When it Comes to the Virginia General Assembly and Guns Is Jerry Falwell Jr Rejecting Romans 13?

Jerry Falwell Jr discussed the efforts in Richmond, Virginia to enact gun control. The controversial evangelical who has spoken about Romans 13 and Trump in the past stated that Virginians should engage in disobedience if more gun control is passed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For this blogger its time for Liberty to lose its 501 (c)(3) and classify this strand of evangelicalism as a political party.

“A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired.”

Alexander Hamilton 

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Romans 13:1-8 NIV

Jerry Falwell Jr

On January 13, 2020 Jerry Falwell Jr was on Todd Starnes radio show and he discussed the new Virginia General Assembly. For those who do not live in the Commonwealth of Virginia the Virginia General Assembly was flipped in the statewide elections of November of 2019. You can read more about this in The Hill in “Democrats win control of Virginia Legislature” and the Washington Post in, “Democrats flip Virginia Senate and House, taking control of state government for the first time in a generation.”  The current Virginia legislature is looking at several gun control or new registration efforts. You can read about that in the following Washington Post article, “Four firearms bills advance in Virginia’s newly gun-free Capitol.”  Its important to remember that Virginia has experienced two mass shootings in recent Commonwealth’s history. You had the Virginia Tech massacre in which 32 individuals were killed by a man who had mental illness. You can read more about  the Virginia Tech shooting here. Then in May of 2019 you had a former Virginia Beach employee who killed 12 employees in a city government complex. You can read more about that here. 

 

 

On Todd Starnes Radio Show Jerry Falwell Jr Called for Virginians to Disobey and not Follow State Government

Todd Starnes is someone who has appeared on Fox News and Sean Hannity  in the past. This blog would describe him as a Christian nationalist. He mixes and marries faith and politics. He is a culture warrior who likes to rail on the usual issues of gays, trans-gender issues, denying the existence of separation of church and state, capturing the Supreme Court, etc. He’s quite paranoid and talks about how the government is trying to shut him down. His newest “book” is about Democrats waging “culture jihad.” All this information I am giving you for context. On his show on Monday January 13 he featured such personalities as Jeff Katz from talk radio in Richmond, Virginia. He also had Tom Fitten of Judaical Watch and Jerry Falwell Jr of Liberty University. 

Jerry Falwell comes on the radio show at 15:43 and speaks with Todd Starnes until 24:05. Starnes praises Falwell for being a “Great American.” Todd Starnes spoke about the situation in Iran and how protesters there who didn’t step on an American or Israeli flag had more respect for the flag then Democrats in the United States. Falwell briefly mentioned that he is an isolationist. Then the subject turns to gun rights. It was discussed how Liberty is involved in fighting for gun rights and the second amendment. Falwell spoke about efforts in the capitol of Richmond to restrict guns and called for civil disobedience. After all Democrats are coming for people’s guns. Falwell also continued by criticizing federal employees living in Virginia, especially Northern Virginia. There was brief talk about the new Falkirk Center which was created by Jerry Falwell Jr and Charles Kirk. Matt Boedy did an analysis of that center which you can read in, “Guest Post: Matt Boedy on FalKirk – The Christian Nationalism Think Tank at Liberty University.”  You can read more about Jerry Falwell Jr in, “Falwell Says He Will Call For Civil Disobedience if Virginia Democrats Implement Gun Grab” and “Jerry Falwell Jr: If Virginia Democrats Implement Gun Grab, People Should Engage In Civil Disobedience.”

 

When Jesus Died at Calvary for the Right to Bear Arms and Rejecting Romans 13

When it comes to this side of evangelicalism I have a confession to make. I thought I understood the Gospel. I was under the impression that man was sinful because of Adam and Eve. That sin entered the world and Jesus came to be the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. I was under the impression that Jesus suffered, was crucified and died at Calvary for the sin of the world. And that three days later he conquered death when he rose from the dead. 

I have to confess that I am wrong. The real Gospel is that Jesus suffered and died for a Supreme Court seat in Washington, D.C. But in listening to what Falwell Jr. said, I would suggest that the Gospel is bigger than that. I spent some time this evening reading scripture and I saw some new developments in the Bible that I came to realize is true. The Sermon on the Mount that Jesus gave in Matthew 5, 6 and 7 has much I did not know. Did you know that Jesus taught that blessed is the man who owns 5 AR-15s? Jesus also spoke about the importance of going to an indoor gun range weekly. That is how you pray to your father in heaven. Blessed are those who have joined the NRA as they will inherit the earth. I was wrong to think that the peacemakers are blessed. Blessed are those who commit crimes with guns. Jesus came to fulfill the law when it comes to expanding ownership with automatic rifles. But the right to own automatic rifles will be solidified when Jesus then carries his cross and dies at Calvary for the right to own automatic rifles. 

If you can’t read through the lines I write all this with great sarcasm. What does guns have to do with the Gospel? Honestly what do they have to do with the teachings of Jesus? What I find most ironic in this newest approach is Falwell calling for disobedience. Whatever happened to Romans 13 which deals with respecting authority and submitting to the government? The Trumpvangelicals have used Romans 13 frequently to defend President Trump and to call on people to submit to his leadership. Are we now to learn that Romans 13 only applies to the United States President but not a legislature of a state? In this case the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia? At this point I think we need to seriously call Falwell out. He is not a Christian, instead he is using his faith as a weapon and for his attempts to engage in a power grab. I want to be careful not to include the Calvinists in this because they are not political as the regular Evangelical Christians. Liberty University is a perfect example as to why tax exempt status needs to end for churches and ministries. Its being abused. In this stream of evangelicalism, its nothing but a political party. That is how this needs to be thought. Plus another concern I asked a while back deals with Liberty’s new gun range. When one considers evangelical culture like this could the next Ruby Ridge or Waco could happen at Lynchburg, Virginia? You can read more in, “Liberty University Opens a “State-of-the-Art” Gun Range. Given how some Evangelicals can be Intensely Paranoid Could a Waco or Ruby Ridge Situation Develop One Day in Lynchburg, Virginia?” This blog was planning on working on another post but I heard about this and wanted to do a brief post on this topic. Remember Evangelicals Jesus said blessed are the man who owns the AR-15.