D. James Kennedy Passes

[BrentRichards]

Certainly worth remembering his family and loved ones. Sadly, Jim never changed his mind/heart about us, but may his soul rest in peace now.

Megachurch Leader D. James Kennedy Dies
By MATT SEDENSKY (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
September 05, 2007 4:10 PM EDT
MIAMI - The Rev. D. James Kennedy, a pioneering Christian broadcaster and megachurch pastor whose fiercely conservative worldview helped fuel the rise of the religious right in American politics, died Wednesday. He was 76.

Kennedy died at his home in Fort Lauderdale from complications of a heart attack he suffered on Dec. 28, according to Kristin Cole, a spokeswoman for Kennedy's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. He had not been seen publicly since the heart attack, and his retirement was announced Aug. 26.

Kennedy's voice and face were known to millions through radio and television broadcasts, urging Christians to evangelize in their daily lives, while condemning homosexuality and abortion as assaults on the traditional family. His also preached on the major policy issues of the day, rejecting evolution and global warming.

Kennedy was influential in the founding of the religious right, but did so more often from behind the scenes, as attention focused on his allies, the Revs. Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.

"He was never in the front ranks of evangelical leaders that were also political leaders, but he was active at every stage of the Christian right," said John Green, a senior fellow at the Pew Forum for Religion & Public Life who specializes in religion and politics.

Kennedy was a founding board member of the Moral Majority, which Falwell formed in 1979. In 1996, Kennedy created Coral Ridge's political arm, called the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, to mobilize conservative Christians against gay marriage, pornography and what he called "judicial tyranny," among other issues.

Kennedy also founded the Center for Christian Statesmanship, which organized Capitol Hill Bible studies and other events that attracted top government officials. He encouraged them "to embrace God's providential purpose for this nation."

"The Bible says, 'Be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over the earth,'" Kennedy said in a 1996 interview with The Los Angeles Times. "God should be in every sphere of life: economics, business, education, government, art and science."

In 1959, the pastor started his congregation with about 45 members, eventually expanding into a megachurch that claims 10,000 members today.

In the 1960s, when many conservative Christians were still debating how much to engage the broader culture, Kennedy jumped in and created Evangelism Explosion International, which trained Christians to share their beliefs with others.

"That simple goal is now widely adopted in evangelical churches and widely accepted, but at the time he started it, it wasn't," said Frank Wright, president and chief executive officer of the National Religious Broadcasters association.

At the time of his death, Kennedy's influence was beginning to wane, as his congregation aged and new evangelical leaders emerged. Coral Ridge shuttered its Center for Reclaiming America earlier this year.

Still, Kennedy was the author of more than 50 books and founded two schools - Knox Theological Seminary and Westminster Academy, a K-12 Christian school near his church.

Coral Ridge Ministries, his radio and TV outreach arm, claimed a weekly audience of 3.5 million people for all its broadcasts. Kennedy's TV show, "The Coral Ridge Hour," has been airing reruns on more than 400 stations and is broadcast to more than 150 countries on the Armed Forces Network, his ministry says. Last year, the National Religious Broadcasters group inducted him into its hall of fame.

"He was one of the early visionaries who saw that you could use electronic media to extend the four walls of the church to reach a broader audience," Wright said.

Dennis James Kennedy was born Nov. 3, 1930, in Augusta, Ga., and his family moved in 1936 to Chicago and in 1945 to Tampa. Kennedy's father was a traveling salesman whom he described as "long suffering," and his mother was an alcoholic. They were not churchgoers.

Kennedy dropped out of college to become an Arthur Murray dance instructor, but eventually returned to earn multiple degrees, including a doctorate from New York University. He met his future wife, the former Anne Lewis, while teaching dance.

Besides his wife of 51 years, the pastor is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy. Both were by his bedside when he died.

---

[Emproph]

Nor any expression of unmitigated glee..
__
Mel White mentions in "Religion Gone Bad" how he went through hoops to get evidence of the lies being told about GLBT's to Reverend Kennedy. Upon presentation, Kennedy dismissed him, without even looking at the evidence, and told White to "repent!"
__
More recently Citizenlink:

Dr. James C. Dobson, founder and chairman of Focus on the Family... "Most importantly, I believe, Dr. Kennedy would want to be remembered as a man whose greatest desire was to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Believers around the world are indebted to him for holding firm to that important calling.”

I believe in life after death, and knowing that he (Kennedy) now knows that the image below is is his legacy for so many - and now knows so, from a position of understanding the true nature of unconditional love - I now also can have some sympathy for him.

Imagine the suicides and murders he's now experiencing first hand - and all the fallout from them (parents, friends, family).
__
James Dobson, Marriage Under Fire:

"In twenty seven years I have never said anything hateful about homosexuals"

So funny it's revolting


Lest ye look a little deeper Dr. Dobson, you might well consider that that too will be your legacy, and at a time when you'll no longer be able to do anything about it.

