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Did Billy Graham do More Harm Than Good to the Church?

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thatbrian

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Please give a little respect for the dead Brian.

Wait a few days before condemnation of the man.

Didn't you say that he's not dead?

I am condemning his work. It's God's job to pardon or condemn a man.
 

thatbrian

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How could Billy Graham kept anyone out of the heaven if the doctrine of election is true?

How could have Joseph's brothers committed a despicable act in selling their brother into slavery when God "meant it for good"?
 

thatbrian

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One thing that comes up almost immediately in such a discussion is Calvinism. I can testify that I heard opposition to Billy Graham from missionary Baptists who also opposed Calvinism, long before I had ever seen a Baptist Calvinist. These folks thought Graham's message was weak (not heretical), his methods (decoys, repeat-after-me prayers, etc.) were misguided, and his alliances were ecumenical (and all of this long before his Robert Schuller interview, at which time, btw, he was 79 years old).

All this just to say that opposition to Billy Graham was not merely a Pro-Calvinism versus Anti-Calvinism divide.

Thank you for the informative and helpful post.
 

thatbrian

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I have also had some misgivings about some of the strategies but I still think it is a little ghoulish to go after the man before he is even buried.

Hank, no one is "going after" BG. Some are just reminding us that he ought not to be sainted and treated a s hero of the faith, because he really was not.
 

OfLivingWaters

Active Member
It seems to me, (and I am only aware of more of his earliest preaching) that sometimes when people travel to obscure tribal places they tend to compromise their faith. His earlier works tend to be on point, concerning preaching salvation only comes by Christ and the cross. He has had missteps I have to agree, in more recent years. He seems to have become forgetful concerning:
"And this gospel must first be preach to all corners of the earth" and "Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the Name of the Father and Of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". To say that once people have heard the gospel and have not acted upon it they are still considered to be believers and are saved, is false.

However, what is true- is that if never heard, God has a place for them if (based on their knowledge) they did their best to live as good as they know to. But it is not in the highest heaven, and they do not get to see the Beautiful Vision of God. I believe this because the Book of Enoch ( which I agree with) states their are 10 heavens or levels. But once a person knows the truth there are no excuses. And a mans work is tested upon the foundation, if what is built upon it burns it is not of the foundation . The man will not come out of it until the last cent is paid.
1 Corinthians 3:12-13
Christ Our Foundation
…11For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.…

So, some of Billy Graham's work is of wood , hay straw. For me it is simple. If he went to tribes and shared the good news and they did not believe onto it and were not baptized then they are not saved. And upon them the greater suffering of knowing and not receiving comes upon them after. He was the messenger to them, not for them to remain as they are and simply be blessed because they saw Billy Graham, but to be saved through Christ. To simply go and observe tribes and their nice behavior means nothing. Salvation is salvation.

Now a theological question: Is there purgatory?
Christ Our Foundation
…14If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one being snatched from the fire. 16Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…

It sounds to me, that if a person who is a teacher or builder, brings many to Christ, builds gold, silver , precious stones upon the foundation it will be counted to him as a good work. But his missteps he will have to be purged of . Is this on earth or in a portion
of the supernatural realm? Or is this on judgement day? If judgement day- where is this type of soul held? It can not be hell, for no one returns from there, it can not be the highest heaven because this is reserved for the saints. So, where is it? St. Paul says the (DAY) will bring it present, what is that day? I believe it is judgement day.
As I said ,these souls can not be in hell, so where are they held?
The Rich Man and Lazarus
…25But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are left to suffer. 26And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’ 27‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house,…

So, no Saint can go there and no one there can cross to where the saints are. Where are these souls held who have built both gold ex... and wood ex.... held? What exactly is St. Paul talking about? Any takers? Christ Our Foundation
…14If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one being snatched from the fire. 16Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…
God Bless!
 

Adonia

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The fact that our resident Catholic Apologist, Adonia is praising Billy Graham should cause true bible believers on here to open their eyes.

Why? I praise the man who tried his best to live a holy life by preaching the Scriptures in the way in which God moved him to. I don't follow his particular way of faith especially when it comes to worship. He like many people tend to place their focus of worship on the sermon, I don't, yet that does not blind me to the fact that he did indeed serve the Lord. Sola Scriptura believers have nothing to fear from me or the late Rev. Billy Graham.

When the Papists and Catholics praise a bible preacher did that bible teacher really present the Gospel clearly?

He presented the Scriptures clearly and precisely in how he interpreted them - just like any non-orthodox Christian minister does.

How can Satan and Christ have fellowship? How can the false churches and religions work so comfortably with Billy Graham?

Who died and made you the Grand Poohbah on determining which religion or church is false? I see no information listing your faith tradition, to which sect do you belong to? Are you even a Christian?
 

Wesley Briggman

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In the context he intended it. Innocent of wilful violation of The Law. Romans 2.

My assumption (yes, I know) is "native" is in reference to people who have no knowledge of the gospel as Billy Graham alluded to in the following quote:

"Graham: Yes, it is, because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, that they 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, and they've tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived."

Rom 1:7 KJV - To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Different "audiences".

This is my understanding of the use of the word "native" in this context.

Hopefully, you will enlighten me where I have gone amiss.
 

thatbrian

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I agree. That is what I expected you to say.

Natural revelation is enough to hold all men guilty according to Romans 1, but it does nothing to save a man. It is law, not gospel.

Romans 1:19–20

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (ESV)
 
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