The Falwellian View of an Orwellian World

One of America’s sharpest and most skillfulanswer to collective sinning are no more or less than
writers and raconteurs Ms. Ann Coulter said in anthose things Rev. Jerry Falwell said were the result of
article on The World Net Daily, May 16, 2007our own national penchant for sin.
“From the news coverage of Falwell's death, IShould we manage to relegate the warnings of
began to suspect his first name was "Whether YouDeuteronomy to the ancient past to neutralize them
Agree With Him or Not." Without reservation Ms.then we must still face similar warnings of future
Coulter added that she is one that did agree withjudgments. When asked about the conditions that
him.would prevail just before he was to return to earth
I along with millions of others also agree with him. IJesus spoke of a faithless generation that would
don’t agree with him because the millions joinedhave to endure the worst calamities ever imagined.
with me, or I with them. I believe what he saidHe spoke of wars, earthquakes, disease, pestilence
because I trust his source.and a flow of ever changing events that men would
The Bible is far more than a book of dandyfind so difficult to assimilate that many would suffer
moralisms that we can randomly sift through at ourheart failure trying to do so.
leisure. It is history, revelation, presentation (of theThe portents Christ described are so far in excess of
Savior) and an outline of things to come. For over 40anything Rev. Falwell ever said that it would seem
years now I have taught that prophecy is merelythat his apology was proof only of the
pre-written history. Its ancient prophecies pre or postReverend’s benevolence rather than an error in
exilic were never wrong. That is a promise thathis judgment.
prophecies having to do with the modern era will notMost of the criticism laid on Rev. Falwell was because
be wrong either.of who he blamed for the events of 9/11. With some
Yes, there is no apology required when we say thatliberals now willing to say it was the President or the
the Bible says there is an ongoing “judgment ofgovernment and with a few Hollywood celebrities
sin.” Apart from the final judgment of everyoffering to help the furtherance of that notion, Rev.
individual at the close of their lives the Bible promisesFalwell’s assessment doesn’t seem all that
that the harder we sin as a nation or as an entireextravagant by comparison. No apology was
world civilization the tougher the consequences. No,demanded nor offered by the few that have put
God does not follow behind each and every one offorth this latest contrivance adding credence to the
us so he can cause us to stub our toes each timecharacter and care for people’s feelings that
we say a harsh word. He is not that insignificant.Rev. Falwell was graced with.
Perhaps Rev. Falwell did not know for sure if 9/11 orThere is somewhat of a parallel in the Bible to the
other calamities were a direct result of our nationsdestruction of the Twin Towers on 9/11. It too was
backsliding. He could have only known that by directa tower and it fell on eighteen people in the town of
revelation from God, but even with that, would weSiloam. When Christ’s disciples asked him about it
have believed him? The answer here is “nothe gave them an answer that could very well apply
likely.”to the events of 9/11.
While his specific knowledge of why the events tookJesus carefully and skillfully steered their attention
place may come into question it does not change theaway from who caused the collapse of the Tower
promise that more sin produces more judgment evenof Siloam and drove it right back to the questioners.
if God likes to retain the specifics to him self.His answer may have seemed a bit harsh but it is
In the twenty eighth chapter of Deuteronomynevertheless timeless. Yes, that does mean that it
fourteen verses of scripture are utilized to pronounceapplies to this time as well. Take a look?
blessings on people who heed God’s directions.Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam
Contrarily, fifty four verses cite what will happen iffell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners
God is ignored. Those calamities or judgments includeabove all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay:
crop failure, sickness, failure in war, invasions, mentalbut, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
disorders etc. Many of the judgments promised in