[Pablo Rafael]

I generally ignore the preaching of the big media preachers. However, D. James Kennedy was an exception. I always thought that he had a great understanding of the Bible and had a good understanding about the centrality of grace to the Christian faith. I used to listen to his messages quite regularly.

I was always saddened that he seemed to let his political views work their way into his religious message. (Not that I didn't agree with a lot of them, but I feel that mixing personal views and religion weakens the gospel message.) And his very anti-gay message seemed designed to bring in money from the homophobic segment of Christianity. It seems that the quest for more money often (almost always?) corrupts Christian organizations.

I think he was a good man who let himself get distracted from proclaiming a message of love and hope to the world.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[pnggrad79]

I think a lot of good preachers who have the gift get sucked in to the lure of power and money like Dobson, Falwell, Kennedy and the like. I believe money drives a lot if not all forces in this country and no one does anything if it doesn't get them something in return. These guys figured out it would make them very rich to build mega churches, tell their parishioners that their families were being threatened by homosexuals, pornographers, abortionists and every other evil in the world, and people would flood in, give their money for a cause and create a society where gay people and anyone different than their ideal would be marginalized, castigated and thrown out.

This does not look or sound like the gospel that Jesus preached and lived. One does not see Jesus whipping up the emotions of people to revolt against the Roman empire. One does not see Jesus marginalizing people who are different. Jesus did not strive to build a mega church and create a threat to get his followers banded together in a common cause. Jesus' message was love God and love others. Jesus message was liberating, not built out of fear. Dobson, Falwell, and Kennedy capitalized on the notion of fear. This is diametrically opposed to Jesus life, message and purpose. How we can even call these men Christian is just amazing to me.

I don't mean to stomp on a man's grave, but I can't say that I am sorry he died. I feel for his family, but this man, like Falwell, has kept many people in the closet, caused family disruption, trumpeted fear and loathing for gay people, and I am glad one more is gone. Maybe now God can be heard and Jesus will once again shine.

[u-dog]

Originally Posted by pnggrad79

I think a lot of good preachers who have the gift get sucked in to the lure of power and money like Dobson, Falwell, Kennedy and the like. I believe money drives a lot if not all forces in this country and no one does anything if it doesn't get them something in return. These guys figured out it would make them very rich to build mega churches, tell their parishioners that their families were being threatened by homosexuals, pornographers, abortionists and every other evil in the world, and people would flood in, give their money for a cause and create a society where gay people and anyone different than their ideal would be marginalized, castigated and thrown out.

This does not look or sound like the gospel that Jesus preached and lived. One does not see Jesus whipping up the emotions of people to revolt against the Roman empire. One does not see Jesus marginalizing people who are different. Jesus did not strive to build a mega church and create a threat to get his followers banded together in a common cause. Jesus' message was love God and love others. Jesus message was liberating, not built out of fear. Dobson, Falwell, and Kennedy capitalized on the notion of fear. This is diametrically opposed to Jesus life, message and purpose. How we can even call these men Christian is just amazing to me.

I don't mean to stomp on a man's grave, but I can't say that I am sorry he died. I feel for his family, but this man, like Falwell, has kept many people in the closet, caused family disruption, trumpeted fear and loathing for gay people, and I am glad one more is gone. Maybe now God can be heard and Jesus will once again shine.

I have to agree with the PNGster on this one. the man allowed himself to become a tool for evil. I don't hate him but I also can't bring myself to Eulogize him either. My first thought when I read of his death was "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Doc". Soon that whole generation of biggot televangelists will be gone. their successors are "smarmier" but less dangerous (I think).

[Pablo Rafael]

Though I believe a lot of the tele-evangelists are motivated by finances. I have to say the one person who has always had my respect is Billy Graham. He has stuck to the Gospel message; it is always a message of hope. As far as I know, he has never spoken against LGBT individuals in the church. He also never did run the Billy Graham Evagelistic Association. It was governed by a Board of Directors who paid him a modest salary.

Not all of the old school evangelists have fallen into the trap of establishing and running big media empires.

Though I don't want to sound like I defend the anti LGBT message of D. James Kennedy, and I am glad that one fewer homophobic preacher is spreading a message of discrimination, I remember that I was once that way myself. I thank the Lord that he has shown me a better way. However, if I were straight, I fear I might still be in that mindset. I think often homophobic individuals are more misled than they are evil.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[dsdrane]

...he won't be missed.



[With all due apologies to G & S....]

