How Jerry Falwell Jr. made me wrestle with my own sin
When I read Falwell’s comments devaluing people who are poor, I thought of my encounters with Ted.
“Pastor Dave, there is someone walking around the parking lot looking a little haggard and talking to himself.” People and places that seem normal to me often put others on edge. In this case I was certain I knew what the person was talking about, but I peeked my head out the window anyway just to look. “Oh, I said, that’s just Ted. He helps out.”
“Ha ha, just Ted, all right,” responded the person with just a little hint of suspicion.
Ted is probably the person I encounter most in ministry at my congregation. In all honesty I can forgive, or at least understand, a person’s initial suspicion around Ted. He is, shall we say, unkempt. Wild hair and a beard that is only shaved quarterly produces a kind of mountain man look. Ted had an accident early in childhood that left him with struggles in his mind and a difficulty vocalizing. Finally, Ted enjoys alcohol and will regale you with many a story surrounding the substance.
