Posted on 11/01/2015 5:59:57 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The Rev. Billy Graham has issued a written warning to America's churches: "Prepare for persecution."
The renowned preacher and founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association penned a commentary that was posted on his website last week and is slated to appear in the November edition of Decision magazine.
In the magazine, Graham notes that the American church has been largely unfamiliar with persecution, writing that this "immunity to persecution that Christians in our country have experienced in the past two or three centuries is unusual."
"As a whole, our nation does not know what privation is. We do not know what sacrifice is. We do not know what suffering is. Suppose persecution were to come to the church in America, as it has come in other countries," wrote Graham.
"Since we have experienced little religious persecution in this country, it is likely that under pressure many would deny Christ. Those who shout the loudest about their faith may surrender soonest."
Graham went on to list "five ways to fortify yourself so that you will be able to stand in that day." These included making sure of one's relationship to God, walking with God, regularly reading Scripture, praying always, and meditating on Christ.
"Today our nation ranks as the greatest power on the face of the Earth. But if we put our trust in armed might instead of Almighty God, the coming conflict could conceivably go against us," continued Graham.
"History and the Bible indicate that mechanical and material might are insufficient in times of great crisis."
For many years, some — especially in socially conservative circles — have argued that the United States is gradually marginalizing Christians.
They point to things like the censorship of manger scenes and Ten Commandments displays on government property and an inherent growth of secularism in media.
In recent years, Graham's son, the Rev. Franklin Graham, has become an outspoken critic of what he believes to be growing hostility toward Christians in America.
Earlier in October, Franklin Graham wrote a Facebook post in which he viewed the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, as an example.
Chris Harper-Mercer opened fire on students at Umpqua, killing nine and wounding seven others before fatally shooting himself. Early reports indicated that he specifically targeted Christian students.
"Persecution and targeting of Christians isn't just in Iran or the Middle East, it's right here in America," wrote Franklin Graham.
"The bold souls at Umpqua Community College who stood up to say they were followers of Jesus Christ were heinously gunned down with no mercy. Jesus said, 'If they hate you, remember they hated me before they hated you,' (John 15:18)."
There will be. The great falling away has already occurred in Europe and America may be following suit. It’s not all bad news - there is growth in some places.
RE: I’m sorry but if Billy Graham is a democrat I hope he rots in hell.
Billy Graham is 96 years old. I believe he is an old blue dog Democrat, the kind that no longer exists today.
I know of MANY older Democrats (contemporaries of Harry Truman ), who are against what the DNC stands for today ( e.g. abortion, same-sex marriage, taking God out of their platform, etc ).
It has already started.
We are coming into a new phase in American history. Our Christian heritage is looked at as hateful and evil. The righteous Pilgrims brought the evil “white man’s” God and smallpox blankets. I used to think Jesus’ letter to Laodicea was the United States. I still do, however I also think the Church of Smyrna may be our destination...10 days of horrible persecution where some of us may be killed. History shows that when nations cut God’s chords of love, they turn hard and they turn fast (e.g French Rev, NAZI Germany, Holy mother Russia, etc.) I am still hoping for the rapture to intervene, though!
Uhh YES!! Please read out numbers. We are NOT going to let our children and women be slaughtered by moslems. Not even close.
Just checked it, he is registered as a Democrat.
Plenty of democrats who hate gay marriage, abortion, taking God out of schools, etc.
But when they get into the voting booth they pull the democrat lever.
Why?
Oh, republicans only care about the rich. Not us L'il folk.
But you understand that by pulling the lever that you, yes YOU are going to be persecuted for your beliefs.
"I don't care. The republicans are for the rich. I'm not rich."
Do you have any concept of what the democrats of today stand for?
"Yes, they will look out for the little guy like myself." Really, how's that working out for ya?
How could he remain silent all these years about what the Dems were doing to our country?
He watched it happen.
I am with you on your take of the churches. I have never seen such lukewarm attitudes from the pulpit. . .let alone the congregations. It’s like they are in a lull. . . no heart or urgency for the unsaved. http://www.patburt.com/
Whoa. I can’t believe you said that.
{Billy Graham is 96 years old. I believe he is an old blue dog Democrat, the kind that no longer exists today.I know of MANY older Democrats (contemporaries of Harry Truman ), who are against what the DNC stands for today ( e.g. abortion, same-sex marriage, taking God out of their platform, etc ).}
He is 96 years old and still has a D by his name? D for disgusting in my opinion. It doesn’t take much to change to R or I.
The Great Falling Away has already begun.
I think he was referring to Romney endorsement in 2012.
Great, and the Clintons also.
I guess he was endorsing Romney over Obama.
With the Clintons, I think some of these people in leadership positions just don’t read FR.
But I prefer to prepare to persecute, not to be persecuted. We have a choice.
I know some people are died in the wool democrats, but they have not voted that way in years. They are still hoping that the party will turn around, but they vote otherwise until it does. Because he is democrat doesn’t mean he supported Obama, or even voted for Bill Clinton. I think the friendship with the Clintons goes way back to before Bill ran for governor of Arkansas. Who knows for sure, but even though I was rankled by him, it’s the same with the Trump/Hillary deal. He invited her to his wedding, or a family member’s wedding, probably because they kept some of the same social circles, not that Trump necessarily thought Hillary was the best thing since sliced bread. We don’t need to demonize every single association people have with one another. Sheesh!
On the other had, close associations are a different thing and tell you that there is something in that relationship that needs investigating before one puts your trust in them. I don’t see people rushing to dump Trump because he gave money to Hillary or invited her to a wedding.
“Uhh YES!! Please read out numbers. We are NOT going to let our children and women be slaughtered by moslems. Not even close.”
Didn’t bother to read the chapter.
We are legion is what the demons says
In other words, get ready to “lock and load”.
for years and years the left screamed hollered and whined about gay people being ‘persecuted’ by Christians, but I never heard of a gay person losing their business because Christians opposed it, nor of gay people being fined for not allowing hetero marriages in their places of business-
The left screamed bloody murder- but now that Christians ARE truly being persecuted by the courts and gay community, the left are downright giddy about that
I am thinking these government drones haven't thought this through very well. I hope that American Christians are a little different than others around the world. Many of us are well armed, and have no intention of going quietly into the night. Everyone of these POSs should wonder who is waiting in the stairwells and hallways. Who says martyrdom is something to be sought after?
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