[pnggrad79]

It is a terrible waste of a life to die and have literally millions of people express nothing but happiness about it. But you know, he kinda brought it on himself. I kinda think, D. J. K, you were a huge influence over a lot of people, and they in turn due to your teachings, proceeded to castigate their own gay children, and throw them out like they were trash, cause them to think that God and the church would never welcome them, and now because they have no hope and no place else to go, many of them refuse to darken the doorstep of a church and have no spirituality at all. So while DJK preached about God's love, there are many whose blood will be on his hands when he stands before God to answer for his life. Those people, unless God directs otherwise, will never know God's love, peace and acceptance of who they are. I include Dobson and Falwell in that mix. It is a pure tragedy....

[Progo35]

While it is impossible to know what the destiny of each individual is or assign social decay to the responsibility of an entire people group, I doubt that Kennedy said what he said for money. He obviously believed what he said, statements about the gay community or being gay included. I think that if he had lost every last penny and had no fame at all, he probably would have maintained that the Bible does not condone gay couples having sex with one another, married or not.

[sailaway58]

Originally Posted by Progo35

While it is impossible to know what the destiny of each individual is or assign social decay to the responsibility of an entire people group, I doubt that Kennedy said what he said for money. He obviously believed what he said, statements about the gay community or being gay included. I think that if he had lost every last penny and had no fame at all, he probably would have maintained that the Bible does not condone gay couples having sex with one another, married or not.

I agree. Sadly it leaves me with the reality that many of my closest friends will never understand or try to understand why it has become important to my wife and I to be so openly accepting to the GLBT community.
Over all I always liked him, but I was never cut by his remarks.

[pnggrad79]

Originally Posted by Progo35

While it is impossible to know what the destiny of each individual is or assign social decay to the responsibility of an entire people group, I doubt that Kennedy said what he said for money. He obviously believed what he said, statements about the gay community or being gay included. I think that if he had lost every last penny and had no fame at all, he probably would have maintained that the Bible does not condone gay couples having sex with one another, married or not.

I agree with you, Progo, to a certain extent. However, I know of several pastors who personally would like to welcome gays and lesbians into their congregations but are deathly afraid to make that statement for fear of losing their congregations and financial backing. I also know several who HAVE opened their churches up to the glbt community and HAVE lost much of their congregations and with them went the money, too. I think Kennedy maybe would have continued to preach against homosexuality even if he was broke. I maintain he still caused much heartache, grief and family disintegration by stirring up hatred and fear of homosexuals rather than preaching the love of Christ which is a reconciling, gracious love. I maintain Kennedy's message was nowhere near the message of Christ.

Many of these preachers, Falwell, Kennedy, etc, took the social climate and capitalized on it, stirring up their congregations, frightening them into political action and causing disintegration. They didn't take the message of Christ, who openly welcomed the outcasts of society and became their friend, and preach it, because people don't want to hear about loving their neighbor unconditionally. Fear is in an incredible attraction to a lot of people because it implies control over frightening things.

FEAR
If we let black people in our restaurants, and drink from our water fountains and sit in the front of the bus and let them vote, they will mix with the white race and somehow infect it. FEAR kept black people in chains for a hundred years after the Civil War, and in a lot of ways they still are.

LOVE
Jesus would have embraced them and showed them He loved them. He would not have been part of the group who cast them out because they had different color skin.

FEAR

If we let "sinners" into our congregations, they will continue to sin, and it will look bad on us because we couldn't change them. No, keep them out on the street because we can't have them in here with their lifestyle influencing our kids.

LOVE

Jesus would have loved them, realized their pain, and showed them a better way, filled up their lives with Him instead of whatever they are doing to fill up the void in their hearts. He didn't make them go away. He invited them to join Him in his world.


I will stop rambling, hopefully you see my point. The message of Christianity today is not the message of Christ. It pays lip service to it, but many Christians today worship the god of fear and hatred, because it gives them a sense of control. If they were to let homosexuals marry, and welcome them into mainstream society, they fear that their kids will be homos, and that what they have preached for so long will make them look foolish and they can't do that. It's easier to take a group they don't understand and say they are evil than it is to say, "Hey, come on over and tell us about yourself, let's get to know each other."

[Progo35]

I totally see your point pnggrad79: As you articulate, we live in a world where people are afraid to stand up for their convictions, for fear of what will happen to them and their career. This is something that has swayed and damaged the actions of many good people in many things. It's like when Peter got so scared that he abandoned Jesus-to his later agony-he was just seized with fear for his own safety and forgot what he promised his Lord. So, obviously, money and image ARE major factors in deciding whether to welcome the LGBT community and any minority community that has been singled out for disdain. "If I told you," a publication by LGBT students at Gordon, shared their painful accounts of what they experienced after coming out to family and friends, and how differently they were treated. Obviously, when you take a position, you will have to deal with the consequences. So, I agree with your point, too...I just think that it's extremely important to recognize that the theological convictions of most adult individuals are arrived at through careful consideration, so it would be a major mistake to assume that fame and money is the primary motivator for such individuals or that it would have changed this particular man's beliefs. It's more complicated than that. Obviously, you know that...but I felt compelled to contribute what I think is a balancing perspective on Kennedy's motivations.

