Falwell Backs Away from Politics

Another well-known conservative Christian appears to be backing away from the fray

As Pat Robertson begins his journey into politics, another well-known conservative Christian appears to be backing away from the fray. Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, told newspaper columnist Cal Thomas he will not stick his neck out for another political candidate as he did for Ronald Reagan, “because it is too polarizing to unbelievers.”

In his syndicated column, Thomas quoted Falwell as saying, “I will no longer allow in my pulpit anything but a minuscule amount of politics. We are going back to where we were before Moral Majority when we had a clear purpose, but did not have a major emphasis on politics.” Liberty Federation, the organization that superseded Moral Majority, will remain active, Falwell said, to make pronouncements on issues such as drug abuse.

Falwell’s repositioning comes as a surprise, at a time when other Christian activists are busy distributing congressional scorecards and cheering on Pat Robertson. It is a move Thomas recommends to other clergy drawn toward political life. Thomas, who was the spokesman for Moral Majority for five years, laments division in the church today over temporal issues. People outside the fold who observe the internecine battles among Christians, Thomas wrote, must be tempted to say, “See how they fight and hate one another. Who wants to be part of that?”

Thomas concludes his column by calling for “a balance between spirituality and politics, otherwise the church loses its moral authority.”

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

Controversial Republican texts, Anglican Communion splits, and George Santos’s sentence is commuted.

Review

Do Evangelical Political Errors Rise to the Level of Heresy?

A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

Highlights and Lowlights of 1957

In its first full year of publication, CT looked at Civil Rights, Cold War satellites, artificial insemination, and carefully planned evangelism.

News

Will There Be a Christian Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Conservatives suggest country and Christian artist alternatives for game day.

News

As Madagascar’s Government Topples, Pastors Call for Peace

Gen Z–led protests on the African island nation led to a military takeover.

News

Amid Fragile Cease-Fire, Limited Aid Reaches Gazans

Locals see the price of flour rise and fall as truce is strained and some borders remain closed.

News

Federal Job Cuts Hit Home as Virginia Picks Its Next Governor

Meanwhile, the GOP candidate draws from Trump’s playbook to focus on transgender issues in schools. 

Religious OCD and Me

Scrupulosity latches onto the thing we hold most dear—our relationship with God.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube