Last night I was shocked to read that on Friday December 4, in response to the San Bernardino massacre, Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University and the son of its founder, encouraged his students to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons on campus.

“If some of those people in that community center had what I have in my back pocket right now …,” he said while being interrupted by louder cheers and clapping. “Is it illegal to pull it out? I don’t know,” he said, chuckling.

“I’ve always thought that if more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in,” he said, the rest of his sentence drowned out by loud applause while he said, “and killed them.”

“I just wanted to take this opportunity to encourage all of you to get your permit. We offer a free course,” he said. “Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.”

Falwell's words represent a grotesque and reprehensible betrayal of the gospel. 

He should be fired.  Of course, he'll never be fired.  In fact, in April 2013, Liberty’s board of trustees approved a policy that allows students and faculty members with permits to carry concealed weapons on campus, except in residence halls.*

Falwell's words also represent a deeply disturbing commentary on part of American evangelicalism.

Just as everyday Muslim believers have to defend their faith from the distortions of its extremists, so also Christians must do the same thing.  In Galatians 2, Paul repudiated Peter's hypocrisy with the strongest of language.  "I opposed him to his face," says Paul.  "They were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel."

The Christmas Season reminds us that we follow the Prince of Peace.  That God wishes good to all people.

"Blessed are the peacemakers," said Jesus (Matthew 5:9).

"Put away your sword," Jesus rebuked Peter.  "Those who live by the sword will die by the sword." (Matthew 26:52).  Violence begets violence.

"Do good to all people," says Paul (Galatians 6:10).

Hatred and violence don't have to be our historical destiny.  People and countries can change.  Seventy years ago, who would have thought that Germany, Japan, and Vietnam would become some of America's closest allies? 

In 1996, after the country's worst mass killing, a conservative-led government in Australia enacted significant gun reforms that included buying back 700,000 weapons.  Whether it's causation or just correlation, since then, gun deaths in Australia have dropped sharply.

What we should pray for is wise state craft.  In the mean time, since I'm not a legislator, I can focus on soul craft.  Peace can begin with me.

This week I've been thinking about the song "Let There Be Peace on Earth" by Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller, written in 1955.  It was recently performed by the Young People's Chorus of New York City on September 25, 2015 at the close of the Interfaith Prayer Service and Remembrance that was presided over by Pope Francis at Ground Zero.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers [sic] all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

* Falwell's remarks were widely reported.  My summary comes from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/12/05/liberty-university-president-if-more-good-people-had-concealed-guns-we-could-end-those-muslims/

Image credit: Hammond Greetings and Promotions.