Rep. Denver Riggleman is a Republican congressman in Virginia who recently presided over a same-sex wedding. Arguing that he is a congressman who “represents everyone,” he insists that he is still a conservative despite his defense of gay marriage. Of course, no conservative in his right mind would support gay marriage — let alone, officiate one.
Southern Baptist Jerry Falwell, president of Liberty University, recently penned a letter calling on Republicans to unite under the altar of the “big tent.” While the congressman received a vote of “no confidence” recently by the local GOP in Virginia, Falwell says he’s going to support him.
Citing gay marriage laws, Falwell argues that there is nothing we can do to “change the law” unless the Supreme Court overturns it, therefore, we must accept Riggleman’s decision to officiate a gay wedding. Of course, Falwell is correct that we cannot change the law, but the law does not force anyone to officiate gay weddings — at least not yet.
Falwell insists that despite Riggleman officiating a gay wedding, Riggleman is still socially conservative. Nah-dah. Officiating a gay wedding, by very definition, makes you NOT a social conservative by any discernible standard. Definitely not by biblical standards.
While I’ve appreciated a lot of what Falwell has stood for in his fight against the social justice progressive movement sweeping Evangelicalism, I cannot appreciate the far religious right movement from men like Falwell who, by their actions and endorsements, have made a religion out of right-wing politics while The Gospel Coalition, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and the Southern Baptist Convention have largely made a religion out of leftist politics. They are simply two sides of the idolatry coin.
The full letter by Jerry Falwell can be read below:
