"Prepare?
Where Has He Been Since 2009?
Death to America!"
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)."
LOL. Actually, I do trust the Grahams. I don’t trust the RNC, but that’s a different matter. Just because I trust the Grahams generally does not mean I will follow them blindly. Like I said, I agree with you on principle. Let’s see which candidate wins the primary. Hopefully it won’t be a choice between the lesser of two evils.
My “Aw shucks” approach (LOL!) is just about trying to stay united enough with like minded conservatives to form enough of a coalition to make a difference. You know, divided we fall..
There may be too much leftist voter fraud and voting illegal immigrants to even be a contest anyway. Add that to the vote buying campaigns of the left — vote for me and I’ll pay off your student loans...ect... — that it may already be lost.
The saying that the “blood of the martyrs is the SEEDS for NEW CHRISTIANS”.
That saying will always, always prove true.
ect = etc. I don’t know why my fingers always do that.
“Catholics in the Middle East have already done so.”
Not only Catholics. Sheesh! Get your head out of the sand.
“I think Samaritans Purse is a worthwhile organization.”
My husband researched charities before participating in our church’s Samaritan Purse Christmas Shoebox program. IIRC, Samaritan’s Purse was the #1 organization as far as honesty, lowest overhead, percentage of donations being received by the needy, etc.
I think Franklin surpassed his father years ago when it comes to Christian principles. If you can find it, read his autobiography, “Rebel With A Cause”. Excellent but not in print as far as I know.
Yes I like Billy Graham but he loves being in with the powerful.
His son Franklin is registered “unaffiliated”.
Which other denominations would you be referring to?
"Prepare?
Where Has He Been Since 2009?
Death to America!"
While I have always given Graham the respect he is due for decades of work that was prior to that apparent endorsement, I feel it is probably a waste of time to dredge that up for a very old man who is not running for public office nor asking me for concurrence.
This latest statement is true in my view. Christians, as individual patriots in the US, are having to come to grips with something they have never faced before in any wide spread way. I have had many discussions about it. the most recent was in Kentucky at the “free Kim Davis Rally” that I attended.
There was some handwringing over the question of “fight or flight” . or perhaps better said, strike back, or turn the other cheek.
The answer to the question in my opinion can be found in Faith.
Faith in the understanding that there are many who will fight to protect Christians, even if they cannot bring themselves to protect themselves, and I believe that is the work of God.
As for Graham, he would not have addressed this if he was not worried about it, and as a human being, he must know that he has faults. If he fell for the Camelot like Clinton mystique, then it was one of those faults that we all have from time to time.
Thanks!
I’m more prepared to kick some butt on my way out. : )
Thanks for your post/info.
I had no idea.
“Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war;
My safe guard and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, My shield, in whom I trust, who subdues peoples under me.”
>> Principal architects of the coming persecution of Christians in America are the Catholic bishops
Dolt.
Thank you for your cogent, penetrating argument. I have, of course, abandoned my former position.
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.
