Dr Chuck Pearson

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June 28, 2005

More Billy Graham goodness

I was quite surprised at the reaction I've gotten to my Billy Graham cheerleading. It's pretty shocking how many people have been bad to dismiss Billy as "just another fundie" who falls into all of the standard hard-right traps.

I mean, how many in the Christian right do you think go into apoplexies when something like this happens?

Graham drew a big laugh from the former president -- who theatrically buried his face in his lap, then threw his head back and closed his eyes with mirth -- when he recalled once saying that Clinton should become an evangelist "and leave his wife to run the country."

"Because he has all the gifts," said Graham, who used a walker but spoke in a strong voice. Graham was effusive about both Clintons, returning to them after the altar call and telling the crowd, "I love them both with all my heart."

And I've never been accused of being a Bill Clinton fan, but: Billy has a point.

And my friend Summers happily points out this piece of Texe Marrs lunacy, which is filled with so much giddiness over Graham's dealings with gays in the Christian faith that I have to wonder WHY ol' Texe is spending so much time researching gay churches. If you know what I mean. And I think you do.

But that's not what really gets me. Marrs cites an interview with Robert Schuller that supposedly proves once and for all that Billy Graham really has no interest in world evangelism (an accusation so rich in irony that I'm sure Marrs misses it in full). God bless him for bringing it to my attention, I never would have paid attention to Schuller otherwise:

Robert Schuller: "Tell me, what do you think of the future of Christianity?"
Billy Graham: "I think everybody who knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ...God's purpose is to call out a people for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, Buddhist world, the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ, because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus...and I think they are saved, and that they are going to be in heaven with us."
Robert Schuller (overjoyed): "What I hear you saying is that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into human hearts and soul and life even if they've been born into darkness and never had exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you are saying?"
Billy Graham: "Yes it is, because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world...that have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, and never heard of Jesus, but they've believed in their hearts that there was a God."

Of course, Marrs goes into apoplexies:

So, there you have it. The world's most famous evangelist teaches that no one needs Jesus to be saved and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. They're already members of the Body of Christ whether they know it or not! All they have to do is believe in a God--like one of the three million Hindu gods; or perhaps the man-god whom many Buddhists worship, the Dalai Lama; or the Moslem's Allah; or perhaps the Cosmic God of the evolutionists; or the witches' horned god, Pan; or perhaps all that people must do is believe in the New Age deity--themselves--as God!

I absolutely refuse to assert that we don't need to go into the world and proclaim the good name of Jesus (of course, that requires doing good in the world, which is a subtlety missed on many but one we'll pick up another time). But let's listen closely to what Marrs is saying. Is he implying that it's impossible for someone to come to know God without hearing from human lips the name of Jesus? Is he trying to argue that no man can ever look for God himself, live his life honestly and earnestly, recieve a word from God, believe that word, and have it credited to him as righteousness?

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about — but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Better burn all the books that suggest THAT.

So, yeah, Billy Graham is most certainly NOT a fundie. I'll continue to hunt down examples if you need more convincing.

EDIT: More examples, posted today on ChristianityToday.com even.

Posted by Chuck at June 28, 2005 10:20 AM

Comments

Posted by: Celestia at June 28, 2005 11:26 AM

Posted by: Catie at June 29, 2005 04:19 PM

Posted by: Dr Chuck Pearson at June 30, 2005 10:06 AM