December 8, 2015
Dear Mr. Falwell,
At Liberty University's Convocation on Friday, December 4, you recommended arming Christian students with the object of killing Muslims. Many of us at Princeton Theological Seminary were alarmed and deeply troubled by these comments and those that followed in the media. We feel compelled as Christian scholars to testify to the love of Jesus Christ and to address your statements.
We understand that there are significant problems to which you are responding. We see heartbreaking violence here and abroad, and real challenges face our nation. It is easy in such circumstances to let our fear guide and control our actions.
And yet, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ testifies to the possibility of a life lived in love, not fear. According to scripture, “Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Often we are tempted to respond out of fear, but Jesus calls us to a higher way.
In the resurrection, Jesus conquered the grave. In the Gospel of Matthew the first instruction his followers heard upon encountering the empty tomb was, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said" (Matthew 28:5-6). Even in a culture that enjoins us to fear, those who hear the call not to “be afraid” must point to the empty tomb in response. Therefore, arming Christians against a stereotyped enemy is not virtuous, but faithless. The vast majority of Muslims around the world, and next door, desire peace, as do the vast majority of Christians.
Death and danger confront us in this world. But Christians must stand against hate, against violence, and against fear. We must stand in friendship and solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters. Christ’s empty tomb compels us.
Sincerely,
Margaret E. Elwell, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Emily P. Wilton, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Adam D. Wert, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Lawrence A. Anglin, History, Ph.D. student
Stephanie Mota Thurston, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Thomas W. Seat II, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Isaac Y. Kim, Theology (Christian Ethics), Ph.D. student
See Yin C. Yeung, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Francisco J. Pelaez-Diaz, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Justin Michael Reed, Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Ph.D. student
Marcus A. Hong, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Chelsea S. Williams, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Melanie Webb, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Philip M. Forness, History, Ph.D. student
Ransom W. Portis, Biblical Studies, Ph.D. student
Miles S. Hopgood, History, Ph.D. student
George F. Rambow, History, Ph.D. student
Daniel J. Pedersen, Theology, Ph.D.
Rory H. Misiewicz, Philosophy & Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Justin Nickel, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Nathan C. Johnson, Biblical Studies, Ph.D. student
Rev. Kermit Moss, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Kristin J. Wendland, Old Testament, Ph.D. student
Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski, New Testament, Ph.D. student
Briana L. Wong, History, Ph.D. student
Andrew J. Peterson, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. David Bruner, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Cambria Janae Kaltwasser, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
James E. Walters, History, Ph.D. student
Rev. Andrew Thompson Scales, Homiletics, Ph.D. student
Sunder John Boopalan, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Joel D. Estes, Biblical Studies, Ph.D. Student
M. John-Patrick O’Connor, Biblical Studies, Ph.D. student
Alyssa Lehr Evans, History, Ph.D. student
Jeffrey Skaff, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Christy Lang Hearlson, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Vinod I. Gnanaraj, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Candice Benbow, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Lindsey Hankins, Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Ruben Arjona, Pastoral Theology, Ph.D. student
Craig Rubano, Pastoral Theology, Ph.D. student
Sarah Chae, Pastoral Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Joy Arroyo, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Updates
December 13, 2015
I just looked at the screen and saw we hit two hundred and fifty names which is honestly a lot more than I thought would happen when I was typing this up in my room late at night. It is wild to think about people all over reading this and feeling the same frustration I felt when I heard those words at convocation because sometimes it feels like we are just shouting into the void.
Reached 250 supporters
December 12, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
December 11, 2015
105 Comments
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Is Mr. Falwell suggesting that those who are Muslims should arm themselves and kill Christians? What kind of world is he encouraging the students of his university to embrace, and does it have anything to do with the Christian faith?
I sign this as a PTS and Fuller graduate, a retired Presbyterian Pastor, a retired California Peace Officer, and most of all as Mr. Falwell's brother in Christ.
Solidarity in suffering is the greatest test and witness of a Christian. As a person who belongs to the persecuted Christian community in India I am happy that the PhD students have reached out in solidarity. This is beginning move and it has to be carried forward in concrete action. We need to think "what can we Christians do to show the love of Jesus to out Muslim friends."
There is nothing in the culture of guns that reflects the heart or mind of Christ or his gospel of love.
As a graduate of both Liberty University (B.A., 1992) and Princeton Seminary (M.Div., 1995), I wholly repudiate Jerry Falwell Jr's statement and I gladly endorse this letter.
As a Christian, I wholeheartedly agree with this petition. We are called to respond with love, and love drives out fear. We should lead by example and embrace our Muslim neighbors, friends, and community in love. This does not compromise our Christianity. No, it actually reinforces our ability to exemplify Christ in our lives. Any fear does not come from a life in Christ. It has no place in our hearts or our minds.
Thanks for the letter. Falwell is limited, ignorant, and mean-spirited. The board at Liberty (if there is one) should dismiss him immediately.
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December 8, 2015
Dear Mr. Falwell,
At Liberty University's Convocation on Friday, December 4, you recommended arming Christian students with the object of killing Muslims. Many of us at Princeton Theological Seminary were alarmed and deeply troubled by these comments and those that followed in the media. We feel compelled as Christian scholars to testify to the love of Jesus Christ and to address your statements.
