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.
Or even Baptist.
I think it’s simply an indictment of opportunists who will take advantage of anyone with fame and money; or try to discredit anyone with whom they disagree, if they find the opportunity.
Fai Mao, in post 14, is correct. This doesn’t have much to do with ‘religion’ but with common sense. Anybody who is in any way ‘in the public eye’ needs to cover vulnerabilities.
There are a lot of venal people out there; and a lot of equally nasty people ‘sniffing’ for them.
LOL! I didn’t remember that one.
I remember that we got Ice Cream about once per month, back in those days; and my brother and I would eat our ice cream watching Candid Camera on Sunday nights, and after the show we’d rush to bed shivering, and get under the covers to go to sleep :-)
Do you believe in infant baptism conferring salvation upon an unbelieving infant?
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How do YOU determine that an infant is unbelieving? Sounds like we have a god in our midst.
Aside from that obvious question, I have to tell you that I feel quite bad for you if that is the question you felt compelled to ask just after the passing of this awesome man who led so many to Christ.
Maybe he took lessons from us.Billy Graham lived in America would have influence of leaders here.He was a true man to his course.He should not be measured against another.Pope draws millions.
Interesting story behind that. The early princes of the church practiced adult baptism, and believed the unbaptised would not go to heaven. This was a problem for children, so they went for infant baptism.
However, sinning while in a state of grace, ie, baptised, was such a mortal sin, they retreated to adult baptism again. The plan was to live a life of less mortal sin and then get baptised as late as possible. The problem then arose of an unbaptised prince falling off his horse alone, getting killed, and not going to heaven. So it was back to infant baptism.
The fudge factor added was a means to ‘work off’ sins committed in a state of grace before being held to the final judgement. This was the birth of Purgatory.
And that’s the name of that tune.
Jeez.
Given all of that, I am probably so scr&wed...
Given all of that, I am probably so scr&wed...
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.
Don’t need them.
My Jesus already told me that I’m immortal :-)
I thought you said you were screwed.
I said that according to YOUR post, I probably was.
But Jesus told me that I don’t need ‘indulgences’ or baptism, or anything else made by man.
He told me that the Kingdom is *within*.
G’Nite! I’m ‘going within’, now :-)
It’s a good thing many of us know history too well to believe your stories.
I couldn’t make up something that convoluted. I read it in a book many years ago.
No, not a ‘dirty mind’.
I think you just have to know the ways of the world, and be prepared for them.
I always respected the man. It was admirable and a great example to others that he didn’t flaunt his popularity nor did he spend lavishly on himself or his family, He made sure they were provided for but they did not live the “high life” like many T.V. preachers do today. He honored God and God honored him.
The kingdom Is within
Indeed
The self is where the Lord reveals himself to you
It’s not a word type of thing
God bless Rev Graham
He was one of a kind
I can’t think of even one traveling Catholic evangelist, can you?
Of course these children were walking towards Jesus of their own free will. And nothing in that implies that walking toward Jesus was salvational. Scripture is silent passing him allowing them to walk closer.
So the issue of Billy Graham teaching a false gospel, that an unbelieving infant could earn it’s salvation by having water sprinkled on its head, that’s what we are concerned with here.
The teaching of a false Gospel.
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