Is there ANY present evangelist that is acceptable to the Baptist Board?

[mickd7]

Billy Graham played a part in my salvation also.
One day I picked up a book of his in the library titled "World Aflame" and I could not put it down. His words touched my heart and set me up for the harvest by a Assemblies of God youth ministry. How is that for a combination. My heart opened up to Jesus by a Baptist and harvested by a Pentacostal and then I joined a Baptist church.
This is the way the body of Christ should work together. Forget the differences and work to win souls for the Kingdom!!!!
Many times as a youth I would see Graham on TV and I would have conviction in my heart. What a trememdous man of God he is and mightily used by God.

 

[mickd7]

Dr.Bob, Fair enough. I like all those mentioned except Kroll which I do not know. It is hard to believe Bob Jones is a Methodist though. He might of started out as one but he sure is IFB now.
I do not suppose you like any Full gospel folks i.e Pat Robertson etc.

 

[AVL1984]

He was somewhat instrumental in mine. I watched him on TV as a child and heard the salvation message clearly. I asked my Methodist SS teacher about it, and she asked if I was baptized as a baby. I told her I thought so. She said I was saved. I always wondered until later in a Baptist church I made a "profession". It was a 1,2,3...well, you know. I ended up accepting the Lord many years later.

 

[Phillip]

Originally posted by Dr. Bob:
I was blessed by Paul as a young man.

I thought he arrested Christians and hauled them to Jerusalem to be stoned when he was a young man? Ohhhh, Paul LEVIN, ooops wrong Paul.

 

[Phillip]

Originally posted by blackbird:
Concerning Billy Graham---Then there are the testamonies of his relationships with the US Presidents---and how he personally led President Dwight Eisehower(one of my military heros) to a personal relation with the Lord Jesus---I liked that testamony!!!

Blackbird

Yep, he was especially tight with Richard Nixon. He thought Nixon to be a good Christian down deep inside that rough exterior.

How do you feel about Billy Graham being interviewed and saying that Islamics will go to heaven if they never hear the message of Christ and reach out to God in their own way? Is this Biblical? Or is this a MAJOR doctrinal error?

 

[Johnv]

Phillip, there have been many threads on the "accountability" issue, which often addresses underaged children, the mentally retarded, infirmed, alzheimers victims, and the geographically isolated. Some on the board have surmised that, if a person has never had the opportunity the reject the Lord, that the Lord may in some manner take that into consideration. There is some scriptural support that can be interpreted to support that (the Revelation "if anyone hears my voice" verse). I think this is a major "we just dont know" area, and to refer to it as doctrinal error is harsh at the least. A doctrinal uncertainly, yes, but doctrinal error, I don't think so.

 

[Phillip]

I have heard this too Johnv, but does it make sense that we should send missionaries out to spread the gospel and ensure that these people who don't accept go to hell?

Personally, if this is true, I would not send missionaries to an unreached people group. Would you? ..and if so, why?

Now, are there different degrees of punishment in hell? I think so, but that is an opinion. Hell is described as torment by fire, but I have seen people die in many fires and they certainly don't ask for a drink of water to cool the flames because the pain is making them go off the deep end--screaming and etc. So, maybe there is something here.

But, as far as heaven goes, is the Bible not clear that the narrow path is that of Jesus Christ the Son of God and it is our responsibility to tell people about this in order that they may be saved?

Just some thoughts.........

 

[blackbird]

Billy is "way off base" when he says that Islamic folks can go to Heaven without hearing of Jesus Christ----way off base!

The way that interview went---I believe it was with that guy from the glass cathedral---ole what's his name----the whole interview process reeked of universalism---something that ole what's his name is known for!! May have caught Billy off guard!!

Ain't but one way to get to Heaven--to the presence of God---and thats through repentance of sins and receiveing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!!

Billy must have been mad at Ruth Bell or somethin' that day---maybe a bad argument that was cloudin' Billy's mind during that interview---it was just a little too "off base"---enough for the pitcher to "throw him out!!" Know what I mean??

On a more serious note concerning that interview with ole what's his name---I believe Billy's answer----comes with a combination of Parkinson's and the medication---unable to give a logical biblical theological answer to what should have been a "no brainer!"---but again---I'm not an MD but maybe that had a lot to come into play with that silly interview!!

 

[mickd7]

Even if Graham did say something like that, which I feel was a opinion, this in no way takes away from his great ministry. Cant we make a mistake or two without someone calling the wrath of God on us. Give me a break people!!!!!!
I think what Graham meant and I think also (opinion only) that if a person never heard the gospel but their heart was open to the truth and of course only the Holy Spirit knows the hearts of men, then he will make a way for that person to receive the gospel if he has to send a missionary 10,000 miles just for him or her.
Also if a person that has never heard the gospel and does not know better I think his hell wont be as hot as someone in America that has heard the gosel all their life and then rejected the message.

 

[Johnv]

We've gotta remember that the source for the "Billy Graham says Muslims can go to heaven" comment is a specific excerpt from one specific interview. As the old saying goes, a text out of context is pretext. Given that the vast bulk of (quoting blackbird) ole Billy's work has been that Christ is the sole redeemer, and without him, we perish, I take the interview text with a grain of salt. Same for ole what's his name. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. When someone says a million times that the sky is blue, and says once that the sky is red, we remember him only for saying the sky is red.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Phillip:
I have heard this too Johnv, but does it make sense that we should send missionaries out to spread the gospel and ensure that these people who don't accept go to hell?

