I don't hate Hitler. I didn't know Hitler. Hating someone implies that you care about them.
I'm confused. Does George Bush hate Black people or not???
I never really listened to Falwell, except maybe some sound bites or quotes of quotes. I did happen to catch a bit of him on TV right after 9/11 and did not think he spoke with biblical authority, then or in the other few times I heard him. Especially in comparison to others I've seen/heard, (but I'm hardly qualified to bring a charge against anyone who may be God's elect).
In general, I tend to immediately switch off people who meld too much politics in their preaching. There's a verse in the New Testament that says, "Do not put your faith in the wisdom of men but the power of Jesus." I believe God's word transends politics and believe people's need for political laws or tie ins is a really limiting perspective of His power.
This is not to say blah, blah blah, I think you know what goes here.
Anyway, I'm very blessed now to be a member at a church with members from both sides of the political aisle and don't doubt their love for one another. I have seen the Holy Spirit soften some very hard hearts, so I'm not trippin' off of anything I read in the article.
I believe in Proverbs it mentions that when a man's ways are a delight to the Lord, even his enemies are at peace with him. (maybe Pslams???) So even though Falwell said things I disagreed with and things I thought were misrepresentations of God's word, his relationships with such people as Flint show what God is able to do. Plus it's not like I'm faultless. Who knows how many people I'm turning off from seeking Jesus. I have to remind myself that the Holy Spirit can work in people's lives, despite my big mouth that would otherwise kill it.
That said, I'm pretty sure I'll never pick up any of Falwell's books or try to catch any tapes of his preaching. Even though I may have theological differences with every last one of them, I know there are plenty of preachers and teachers on TV I can see and get a word from them, fresh, without any effort.