectly described as ‘not just a great Christian university but a great university that happens to be Christian.' It seems that instead of sticking to the course, the president of the school decided to put himself in front of all that the school stands for.
The schools
foundation is predicated on Christian values, yet his comments were tattered
with hate. He encouraged students to enroll in the university’s gratis
certification course and said he was carrying a weapon “in my back pocket right
now.” But yet he had NO knowledge of weather it was even legal to show that
weapon. He concluded by saying, “Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up
here.” This to me is the beginning of incitement to riot. As he looked into the
audience, he takes the time to prove he was on his own, and this was not Christ
centered, by saying “I’ve always felt that if more good people had
concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in
and killed them”. This type of conversation and call to action is the opposite of
what is to happen and a sad commentary for many parents who thought they were
sending their children to a Christian College. For Christians, the Bible speaks
to this. The Apostles James and John warn against religious rhetoric that is
unaccompanied by action. Jesus himself reprimanded pious leaders of his day for
being people who “preach, but do not practice.” Those who hesitate to critique
prayer divorced from action should consider that Jesus did it more than once.
The New Testament recounts many comments Jesus made about
violence, and almost all of them seem like an outright contradiction of
Falwell’s remarks. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus blesses peacemakers
and commends the merciful. Jesus advised people to love, not kill, their enemies
and urged them not to take an eye for an eye, but rather to turn the other
cheek. When he hung on a Roman cross, he did not ask his followers to arm
themselves. Instead, he prayed: “Father, forgive them.”
One of the most telling stories of Jesus’s view of violence
takes place during his arrest prior to crucifixion. The Apostle Peter, acting
in self-defense, pulls out a sword and cuts off a Roman soldier’s ear. Jesus
heals the man’s ear and scolds Peter: “Put your sword back in its place, for
all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”
I think it’s time for Liberty University to find a new
leader, someone who is more in-touch with the Liberty mission rather than his
own. Some even believe that Jerry Falwell Sr. (who has passed away) would have
been a marvelous leader during times such as these. He would have gathered the
school together to bring forth the power of effectual prayers to heal the hurt
and pray for a peaceful future with all men.
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