Contact: Flip Benham, Operation Save America, 980-722-4920

MEDIA ADVISORY, May 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- Flip Benham is the Director of Operation Rescue/Operation Save America. His two sons are graduates of Liberty University. He has spoken at Thomas Road Baptist Church and at chapel services at the University. He had this to say about the media coverage of Pastor Falwell's death.

The devil never just takes pleasure in the death of one who follows hard after Christ. He wants to do his worst to him - to make his life seem the most pitiful waste. To make it appear before the world that the one who has given his all for God is a fool to be mocked and scorned, a hypocrite to be pilloried for his biblical judgments, a hater because he loved the world enough to expose its sin, and a lying heretic because he believes Jesus to be the only true God. Certainly Pastor Falwell's death has brought this truth to light in spades.

Consider Jesus' trial, beatings, crucifixion and death: "Just as there were many who were appalled at Him - His appearance so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness." Isaiah 52:14. The devil did not just want Him dead, he wanted Him totally humiliated, hanging naked on a cross. It is his way! The devil's purposeful design - to denigrate Almighty God in any way he can.

Consider those who followed Christ. They were stoned to death, hung on crosses, burned at the stake, thrown to the lions, disemboweled, and pushed off cliffs. They were branded fools, hypocrites, haters, lying heretics, all for the cause of Christ! The devil and the world would not tolerate them. All of this was done to besmirch the God they served (Jesus) before the world.

The Scriptures tell us to be prepared for this kind of assault. "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; and to the other, the fragrance of life." 2 Corinthians 2:15-16. Pastor Falwell's life and death brought the aroma of Christ into the world and it produced two distinct and diametrically opposed reactions: love and admiration (life) in one case - hate and vituperation (death) in the other.

His death has brought out all of the denizens of hell to arrogantly prance around his grave, spewing vile epithets and lies about him. It is an obvious sign that his life was a powerful threat to the devil and his puny gates of hell. The media has provided a national platform for this obscene, hate-filled orgy of words: "Behold the fool, the hypocrite, the hater, the lying heretic - Pastor Falwell!" It has become very apparent that those who scream hate and hate speech the most, are really the most hateful of all.

He loved enough to tell us the truth and we called it hate.

Pastor Falwell is now in the presence of the Lord. He has completed his lap of the race. He has crushed the head of the devil in life and now in death. He is more alive now than he has ever been. The cross of Christ has been passed to us - it is our turn now.

Contact: Rev. Flip Benham 980 722 4920