Posted on 10/20/2012 8:05:33 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Why, three weeks prior to one of the most hotly contested presidential elections in modern history, does America’s Evangelist need to suddenly declare Mormonism no longer a cult? Has there been an unreported change in theology or practice?
My maternal grandmother thought Billy Graham was a saint above all others. You simply could not say anything negative about the evangelist in her presence. She held the same regard for Jimmy Carter, because she considered him a godly man and a faithful Sunday school teacher -- even if not an effective president. She also was convinced Henry Kissinger was the anti-Christ, but that’s another story.
I’m glad she didn’t live long enough to see Billy Graham and his family descend into the arena of secular politics. It would have broken her heart. And it should be sad for the rest of the Christian world as well.
The latest news came last week, when the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association made a slight change to the content of its website right after a visit from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Prior to Romney’s visit, the evangelist had defined Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, the Unification Church, Unitarians, Spiritualists and Scientologists as “cults” and therefore not Christian. Several news outlets reported that after Romney’s visit to Graham, the page with that content was removed from the Graham website; then later, a Graham spokesman confirmed it.
Now before some of you, dear readers, start heating your branding irons to label me a partisan heretic, please keep reading. I’m not saying you should or shouldn’t vote for Mitt Romney or Barack Obama. What I do want to say is that you shouldn’t vote for either candidate just because you have been cleared to do so (or been encouraged to do so) by a preacher, pastor or evangelist. You should vote for one or the other because you are convinced in your own mind that person is the best for the job. God gave you a brain for a reason; use it.
Nor should you require Romney to be a Christian before you vote for him, just as you shouldn’t spread the lie that Obama is a closeted Muslim in order not to vote for him. There is no religious test for office in the United States.
So why, three weeks prior to one of the most hotly contested presidential elections in modern history, does America’s Evangelist need to suddenly declare Mormonism no longer a cult? Has there been an unreported change in theology or practice? What purpose could there be other than removing a barrier that might keep some evangelical Christians from voting for a Mormon? Especially when the evangelist, to the best of my knowledge, never has repudiated his own son’s statements from February, implying that Obama may not be a Christian but is likely a secret Muslim. Why is Billy Graham taking sides in a presidential election?
Some will say he has every right to take sides and should make his views known. Here’s why I think he shouldn’t and why his son, Franklin, is single-handedly undoing his father’s legacy: The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends political parties and labels. Jesus is neither Republican nor Democrat. And the moment we put God in a political box is when we alienate half the population from hearing the good news of redemption through Christ.
No person in our lifetime has done more to proclaim this message of salvation for all than Billy Graham. And he was heard because he appeared to care about all people without regard to race, creed or color. To make any other agenda -- abortion, gay marriage, economic policy or whatever -- more important than the universal call to redemptive faith is to lose sight of the cross of Christ. Ironically, it is Billy Graham who most clearly and consistently has called America to fix our eyes only upon Jesus. And now his own vision seems to be fading. Woe to us.
That's either really great satire, or really terrible rhetoric... I can't tell which, so if it's satire, great job.
One of the big problems of the "the other guy's worse" arguments is that there is no guarantee that the endorsed guy is good, in fact it could be argued that a mediocre guy would be worse than a downright bad guy -- at least with the bad guy there will be pressures for Congress to put him in check... but with a mediocre guy, we run the very real danger of normalizing much of current bad-policy. (Ex: rampant abuse of EPA's powers give people reason to disband EPA, but having EPA "tone down" their operations while keeping the agency only means that the agency can be used again [likely with even more power as it collects more and more legal 'precedence' justifying its existence and methods].)
I got news for you Mr Wingfield, Billy graham was political long before you wera a glimmer in your fathers leftist eye. To begin with, if you are under the illusion that Obama is not a Muslim, then you are blind and ignorant. God’s people know who their brothers and sisters in Christ are, and you sir are not a brother in Christ.
You are just another leftist that wants to destroy Christianity in America. Nothing but a phony is all you are. A phony because you do not know the truth about this great evangelical man of God. If you did, you would not make some stupid statement that Graham should never enter the political ring with his opinion. Also, try as you may, you will never change any minds about Mr Graham nor his son.
To set the record straight, it was Billy Graham who told Nixon to stop communism, and it was Billy Graham who has supported Republicans for president ever since he became important enough to influence politics.
Ha may have stepped back after Nixon resigned, but he never stopped supporting the right wingers in government. So takie youe fake Christian credentials anbd head on back to the leftist pond you crawled out of scum.
As a Christian, I say God Bless everyone.
“What concerns me is this — why did he have to go so far as declare Mormonism no longer a cult? This is going too far.”
While I understand Reverend Grahams’ motivations I do share your concern as well.
God is in control - nothing positive or negative is going to happen to the US unless He wants it that way or simply allows it (in which case He had His reasons). Best to keep your allegiance with the Most High.
You express my sentiment on the matter beautifully; thank you.
The Republican Party lost my vote with the nomination of Romney -- back in 2008 I pinched my nose and voted for McCain, later telling myself I'd not vote against someone ["fall for" the "the other guy's worse" argument] again. Romney is not someone I want to vote for, so I won't... and it's amazing how much the sentiment has become "you're voting for Obama by voting third party!" around here.
As Christians, we must have the slyness to fight the serpent while possessing the loving nature of the dove.
I’ve been here 14 years and I didn’t even know we had a Religious Forum, I must have got lost. Thanks for the Yellow Card, I’ll let myself out.
I have never stated that, and your free to look.
I will say that Governor Romney is more to be swayed by the Tea Party than anyone. I want everyone to be comfortable with their need to participate and understand the ramifications of that decision.
America Shall live on.
Why delete my comment? My statement was about the author, not the Freeper who posted it. What I said was true. If you want me to re,ove the word scumbag I will, but notyhing else I said deserved to be removed.As for the word fool, it is an acceptable word that even St Paul used in his letters.
Sorry, I thought you were talking about the Freeper not the author. I will restore it.
There is a difference between not saying Mormonism is a cult, and saying it is not a cult. One is the absence of a statement either way, the other is a statement. I know I am parsing, but what the heck ;)
“I will say that Governor Romney is more to be swayed by the Tea Party than anyone.”
Agreed.
Romney wasn’t my first choice, but he (and an empty can of coke) is better than Bath-House Barry.
The Tea Party isn’t dead and WON’T die on election day when Romney gets in-—his feet will be held to the fire by the Tea Party.
Hell...we’re just getting revved up.
Understood, we all make mistakes, thanks for the apology and for restoring it.
>>God is in control - nothing positive or negative is going to happen to the US unless He wants it that way or simply allows it<<
So, according to your logic, we should not have fought World War II, since God is going to handle it anyway.
I believe in God’s sovereignty as much as anyone, but there is a HUGE difference between sovereignty and fatalism.
Is Mark Wingfield a "Big-Tent Baptist", who believes one should preach Christian values from the pulpit a couple of times each Sunday, but keep silent the rest of the week, lest someone be offended?
He is not a Muslim. He’s an atheist. Communists are atheists. Her uses Muslims because they hate America as much as he does.
The Entire Point! We get the Senate then all bets are off. Cloture is off due to Harry Reid. Reconciliation for EVERYTHING! He sold it, He lost it.
Which denomination votes to the right of the Southern Baptists?
In 2008 they went 80% for McCain/Palin.
What denomination are you ansell2?
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