[tdogg]

Originally Posted by Pablo Rafael

Though I believe a lot of the tele-evangelists are motivated by finances. I have to say the one person who has always had my respect is Billy Graham. He has stuck to the Gospel message; it is always a message of hope. As far as I know, he has never spoken against LGBT individuals in the church. He also never did run the Billy Graham Evagelistic Association. It was governed by a Board of Directors who paid him a modest salary.

But, I haven't heard of an instance where he stood up for GLBTs either. Anyone out there has please post. I would love to think Billy Graham stood up for us. If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem??

[u-dog]

Originally Posted by tdogg

But, I haven't heard of an instance where he stood up for GLBTs either. Anyone out there has please post. I would love to think Billy Graham stood up for us. If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem??

I think there is no doubt but that Graham would embrace the notion that homosexuality is sin. In that sense he isn't necessarily "with us". On the other hand, Graham actually UNDERSTANDS the gospel he preaches and was never one to use fear of GLBT people to raise money or gather converts. I don't think that Graham ever participated in the whole process of raising homosexuality into some kind of convenient "uber-sin".

Billy Graham is the real article. I also admire him (though I don't always agree with him or share his understanding of the Gospel totally.) His son Franklin on the other hand isn't of the same quality as his Dad.

[Pablo Rafael]

Originally Posted by tdogg

If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem??

tdogg,

I don't think Billy Graham ever stood up for LGBT rights. However I think the situation is much too complex for a black and white divide. I think a lot of shades of grey come into play. I think a very large group of Christians think homosexuality is a sin. They aren't necessarily against us, but simply uninformed.

We are all products of our conditioning. My mother is one of those who thinks homosexuality is a sin, but she would never do anything to hurt anyone (was in that group myself just recently). She accepted my stepbrother and his partner without any malice or reservation. She is one of those who isn't for us nor against either. I think a lot of people are in that situation.

I think education is they key. Those who don't oppose gay rights may very well someday become our allies. A lot of Christianity just has never thought that gay and Christian can go together. It is up to us to show that they can. I think there is a large middle ground that is ready to hear the message if it can just be proclaimed. I don't think Billy Graham will ever be a spokesman for LGBT rights, but I think more and more of the younger evangelists will. (Unfortunately I agree with Dave that Franklin Graham probably isn't one of them.)

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[tdogg]

Originally Posted by Pablo Rafael

I don't think Billy Graham ever stood up for LGBT rights. However I think the situation is much too complex for a black and white divide. I think a lot of shades of grey come into play. I think a very large group of Christians think homosexuality is a sin. They aren't necessarily against us, but simply uninformed.

I pretty much agree with you and U regarding Billy Graham. Although I wouldn't be able to say for sure whether his not standing up for GLBTs would be through true belief or wanting to avoid the wrath of other Christian evangelicals. He was basically a gentle man by all appearances and I could perceive of why he might want to keep silent on this one. But I could also see where he might truly believe we are lost sinners but kept silent as he didn't want to offend GLBT people.

Thanks for you thoughts on this one, both of you.

[Steven E. Webster]

Here's a quote from Billy Graham from almost 10 years ago.

"I think that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin, but the Bible also teaches that pride is a sin, jealously is a sin, and hate is a sin, evil thoughts are a sin, and so I don't think that homosexuality should be chosen as the overwhelming sin that we are doing today." Billy Graham, 20/20 program, 1997-MAY-2

Steven Webster

[tdogg]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

Here's a quote from Billy Graham from almost 10 years ago.
"I think that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin, but the Bible also teaches that pride is a sin, jealously is a sin, and hate is a sin, evil thoughts are a sin, and so I don't think that homosexuality should be chosen as the overwhelming sin that we are doing today." Billy Graham, 20/20 program, 1997-MAY-2
Steven Webster

Well, I'm clear on where Billy stands, especially since he lumps 'homosexuality' in with various evils. A common occurence with the unenlightened. I can't imagine he has changed his stance in 10 years...too bad.

[progressive4christ]

I did not even know that James Kenedy died. Makes me wonder why so many right wingers are suddenly being exsposed and dieing lately? I think God is cleanning house. I think He is Tired of these kind of people useing Him for their prejudices,equating nationalism and Christianity, and wealth all supposingly in His name..

I have gotten to the point in my Christian walk that I do not look up to any evangelist or religious speaker any more. So, I find myself to be more loving and tolerant, I have this new wonderful relationship with Jesus and and am able to truely see what Christ was like when He walked this earth.