Questions & Answers
[EGW
editor's preface, Jan. 20, 2017: This article was first
posted online in 2002, some years before Billy Graham's retirement
in 2005 which was about 58 years after beginning his Billy
Graham Crusades in 1947. His preaching style and "Crusade"
meetings are strikingly similar to the preaching style and revival
meetings used by Billy Sunday during the early 1900's. Graham's
son William Franklin Graham, known as Franklin Graham, is the
current president & CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association (BGEA), effectively carrying on the family business.
In my opinion, much of what I've noted below about Billy
Graham's teachings applies equally well to the BGEA and to Franklin
Graham.]
What do
you think about Billy Graham?
by David Churchill
This question is one that I get asked
a lot. Like any honest and sincere question, it needs an
answer that is both thoughtful and truthful.
Before I agree or disagree with
someone in religious matters, I try to know at least three things:
1) something about that person; 2) what he is teaching
or claiming; 3) the significance of that teaching or claim.
Then I examine that teaching or claim using Gods
Bible as my standard I agree with it only as far as it
agrees with the Bible, no more and no less.
Billy
Graham has been well-known to most Americans for many years.
His popularity is steadily growing overseas as well as
here in the United States. His audiences often number in
the tens of thousands. I truly believe the key to his success
is his ability to assess a situation, to determine what the people
want to hear, and then to use his excellent speaking skills to
deliver his message to his listeners.
Sometimes he uses Scripture to
teach people. Often he speaks from his heart to reach the
hearts of his listeners. Billy Graham almost always extends
two very emotional requests at the end of his lessons.
One request is for his listeners
to send money so that he can continue the efforts of his ministry.
Often a copy of one of his books is provided in exchange
for a listeners offering. Usually, he pleads that,
in spite of the high and rising financial costs of spreading
the gospel he preaches, he does not want to miss any opportunities
of helping people receive that gospel.
His other request is for people
to become Christians, to enter into a right relationship with
God. His instructions on how to become a genuine
Christian go something like this:
Step
1) You have to repent of your sins and to really want to
do Gods will.
Step 2) Pray {either silently or out
loud} to God for forgiveness of your sins and ask Jesus to come
into your heart as your Lord and Savior.
Step 3) Now that you are a Christian,
go and confess Jesus to someone who is not a Christian {OR go
and tell another Christian that you have become a Christian,
too}.
Step 4) Join a church that follows Jesus
{AND/OR the Bible} and start ministering for God. Also,
Billy Graham would like to hear that you have become a Christian.
The
word Christian has a couple of different meanings
that depend upon how the word is used. As an adjective,
the word means Christ-like or belonging to
Christ, i.e. the Christian virtues are Christ-like
virtues. As a noun, the word means citizen of Christ
and His kingdom.
What defines citizenship? Well,
to be an American requires moving into America and dwelling there
in obedience to its laws. To lose your rights as an American,
you either live there breaking its laws eventually being removed
by force from its law-abiding society or else you move to another
country. Likewise, to be a Christian requires moving
into Christ, i.e. His kingdom, and dwelling there in obedience
to His laws. To lose your rights as a Christian,
well, you get the general idea.
Read the following passages carefully.
Think about what they mean.
There is therefore now
no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not
walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1
All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Be diligent to present yourself approved
to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
Brethren, my hearts desire and
prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For
I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according
to knowledge. For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness,
have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Romans 10:1-3
For the wages of sin is death, but the
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Beloved, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false
prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1
As
you read through these six passages, what are your thoughts and
feelings? The words are clear and plain. What impressions
do they make upon you?
Here are my impressions from these
passages. Salvation (freedom from the condemnation for
sin) is found in Christ, and nowhere outside of Christ. To
receive this salvation, it is important that I find out how to
enter into Christ. God gave me His Scriptures so that I
may know how to enter into Christ. Therefore, I need to
study Gods Scriptures and to be careful to understand them
correctly. Likewise, enthusiasm for God will fail me if
I still lack the knowledge of what it takes to be right with
God. Because of the serious nature of salvation, I must
be on guard against those who would preach falsely to me about
salvation.
Salvation and being in a right
relationship with God are very important to me. Are they
to you? We need to know and obey the correct way to enter
into Christ if we are really going to become Christians. Billy
Graham offers one way to become a Christian. Its
up to you and me to see if it matches Gods way to become
a Christian.
Here
is a brief list of passages describing Gods way to become
a Christian. You may remember some of them from your own
studying of the Bible.
What must
I do to be saved?
1.
Hear the word of God:
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God. Romans
10:17
2. Believe in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God:
Then they said to Him, What shall
we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered
and said to them, This
is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent. John 6:28-29
And this is the will of Him who sent
Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have
everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40
He who believes and is baptized will
be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16
3. Repent from disobeying God and turn to following God:
In the past God overlooked such ignorance,
but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30
And Peter said to them, Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38 [Author's
note: Gr. word here for for
literally means into, i.e. baptized ... into the remission of sins.]
4. Confess Jesus as your Lord and seek to obey Him as your Lord:
Therefore, whoever confesses
Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is
in heaven. Matthew
10:32
Not everyone who says to Me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does
the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:21
5. Be baptized into Christ:
And now why are you waiting? Arise and
be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of
the Lord. Acts
22:16
Or do you not know that as many of us
as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Romans 6:3
Buried with Him in baptism, in which
you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of
God, who raised Him from the dead.
Colossians 2:12
For as many of you as were baptized into
Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:27
There is also an antitype which now saves
us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh,
but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is
at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having
been made subject to Him.
1 Peter 3:21-22
6. Persist in obeying God through Jesus:
Let us hold fast the confession of our
hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And
let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good
works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as
is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much
the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin
willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful
expectation of judgement, and fiery indignation which will devour
the adversaries. For you have need of endurance, so that
after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
For
yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not
tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone
draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those
who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving
of the soul.
Hebrews 10:23-27,35-39
Do not fear
Be faithful until
death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 |
Compare
this list to Billy Grahams instructions, and you will see
a distinct difference. What Mr. Graham fails to mention
and what God clearly states is this: baptism is
the point where a person enters into Christ, obtains forgiveness
of sins, and enters into the kingdom of heaven. In
other words, if you were not baptized into Christ, then
you are not a Christian and are still lost in your
sins.
You may be thinking, but
baptism without a believing faith cant make a Christian,
and you would be right belief must come before baptism.
Still, if we re-read Mark 16:16 carefully, we know that
trying to believe in Jesus without being baptized is simply not
believing Jesus enough to take Him at His word.
Lets review the facts. Billy
Graham fails to tell people Gods requirements about being
baptized into Christ. Therefore, he fails to tell people
how to become Christians. On the other hand, he says he
is instructing people on how to become Christians. What
do you think? In light of Gods word, is he presenting
an honest version of the Gospel message? No. Is he
leading people to Christ? No. Is he actually leading
them away from Christ? Yes, hes leading them in the
wrong direction.
How important is the salvation
in Christ to you? How willing are you to be led astray
about Gods plan of salvation? How eager are you to
be misled about your relationship with your Creator?
[EGW editors note: For a related article on this subject,
see A Sinners Prayer or a Sinful
Prayer?] |