Franklin Graham: The pope is 'not the judge'

The Politico ^ | December 29, 2013 | Austin Wright

[2ndDivisionVet]

Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, says he’s at odds on the issue of homosexuality with Pope Francis, who famously told reporters this summer, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge them?”

“I think he’s right when he says he’s not the judge,” Graham said in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” adding: “He’s not the judge. God is the judge.”

Graham said he feels compelled to tell people about his belief that homosexuality is a sin — and declared that he wouldn’t shift on the issue.

“God would have to shift — and God doesn’t,” he said. “God’s word is the same, yesterday and today and a million years from now.”(continued)

[BillyBoy]

Franklin Graham seems confused by what the Pope said about gays. There's no difference between them at all on the issue — both believe to love the sinner and hate the sin. Pope Francis was speaking of not judging gays as individuals. We are all created in God's image and we have no right to assume someone has no chance at salvation because their sins are different than ours. But Pope Francis has never said we shouldn't judge the ACT of homosexual relationships. Promoting abominations like gay “marriage” is definitely a grave sin against God and should be publicly condemned as such with no mince words. Pope Francis said so himself on numerous occasions and I suggest Franklin Graham read the Pope's own words on those matters and not the cliff notes headline he hears from the mainstream media. I'm sure he wouldn't like it if the Pope judged all of his sermons and columns from a one sentence headline written by the liberal media.

[Alex Murphy]

Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, says he’s at odds on the issue of homosexuality with Pope Francis, who famously told reporters this summer, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge them?” “I think he’s right when he says he’s not the judge,” Graham said in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” adding: “He’s not the judge. God is the judge.”

Ping for later

[HiTech RedNeck]

I don’t see any difference between their standpoints. I do see a BillyBoy who apparently wants to hype the pope as if there WAS a difference.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It’s worth noting that, however awkwardly, this is probably the most evangelical pope the Roman Catholic church has had since Peter (if Peter is to be counted as a pope).

[HiTech RedNeck]

PS I don’t think any of this is an accident. I think God’s right smack dab on the case.

[happyhomemaker]

I am always on alert when tons of atheists and Christian haters are thrilled with the words of this Pope. They are hearing something that is exciting them and it is not driving them to their knees in repentance.

[HiTech RedNeck]

You can’t blame the pope for this, any more than you can blame God for how the devil misused scripture to try to mislead Christ.

[HiTech RedNeck]

In other words, if we complain about this we were trusting in something less than God as a bulwark against evil.

God prefers to win over enemies (human) by making friends of them.

Calling to repentance through kindness isn’t always the instant spectacle that you might want to see. An impatient tyrant might want to see this. A God who plays His ‘game” on the bench of eternity has other views.

[reasonisfaith]

If you hear someone tell you God alone is the judge, it’s a good idea to pay attention.

[BillyBoy]

Actually, it appears that Franklin Graham is the one who wants to hype himself and argue "as if there WAS a difference". Quote Graham: "He’s not the judge. God is the judge.”

Since when did Pope Francis argue God's judgment ISN'T supreme?

[OneWingedShark]

Graham said he feels compelled to tell people about his belief that homosexuality is a sin — and declared that he wouldn’t shift on the issue.
“God would have to shift — and God doesn’t,” he said. “God’s word is the same, yesterday and today and a million years from now.”

That's the wrong conclusion to the assertion that homosexuality is a sin*: the right conclusion is "Thank God that while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us."
(* That God would have to change to provide them salvation; their sin cannot invalidate the work of Christ nor is God changing his mind: he already said Come now, let us reason together: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. he came to provide an escape from the power of sin and death.)

[Steelfish]

The right answer is contrition, and “go and sin no more”
Recognize the sin, without condemning the sinner.

[MarkBsnr]

There is a difference between visiting and comforting the prisoner and evangelizing to them, and lying with dogs and getting up with fleas. Sadly most of us, myself included, don’t always do such a good job at understanding and acting on that difference.

[ImNotLying]

Exactly right. God wants us to love one another. All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Anyone, no matter what they have done, can confess their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. That is the only way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Good deeds are pleasing to God, but no matter how many good deeds you do, unless you accept Jesus as your lord and savior you are condemned to eternal hell.

[quadrant]

Proclaiming that homosexual practices are sinful is not judging those whose sexual desires draw them toward those practices. Proclaiming those acts to be sinful is an act of love; and the failure to proclaim the acts sinful (or toleration of those acts) is at best an act of indifference and at worst an act of hate.
The Divine consequences of homosexual acts are known only to God.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Graham should be careful discussing his belief on homosexuals...he might not land that new show in A&E!!

[NKP_Vet]

Billy Boy needs to talk to his daddy and let him tell him what the Pope meant. Sometimes Billy Boy makes no sense.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Once again the "unchanging" Church knuckles under, those awful Fundamentalist Protestants stay true.

The Church needs to replace its old motto of "always the same" with "always evolving."

[DouglasKC]

I am always on alert when tons of atheists and Christian haters are thrilled with the words of this Pope. They are hearing something that is exciting them and it is not driving them to their knees in repentance.

Completely agree. The reaction isn't "Gee, that makes a lot of sense....I need to get my life right with God". It's "I really like this guy because he accepts my lifestyle." At least that's the spin that's being put on it.