An apostasy the late Billy Graham opposed is on display in subtle and not so subtle ways in story after story telling of his life or memorializing him. An example is that USA TODAY used Graham’s obituary to attack his son Franklin Graham.
The general tenor of these statements was that Billy Graham preached peace and love as opposed being judgmental, unlike his son Franklin Graham who has called out as sin Islam as well as homosexuality.
Here is what USA TODAY felt compelled to include in a lengthy obituary of Reverend Graham:
Though Graham’s shoes could likely never be filled, his son, Franklin, has taken over in some aspects — leading The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and becoming a confidant of President Trump, including speaking at his inauguration.
But Franklin’s message has swayed from his father’s, leaving a mixed legacy for the Graham name.
Franklin has mocked both Islam and LGBT rights. He uses his following on social media to raise funds for “persecuted Christians,” boycotts businesses that use gay couples in advertisements and blasts the separation of church and state as the godless successor to Cold War communism.
But his father’s words for years offered peace and perspective.
This twisting of reality is poppycock of the highest order.
Billy Graham spoke of the Great Judgment of God upon man constantly and implored all to specifically turn from their sin and repent, meaning to admit to and acknowledge how wrong they have been in their sin, and turn to Jesus Christ for their salvation.
The apostasy being promoted, that sadly has taken most of our traditional mainline church denominations, is that one can simply choose what one regards to be sin, rejecting even direct statements in the Word of God. That one can simply enjoy the love and peace of Christ and his forgiveness without acknowledging one’s own sin, how wrong it is, and just keep on sinning (but without acknowledging it as such.)
Such is apostasy and counter to the message of sin and salvation from it, so ably delivered by Billy Graham to over 260,000,000 people in person during his life’s ministry.
And people who are foolish enough to believe they can substitute their personal, situational ethics-like, definitions of good behavior and what is sin for the pronouncements of God in his Word are engaged in delusional behavior of the most arrogant form.
One of my favorite aspects of Pratt on Texas is your boldness in declaring what is right according to God’s words and clearly labeling sin as sin. I’ve yet to hear a radio host articulate their religeous understandings so well and so unashamedly. It is obvious that you not only know it, but that you believe it , excersice faith in it, and that you hope others will do the same. It is refreshing to hear. Our world needs more men of faith.