We understand that there are significant problems to which you are responding. We see heartbreaking violence here and abroad, and real challenges face our nation. It is easy in such circumstances to let our fear guide and control our actions.
And yet, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ testifies to the possibility of a life lived in love, not fear. According to scripture, “Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Often we are tempted to respond out of fear, but Jesus calls us to a higher way.
In the resurrection, Jesus conquered the grave. In the Gospel of Matthew the first instruction his followers heard upon encountering the empty tomb was, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said" (Matthew 28:5-6). Even in a culture that enjoins us to fear, those who hear the call not to “be afraid” must point to the empty tomb in response. Therefore, arming Christians against a stereotyped enemy is not virtuous, but faithless. The vast majority of Muslims around the world, and next door, desire peace, as do the vast majority of Christians.
Death and danger confront us in this world. But Christians must stand against hate, against violence, and against fear. We must stand in friendship and solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters. Christ’s empty tomb compels us.
Sincerely,
Margaret E. Elwell, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Emily P. Wilton, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Adam D. Wert, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Lawrence A. Anglin, History, Ph.D. student
Stephanie Mota Thurston, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Thomas W. Seat II, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Isaac Y. Kim, Theology (Christian Ethics), Ph.D. student
See Yin C. Yeung, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Francisco J. Pelaez-Diaz, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Justin Michael Reed, Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Ph.D. student
Marcus A. Hong, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Chelsea S. Williams, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Melanie Webb, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Philip M. Forness, History, Ph.D. student
Ransom W. Portis, Biblical Studies, Ph.D. student
Miles S. Hopgood, History, Ph.D. student
George F. Rambow, History, Ph.D. student
Daniel J. Pedersen, Theology, Ph.D.
Rory H. Misiewicz, Philosophy & Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Justin Nickel, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Nathan C. Johnson, Biblical Studies, Ph.D. student
Rev. Kermit Moss, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Kristin J. Wendland, Old Testament, Ph.D. student
Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski, New Testament, Ph.D. student
Briana L. Wong, History, Ph.D. student
Andrew J. Peterson, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. David Bruner, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Cambria Janae Kaltwasser, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
James E. Walters, History, Ph.D. student
Rev. Andrew Thompson Scales, Homiletics, Ph.D. student
Sunder John Boopalan, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Joel D. Estes, Biblical Studies, Ph.D. Student
M. John-Patrick O’Connor, Biblical Studies, Ph.D. student
Alyssa Lehr Evans, History, Ph.D. student
Jeffrey Skaff, Systematic Theology, Ph.D. student
Christy Lang Hearlson, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Vinod I. Gnanaraj, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Candice Benbow, Religion & Society, Ph.D. student
Lindsey Hankins, Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Ruben Arjona, Pastoral Theology, Ph.D. student
Craig Rubano, Pastoral Theology, Ph.D. student
Sarah Chae, Pastoral Theology, Ph.D. student
Rev. Joy Arroyo, Practical Theology, Ph.D. student
Updates
December 13, 2015
I just looked at the screen and saw we hit two hundred and fifty names which is honestly a lot more than I thought would happen when I was typing this up in my room late at night. It is wild to think about people all over reading this and feeling the same frustration I felt when I heard those words at convocation because sometimes it feels like we are just shouting into the void.
Reached 250 supporters
December 12, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
December 11, 2015
105 Comments
As a graduate of 1982 graduate of PTS and now a retired pastor I commend the sensative pastoral wisdom of the these doctoral students in their letter to Mr Falwell. In a gentle way they have conveyed the essence of the biblical message of Jesus for our age. Let us all take their call to heart.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Is Mr. Falwell suggesting that those who are Muslims should arm themselves and kill Christians? What kind of world is he encouraging the students of his university to embrace, and does it have anything to do with the Christian faith?
I sign this as a PTS and Fuller graduate, a retired Presbyterian Pastor, a retired California Peace Officer, and most of all as Mr. Falwell's brother in Christ.
Solidarity in suffering is the greatest test and witness of a Christian. As a person who belongs to the persecuted Christian community in India I am happy that the PhD students have reached out in solidarity. This is beginning move and it has to be carried forward in concrete action. We need to think "what can we Christians do to show the love of Jesus to out Muslim friends."
There is nothing in the culture of guns that reflects the heart or mind of Christ or his gospel of love.
As a graduate of both Liberty University (B.A., 1992) and Princeton Seminary (M.Div., 1995), I wholly repudiate Jerry Falwell Jr's statement and I gladly endorse this letter.
As a Christian, I wholeheartedly agree with this petition. We are called to respond with love, and love drives out fear. We should lead by example and embrace our Muslim neighbors, friends, and community in love. This does not compromise our Christianity. No, it actually reinforces our ability to exemplify Christ in our lives. Any fear does not come from a life in Christ. It has no place in our hearts or our minds.
Thanks for the letter. Falwell is limited, ignorant, and mean-spirited. The board at Liberty (if there is one) should dismiss him immediately.
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As a graduate of 1982 graduate of PTS and now a retired pastor I commend the sensative pastoral wisdom of the these doctoral students in their letter to Mr Falwell. In a gentle way they have conveyed the essence of the biblical message of Jesus for our age. Let us all take their call to heart.