How Billy Graham Avoided Scandal His Entire Life

Charisma News ^ | 3/1/2018 | J. Lee Grady

[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.

[Sontagged]

While there are metaphors in the Bible that some people take literally, and are in error for doing it, such as the issue of binding and loosing, and how the word “bind” happens to also be used by Christ in describing how we are to cast demons out “by binding the strongman in a house”... I think you should spell out what exactly you are thinking about in the Bible that you do not believe is a literal occurance?

As for binding and loosing and binding the strong man, these articles spell it out:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binding_and_loosing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Strong_Man#cite_note-JRE-6

But then you have overzealous Pentecostals “binding Satan in the name of Jesus” instead of understanding that this was not a model of prayer that Jesus was discussing, but rather a metaphor for His kingdom and they miss the import of exactly how powerful the authority of Jesus is, the Name above all Names.

And then you have these same Pentecostals “binding Satan” and “loosing angels”...
it’s nuts because it is all about doctrine and only Peter and those who walked with Jesus in the flesh could establish doctrinal matters. (Which is why when Peter and Paul quarreled, Peter relented and then established Paul’s words as the Word of God)...

And these same Pentecostals forget that Jesus told us that, instead of being arrested at Gethsamane, He could call down angels... but He didn’t call down angels to avenge His arrest.

And neither should we take the doctrinal issue of “loosing/binding” to mean we ourselves have the spiritual authority to tell angels what to do, and when to do it!

So if that’s what you mean about taking something literally or metaphorically, I think there is a problem there.

Then you have the Mormons, who wear their magic underwear because there is something in the Bible about wearing the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness or something. (Elsie can correct me.)

This is clearly a metaphor. We are to “put on” the garment of praise when we feel depressed or heavy, and it will lift our spirits.

But ask a Mormon and they will tell you that they cannot enter heaven without these garments. (There are a mess of other reasons why Mormons cannot enter Heaven, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with mistaking a metaphor about garments for something literal.)

I once asked a Mormon if their magic garments did anything at all to mitigate their sin nature, and they admitted the clothes did nothing. (I rested my case.)

Finally, we have our true example for prayer and “spiritual warfare” in the manner in which Satan tempts Christ during the forty days in the desert.

Satan’s showdown with Jesus shows us how we are to regard the Word. Literally, but with faith’s logical application, and Satan will go down for the count. We are never to put God to the test, such as playing with poisonous snakes as such Paul was bitten and didn’t die... because to play with snakes is to tempt or test God... and not an accident.

See, this is where faith comes in. If God knows how many hairs are on your head, then surely, He knows if you are in an accident and didn’t try to kill yourself or whatever. We are never to put him to the test, but rather, trust Him like little kids trust their daddy.

Jesus regarded Adam in the Garden, Moses with the snake, Jonah in the whale as literal events.

So should we.

[Elsie]

Then you have the Mormons, who wear their magic underwear because there is something in the Bible about wearing the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness or something. (Elsie can correct me.)

I don't think Mormons can find ANYTHING about their 'garments' in ANY of their scriptures!

---

They can correct me if I am wrong.

[Elsie]

 Sometimes Gods just have to repeat themselves...

 

 

...almost...

 

The Doctrine and Covenants

Section 15 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to John Whitmer, at Fayette, New York, June 1829 (see the heading to section 14).  The message is intimately and impressively personal in that the Lord tells of what was known only to John Whitmer and Himself.  John Whitmer later became one of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. 1–2, The Lord’s arm is over all the earth; 3–6, To preach the gospel and save souls is the thing of most worth.    1 Hearken, my servant John, and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Redeemer.  2 For behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth.  3 And I will tell you that which no man knoweth save me and thee alone—  4 For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you.  5 Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given unto you according to my commandments.  6 And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen.

Section 16 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Peter Whitmer Jr., at Fayette, New York, June 1829 (see the heading to section 14).    Peter Whitmer Jr. later became one of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. 1–2, The Lord’s arm is over all the earth; 3–6, To preach the gospel and save souls is the thing of most worth.   1 Hearken, my servant Peter, and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Redeemer.  2 For behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth.  3 And I will tell you that which no man knoweth save me and thee alone—  4 For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you.  5 Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given unto you according to my commandments.  6 And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen.

 

[Elsie]

WHOA!

The text was normal sized in Preview!

[Elsie]

 

Doctrine and Covenants

Section 18:46

 

And after that you have received this, if you keep not my commandments

you cannot be saved in the kingdom of my Father.