IMO, that's kinda like saying we shouldn't bother taking good care of ourselves, because we all die anyway. Regardless of the accountability topic, we are commanded to spread the Gospel. When Jesus says, we must do.

 

[Marcia]

Originally posted by Johnv:
Phillip, there have been many threads on the "accountability" issue, which often addresses underaged children, the mentally retarded, infirmed, alzheimers victims, and the geographically isolated. Some on the board have surmised that, if a person has never had the opportunity the reject the Lord, that the Lord may in some manner take that into consideration. There is some scriptural support that can be interpreted to support that (the Revelation "if anyone hears my voice" verse). I think this is a major "we just dont know" area, and to refer to it as doctrinal error is harsh at the least. A doctrinal uncertainly, yes, but doctrinal error, I don't think so.

There's a difference between those who cannot understand the gospel (mentally ill, severely retarded, etc.) and those who can understand it. If those who have not heard the gospel respond to the general revelation that there is a God, don't you think God can get the gospel to them (or even to those who are not responding)?

JohnV, are you an inclusivist? It sounds like from the above that you might be.

 

[HappyG]

Anyone ever heard of Dr. Gary Gillmore? And do you recommend him? Pretty sure he is a Baptist evangelist.

 

[AVL1984]

Yes, I have heard of him. He used to come to the church I grew up in a LONG time ago. He was a good preacher, and yes, he is a Baptist.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Marcia:
There's a difference between those who cannot understand the gospel (mentally ill, severely retarded, etc.) and those who can understand it. If those who have not heard the gospel respond to the general revelation that there is a God, don't you think God can get the gospel to them (or even to those who are not responding)?

God CAN do many things. That does not mean that we should presume that he DOES or HAS. Right now, at this very moment, there are peoples living on the earth who have never had contact with the outside world, let alone the Gospel. Should we presume that they're hellbound? Scripture instructs us that we may not judge a person's salvation, for only God knows a person's heart. That includes those who have never heard the Gospel.

JohnV, are you an inclusivist? It sounds like from the above that you might be.

What's an inclusivist? I know one sole Gospel truth. I have broken God's laws, that the penalty for doing so is death, and that no matter how much good I do, it does not pay my debt. Thankfully, Jesus offers to pay my debt.

If, however, you're referring to the "accountability" topic I brought up, I brought it up because it has been discussed before, not because I espouse it. In fact, I'm undecided where I stand on the issue as a whole, since those who have discussed it bring up worthy scriptural points.

 

[Marcia]

Posted by JohnV
Right now, at this very moment, there are peoples living on the earth who have never had contact with the outside world, let alone the Gospel. Should we presume that they're hellbound? Scripture instructs us that we may not judge a person's salvation, for only God knows a person's heart. That includes those who have never heard the Gospel.

But scripture does not contradict itself, either. And the message of the gospel is clearly that one can only be saved through Jesus Christ -- Jn 14.6, Acts 4.12, for example. Since I believe God is just, I don't believe anyone goes to hell unjustly. But I think scripture is clear that the only way to God is through Christ.

What's an inclusivist? I know one sole Gospel truth. I have broken God's laws, that the penalty for doing so is death, and that no matter how much good I do, it does not pay my debt. Thankfully, Jesus offers to pay my debt.

An inclusivist believes that people can be saved through non-Christian religions/beliefs, apart from knowing Jesus Christ. That is, they can know "Jesus" by knowing Buddha, Hindu gods, Allah, etc. They do not really know Jesus at all, but inclusivists believe that knowing Allah, Buddha, etc. can be like knowing Jesus/God and is sufficient. That is a simplification of their view, but sort of sums it up. These people are saved apart from knowing Christ. In other words, Jesus can be Buddha, a Hindu god, Allah, etc. if these people are sincerely worshiping. Do you agree with this or find it credible? You seem to think that people who don't hear the gospel are saved.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Marcia:
... the message of the gospel is clearly that one can only be saved through Jesus Christ

If God is just, as you and I agree, it brings up the question of what happens to the infants, the retarded, the informed, etc. I don't have that answer. I simply brought up the question here, which has been brought up before numerous times by others, and presented it as food for thought. You're taking that and attempting to imply that I hold to some kind of false doctrine.

Originally posted by Marcia:
You seem to think that people who don't hear the gospel are saved.

Back off, Marcia, it's a discussion. We're discussing. As I said, I simply brought up the question here, which has been brought up before numerous times by others, and presented it as food for thought.

An inclusivist believes that people can be saved through non-Christian religions/beliefs, apart from knowing Jesus Christ.

I don't believe that you can get saved through ANY belief. No religion saves, not even Christian religions. Only Jesus saves.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

John:

Anyone who has been around here very long knows you do not hold to false doctrines!

And, no, that is not sarcasm. It is what I believe to be true. I've read too many of your posts - we may not always agree, but we can disagree without getting into personalities.

§ue

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Is there ANY present evangelist that is acceptable to the Baptist Board?

I don't know LE, but I have a few that are acceptable to ME.

Tim Lee
David Gibbs
S.M. Davis

to name a few and they all preach/have preached world-wide.

§ue

 

[Gershom]

Johnv posted:
Only Jesus saves.

We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land, climb the mountains, cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Waft it on the rolling tide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, you islands of the sea; echo back, you ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout it brightly through the gloom, when the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Give the winds a mighty voice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free; highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Pris­cil­la J. Ow­ens

AMEN!