Posted on 03/05/2018 6:41:26 PM PST by metmom
Evangelist Billy Graham lived 99 years, wrote 30 books, met with 12 sitting American presidents and preached the gospel to millions. But when he is buried this Friday, March 2, in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, he will be remembered not only as a world-changing hero of faith but as a humble preacher whose personal integrity set the gold standard for every minister in this country.
Why was this man so respected? How was he able to keep his ministry free from scandal for more than 75 years?
In 1948, when Graham was just 30 years old, he and his small ministry team met for Bible study and prayer at a tiny motel in Modesto, California. The other men in that meeting including assistant evangelist Grady Wilson, singer George Beverly Shea and song leader Cliff Barrows. Graham challenged them to pray about what codes of behavior they needed to adopt in order to keep the ministry clean.
The results of that meeting were profoundly prophetic. The men outlined what would become "the Modesto Manifesto"—a list of core ministry values that became the guiding principles of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The BGEA was founded two years later, in 1950, just one year after media coverage of Graham's eight-week gospel campaign in Los Angeles made him a household word.
Here are the four key components of the Modesto Manifesto, along with notes that Cliff Barrows jotted down in their meeting:
Honesty: "It was resolved that all communications to media and to the church would not be inflated or exaggerated. The size of crowds and the number of inquirers would not be embellished for the sake of making BGEA look better."
Integrity: "It was resolved that financial matters would be submitted to a board of directors for review and facilitation of expenditures. Every local crusade would maintain a policy of 'open books' and publish a record of where and how monies were spent."
Purity: "It was resolved that members of the team would pay close attention to avoiding temptation—never being alone with another woman, remaining accountable to one another, etc. A practice of keeping wives informed of their activities on the road and helping them feel a part of any and all crusades they undertook would be encouraged."
Humility: "It was resolved that members of the team were never to speak badly of another Christian minister, regardless of his denominational affiliation or differing theological views and practices. The mission of evangelism includes strengthening the body of Christ as well as building it!"
Graham has always been a spiritual hero to me for this reason. Early in his ministry—in fact, before he ever became famous—he realized that his ministry was a stewardship from God and that he could not run it any way he wanted. He had to manage it according to clear biblical principles.
Graham never forgot his humble roots, and he never let popularity change him into an egotistical monster. Even though he was invited to dine with presidents, queens and celebrities, his passion was taking the message of Christ to the common person. And when an usher tried to segregate black and white sections of an auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1953, Graham removed the barriers himself. Related Articles
"I am not a great preacher, and I don't claim to be a great preacher," he once said. "I've heard great preaching many times and wished I was one of these great preachers. I'm an ordinary preacher, just communicating the gospel in the best way I know how."
He also carried with him a healthy fear that he might try to touch God's glory or take credit for evangelistic results.
Graham said: "So many people think that somehow I carry a revival around in a suitcase, and they just announce me and something happens—but that's not true. This is the work of God, and the Bible warns that God will not share His glory with another. All the publicity that we receive sometimes frightens me because I feel that therein lies a great danger. If God should take His hand off me, I would have no more spiritual power. The whole secret of the success of our meetings is spiritual—it's God answering prayer. I cannot take credit for any of it."
So much of what we call ministry today has been compromised by ego, marketing and man-made agendas. Some of our own "Spirit-filled" preachers are happy to sell a healing or a financial miracle for $29.95. Others claim spiritual superiority because they have the largest following on social media or because so many lined up to attend their packed conferences.
We have exchanged honesty, integrity, purity and humility for hype, fake anointing, manipulated photos, inflated attendance reports, sensuality and boastful swagger. God forgive us.
Billy Graham raised the bar for all ministers. I pray we will never forget his legacy.
Ping...
He’s not a catholic.
They could certainly take lessons from him, couldn’t they?
Neither is the Pope. What’s your point?
My Grandmother was a great fan of both Billy Graham and Bishop Sheen; and I grew up listening to both of their sermons and talks on the television machine.
Graham accomplished great things while remaining a humble man - as did Sheen.
Our pastor goes by the “never be alone with another woman” rule.
He says even if it is something totally innocent, he never wants his wife to hear from somebody else that he was seen with a woman. I don’t see any downside.
I recall reading one time that Billy Graham would never ever enter into a hotel room alone. He always had another male team member enter with him. Why? Just in case a girl was planted there to seduce him. Or might have a photographer take a photo of them.
That makes me think of VP Pence and his approach with women. Quality men with morals just do not take chances.
Might seem silly. But Billy Graham was never accused of a scandal.
I had heard of him before but hadn't read or seen any of his sermons. I ended up spending the next good while watching Bishop Sheen clips.
Wildly undenominational that I am, Sheen came across as a true preacher of the Gospel, as Graham was.
It was a pretty neat discovery.
They were both great men of deep thought and devotion; and Originals.
(’What’s My Line’ was a great show - it’s fascinating to do a YouTube search and see all of the people who were featured there. I think it was up there among my favorites, back in the day. But ‘Candid Camera’ had everything beat, to my kid mind :-)
Excellent article. Unlike Lucifer, who coveted for himself the praise that was due to God, Billy Graham never presumed to stand in the place of God. Billy Graham was a humble servant, and God used him mightily.
The four areas listed are a good idea for anyone in a public position. Politicians, preachers, athletes, film stars anybody.
In fact, they are sound principles for anyone.
I used to have a female RA, I would never meet with her in my office, even with the door open. When, as sometimes happened she needed to use the office, I would be somewhere else.
Sadly, it’s not silly.
It’s reprehensible the depths of deception some people will go to to discredit someone else.
That Graham should even have to think that way is an indictment of our culture and those who hate Christianity.
Do you believe in infant baptism conferring salvation upon an unbelieving infant?
Billy Graham did.
On the “integrity”, I had read that he had set things up where he would need to submit requuests to a board for even his own personal clothing and toiletries. Compare and contrast this with others. It must be true, that worldly possessions and holiness don’t mix.
Sure he is.
They may not like him and they may not agree with him, but whether or not he's Catholic is not their decision to make.
He was elected pope by the RCC college of cardinals.
He's theirs, like it or not.
The word ‘salvation’ should be ‘protection’ until salvation. Babies are covered until age of accountability, then make their own decision to accept Christ, as Savior That baptism is a covering of God’s protection, until that time.
I suppose you can site that......
And no, I don't but I don't see what you contention has to do with the topic of the thread except to stir up controversy and strife.
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