[Elsie]

Elder Carlos E. Asay (1926–1999)

Emeritus Member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Former President of the Salt Lake Temple

 

 

"I believe there is a critical body of knowledge relating to the temple garment."

 

 

   https://www.lds.org/liahona/1999/09/the-temple-garment-an-outward-expression-of-an-inward-commitment?lang=eng

 

 

Click the link; read the reasonings, being SURE to click on the scripture references to see what Mormon scriptures say EXACTLY about the 'garment'.

[DoodleDawg]

Lead a good life and it’s not hard to avoid scandals.

[Jamestown1630]

Well, I’m not sure we know what Jesus Himself regarded as ‘literal’, as opposed to how He spoke to people in a language and through metaphors that THEY understood.

And I believe that, in the end, God will be the judge of all of us seekers, and will judge the sincere rightly - whether they happen to wear ‘magic underwear’ or not.

[Sontagged]

There is a metaphoric “garment of violence” and a “garment of praise” and a “garment of cursing”.

Psa 109:17-19

As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.

Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.

Garment of violence:

Psa 73:6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Garment of praise:
Isa 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me;
because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Praise the name of Jesus for Isaiah 61 is what He read that day and His townsfolk tried to stone him for it!

But note that what Isaiah prophesied and what Jesus read discusses the metaphoric “garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”...

It’s a metaphor, a wondrus, beautiful metaphor that we are to praise God when we feel low and mournful!

But this is where the Mormons most likely got their idea of needing to have their special under garments; the parable of the invited guests to the wedding feast...

It’s a parable that Jesus was using here to teach the people about Kingdom of God; only Satan would want to force Mormons to believe that by literally wearing some magic garments, they would gain entry to Heaven!

Not wearing the wedding garment meant that the invited guest was not “clothed in proper spiritual countence” or holiness as merited if you were invited to celebrate a wedding.

The failure to approach God in the proper manner was something the Jews knew very well. Failure to go into the Holiest of Holies for a Jewish priest without the proper attitude could get that priest killed.

The failure of Aaron’s sons to approach the ark of the covenant with proper reverence (they were drunk and fooling around) got them killed.

Jesus’ parable about “wearing the proper wedding garment” means that we approach God with praise and thanksgiving.

The Mormons foolishly allow this false teaching about needing to wear special underclothes, as a prerequistite for heaven, without realizing that not only do they look dumb, they make their mormon god who requires such idiocy into a dumb idol instead of the Lord of Hosts, on His everlasting throne!

Why would the real Lord of Lords, make such a dumb, fruitless requirement for salvation, based upon your undergarments?

Answer: He didn’t. Mormons made it all up or were decieved by seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. May God deliver them.

Anyway, here is the parable that the Mormons are twisting around:

Matthew 22:8-14

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.

[metmom]

The hard part for someone that rich and famous is living the good life.

[Jamestown1630]

I think that watching out for worldly dangers is a smart thing to do. Even wealthy men can be decent; but wealthy men are also targets, especially if they hold certain stances against which others contend.

Changing the subject:

My back went out yesterday, and I couldn’t do much today but sit in front of the TV.

I found someone on YouTube that I hadn’t heard of before - Larry Dossey.

This video and what Dossey says, reminds me of the meaning of the Hebrew term and prayer, the ‘Shema’:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ry_nZVW_fY

[Elsie]

There is a metaphoric “garment of violence” and a “garment of praise” and a “garment of cursing”.

But just WHERE are the intricate DETAILS on the 'garment' and 'proper' wearing thereof that LDS makes such a big deal about?

[Elsie]

halfway...

[Sontagged]

I’m sure the demon who wrote the Book of Mormon made up some religious sounding rules on ths subject?

[Elsie]

Oh; they got rules all right; just no paper trail to show where they came from!

[Sontagged]

Satan is always a counterfeit, always a re-actor.

He gets his ideas from God’s Word and perverts them in order to mock people who believe in Mormonism or whatever other extra-biblical cult they belong to.

Remember, it is all about Satan telling Mormons that under garments are part of salvation and then mocking the Mormons for wearing them - in the messianic age of grace.

It’s a ploy to deprive them of understanding who Jesus actually is, and why He died on the cross for our sins.

[Elsie]

It’s a ploy to deprive them of understanding who Jesus actually is, and why He died on the cross for our sins.

An even BIGGER lie is about the nature; and BODY; of the Father!