Posted on 06/23/2015 7:19:41 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Evangelical leader the Rev. Franklin Graham has responded to critics of his decision to discontinue business with Wells Fargo following the company's TV ad featuring a same-sex couple.
The head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse had a column published last week arguing that the boycott was not about Wells Fargo being "gay-friendly."
"Indeed, the bank we transferred our accounts to — BB&T based in Winston-Salem, N.C. — is also widely considered gay-friendly. In fact, it may surprise some to learn that I think every business should be gay-friendly," wrote Graham
"By that I mean businesses — like individuals — should be friendly to gay customers and citizens. We should be friendly to everyone, even if or when we disagree with them."
Graham added that "there is a difference between being friendly and being a public advocate," which differentiates Wells Fargo from BB&T.
"It is true that a local BB&T branch in the Miami area hosted a fundraiser for a program called Legacy Couples, which recognizes same-sex couples who have been in committed relationships for 10 years or more," continued Graham.
"… But the bank did not promote this program through a national advertising campaign (or we would still be looking for another bank)."
Earlier this month, Graham announced that he was going to move the finances of the BGEA away from Wells Fargo due to the company's airing of a TV ad featuring a same-sex couple.
"Have you ever asked yourself — how can we fight the tide of moral decay that is being crammed down our throats by big business, the media, and the gay and lesbian community?" wrote Graham on Facebook.
"Every day it is something else! Tiffany's started advertising wedding rings for gay couples. Wells Fargo bank is using a same-sex couple in their advertising. And there are more. … But it has dawned on me that we don't have to do business with them."
Graham received much criticism in his call for a boycott and many poked fun at the son of Rev. Billy Graham for putting the BGEA funds in the BB&T bank, which is also highly ranked as pro-gay.
Regarding the issue of being welcoming of homosexuals, Graham stated that, for Christians, "being gay-friendly is not optional."
"Jesus himself issued an ultimatum in the New Testament Gospel of John: 'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another,'" wrote Graham.
"By the same token, we are not called upon to accept or endorse anything that runs contrary to what Scripture teaches, which means we can oppose a TV ad promoting a home with an adopted child and lesbian parents while still loving those represented in the ad."
I am confused.
Saw a Tylenol commercial about families. End statement was two men with a little girl. The narrative is its “how we love, not who we love”.
Sure seems to be a lot of noise for less than 2% of the population.
Removal of “WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE” signs from all businesses to be replaced with ones that say “WE HAVE TO SERVE ANYONE DUE TO GOVT EDICT.” WTH?
Someone tell me the good Reverend isn’t capitulating to the homafia.
Franklin Graham is one of the last stalwarts. We can’t afford to lose him.
Pray for strength.
EEEEUUUUWWWWW
Well said. I am likewise tired of the media accusing me of hating or mistreating gays just because I don’t agree with gay marriage.
Read the last 2 sentences
You know, they act as if gays have been unable to make purchases. Nobody has every stopped a gay from buying groceries, a car, a house, furniture, a cake, flowers, or anything else. The issue is being forced to accept and celebrate their lifestyle.
Ah. Gothca. Thanks.
>>Saw a Tylenol commercial about families. End statement was two men
Saw it on Big Bang Theory. Suppressed urge to vomit. Stopped my DVR from recording it. I don’t need the show, and won’t support their sponsors.
RE: Someone tell me the good Reverend isn’t capitulating to the homafia.
Where in the article did he capitulate to anything?
“We are green money friendly. “
If a same sex couple get married, it’s not my place to stand in the way unless I am standing in the way when the money gets handed out. If people going to do something stupid, I am honor bound to try to make money off their idiocy.
This same-sex marriage thing won’t last long so screw ‘em while you can.
I believe what Rev. Graham is saying is:
Treat them as you would like to be treated but don’t celebrate their immoral, unrighteous, ungodly behavior. You can be respectful, friendly and kind to the LGBTUVWXYZ crowd but you can also remain firm and steadfast in the Biblical truth that homosexuality was, is and will forever be a sin and an abomination before God.
So if Franklin Graham. I think he pulled his money from Wells Fargo over their stand on homosexuality and transfered it to another bank without doing his research and is now trying to cover his mistake.
Reminds me of a gay gøy who came to our church. He told the pastor he was gay and the pastor said to him “we welcome all kinds of sinners”.
As the left keeps them locked up in their prison by saying everything is ok. Christians keep them in the same prison by not reaching out to them and helping deliver them into the arms of Jesus.
Thanks all. I should really wait til I’m more awake before I read anything lengthy .... or until the coffee kicks in.
; )
Well said.
The money-grubbing Graham family simply seems a means to line their pockets with more money. Really hate these family-run dynasty churches. Incredible people keep giving them more money for their fancy houses, cars, planes, and lifestyles. Great business model.
Hmm. Hosting a local fundraiser is just being friendly, running a friendly ad nationally is being a public advocate? Is that so? It's not public if it's local?
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