Posted on 07/01/2005 11:09:50 AM PDT by tyw
Friday, July 1, 2005 10:09 a.m. EDT
The Rev. Billy Graham said Friday that he didn't intend to endorse Hillary Clinton for president when he told her husband at a massive New York City revival meeting last weekend that she should "run the country."
His son Franklin Graham, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, tells the Charlotte Observer:
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"For a long time, my father has refrained from endorsing political candidates and he certainly did not intend for his comments to be an endorsement for Senator Hillary Clinton." "My father, of course, was joking," the younger Graham said, when he hosted the Clintons onstage and told the crowd of 90,000, "They're a great couple. ... He should be an evangelist because he has all the gifts and he could leave his wife to run the country."
Although Billy Graham has called himself a Democrat, Franklin said that didn't mean he supported the former president, saying, "His political views, as well as mine, are quite different than the Clintons'."
The Clintons, however "remain good friends," he added.
The Rev. Graham felt compelled to issue the clarification after receiving more than 100 e-mails and calls of protest, the Observer said.
The Rev. Graham's words of praise for the former first couple prompted significant consternation among some of his most devoted followers.
National Clergy Council President Rev. Rob Schenck, for instance - who had traveled from Washington, D.C., to Queens, N.Y., just to hear his "role model" preach - walked out of the event after the Clintons were feted onstage.
"I was stunned and appalled," the Rev. Schenck told the Christian Wire Service.
"It was disturbing to watch Billy Graham, a man whom Ive admired for years, being used by evil to mislead countless Christians," complained the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, head of the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny [BOND].
I agree with you, it looks like there are a lot of Fred Phelps, leader of the Topeka cult wannabees and DU lovers on this board. They hate Billy Graham. Some picketed Billy Graham last crusade and are so outrageous in their vehement hate towards Billy Graham, it gets one to wondering what their real motivations are. Fear of the gospel, maybe. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
This resolves nothing whatsover. From the guy who called Islam "evil"?
Joke or not, just how sanctified is Billy Graham's crusade platform? Even Graham's close friend Nixon in the 60s only sat in the audience.
Just bizarre. And disappointing. This is not leadership.
I disagree with one of your statements. Forgiveness does not depend on the asking. It's a gift. It can be accepted (via asking), or rejected, but it's a gift. That's the way God says he works.
If we ask God to "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us", the we are inviting his wrath by not having a forgiving heart just as he does.
Dr. Graham has been, and is, a Man of God. I don't agree with everything he says or does either, as I don't in this case, but I'm not going to "launch" on him. I don't think he should have ever allowed them on stage, and I'm disappointed, but that doesn't mean he's evil.
"Why would Christ love people that are not allowed through the pearly gates?...they are the enemy."
Why indeed, but he does. Think about that for a minute. Who said, "love your enemies"?
Hmmmm..........
>Why would Christ love people that are not allowed through the pearly gates?<
Because the Father did.For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his only begotten son.God's Grace is his unmerited gift to all.
I asked you to name scripture supporting your opinion.
You have not done this.
Read John 3:16
The statement of the Lord is that he loved us, so He sacrificed His son, so that our sins would be paid in full. That we could then ask forgiveness and have eternal life.
Love came before sacrifice. His Sacrifice before forgiveness.
Lets see, Billy Graham is for the Federal Marriage Amendment to the US Constitution, the military campaign in Iraq and to win the war on terrorism and about every conservative issue. He is against abortion and embryonic stem cell research , etc. Howard Dean and Osama ben Laden hates him and wants to stop him.
I think Rev. Graham is one the best old school preachers and religious conservative there is.
AGREED!!!!!!!!
Heheh.......clever, very clever indeed. Oughta get a lot of "believers" with that "commandment."
anybody got his original quote? Sounded remarkably like "Bill, you should be an evangelist. Hillary can run the country." Of course, I could just be a pot smoking hippy who was too high to think, much less comprehend clearly. Wait... that would make me a 'rat...
Yes.
There are Optional Commandments too, such as "Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Wife's Ass" but mostly they're all too hard to remember, so we don't sweat 'em.
The only hassle with being a Celebrationist is when those damned Festivans try to crash one of our Celebratory Revivals with their stupid aluminum poles. Talk about your fake religions . . . . . . .
>I think Rev. Graham is one the best old school preachers and religious conservative there is.<
Unfortunately a lot of "cultural Christians" study of the Bible is sadly lacking today.These are the ones that want Graham to comment on every social issue that comes down the pike.Graham is an evangilist.He is not a Pastor.He is not a church leader or teacher.
God called Graham to bring light to a dark world.If you listen to his sermons he holds individuals responsible for their sins and offers them salvation.He is called to save souls not change the culture or convince the lost to behave as if they were saved.
So did he do that with Mr. & Mrs. Rapist up there on the stage? If so, I missed that part; it looked more like a crummy political endorsement to me.
Or "a joke" if you want to believe weaselly lies.
IMHO, it is much ado aboout nothing. An off the cuff remark much like Trent Lott to Strom (God Bless Him) Thurmond.
I look at it this way,...God provides everybody an opportunity to come to Him on His terms. No matter what other events may happen in human history, Bill and Hillary have been afforded a front row, on-stage seat, before one of the most renown evangelists of all human history. The real issue is between those who hear the gospel and God. There won't be any wiggle room for excuses come Judgment Day, if such a graceful opportunity has been ignored, but instead used for their own self-agrandizement.
If they turn to God in faithfulness, then what a great testimonial Billy Graham has afforded us all. If they reject Him, then what a great way for Billy Graham to perform his duties even unto those who needed it the most but still reject it. In either case, Billy, by remaining faithful to God through Christ in the performance of his gifts, comes out a winner.
Yes, one of the first things I remember growing up was watching Billy Graham crusades and I think Rev. Graham is one of the best old/new school preachers. Give me that old time religion.
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