Billy Graham Had a Runny Nose

There’s a scene in Robert Duvall’s film The Apostle where the renegade evangelist, Sonny Dewey, comes upon a boat blessing ceremony on the river. “You do it your way, I’ll do it mine,” Sonny allows, acknowledging the efforts of the presiding priest, “but we get it done, don’t we?”

Billy Graham is back in the news because of Unbroken, Angelina Jolie’s Oscar nominated film that tells the story of Louis Zamperini—the Olympic runner, World War II hero, and internment camp survivor. Sadly, the movie downplays Zamperini’s faith, and, as Grant Wacker pointed out, it totally bypasses his watershed conversion at a post-war Graham revival in Los Angeles.
In the movie “Unbroken,” Billy Graham goes unmentioned, and Zamperini’s redemption narrative is largely reduced to a few title cards flashed before the closing credits. Yet Zamperini himself believed that the religious event was the pivotal moment of his long journey.

Zamperini was raised a Catholic, and it would’ve been all the more glorious if his adult conversion had brought him back to the Sacraments. Even so, it’s clear that Zamperini totally surrendered himself to God’s grace, and that grace had a field day in and through his life. He gave up his heavy drinking, sought to forgive his Japanese captors, and, most significantly, ended up devoting his life to telling others about the Lord—the most sure sign of an authentic interior about-face.

For some people, you're just never good enough.

Good catch Alex.

In the movie “Unbroken,” Billy Graham goes unmentioned, and Zamperini’s redemption narrative is largely reduced to a few title cards flashed before the closing credits. Yet Zamperini himself believed that the religious event was the pivotal moment of his long journey. Zamperini was raised a Catholic, and it would’ve been all the more glorious if his adult conversion had brought him back to the Sacraments.

The "Sacraments" never brought Louie peace or true Salvation. Zamperini gave witness for over 60 years that only when he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ did that happen. Zamperini devoted the rest of his life to Christian witness and living after his conversion. He helped young men in trouble, he testified to Christ in public forum after public forum. He gave interview after interview, speaking of Jesus Christ. You're right Alex - to some, it is just never enough.

Furthermore, Zamperini wanted the movie to have broad appeal, so that the love of God would be revealed. He didn't want it to be categorized as a purely Christian movie, but hoped that by its message, it would open up doors to people's hearts that are now closed to Christ. The Christian message is loud and clear in that movie. It didn't need to re-create Zamperini's conversion at a Graham Crusade in a rented circus tent in Los Angeles to accomplish what the movie did.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.