What? Evangelicals Come Against Franklin Graham's Views on Islam

Charisma News ^ | 7/22/15 | Jennifer LeClaire

[markomalley]

After five members of our military were killed in cold blood—and two others wounded—on our own soil in an act of domestic terrorism in Chattanooga, evangelist Franklin Graham dared to say what many in America were thinking:

"We are under attack by Muslims at home and abroad. We should stop all immigration of Muslims to the U.S. until this threat with Islam has been settled. Every Muslim who comes into this country has the potential to be radicalized—and they do their killing to honor their religion and Muhammad," Graham said.

"During World War II, we didn't allow Japanese to immigrate to America, nor did we allow Germans. Why are we allowing Muslims now? Do you agree? Let your Congressman know that we've got to put a stop to this and close the floodgates. Pray for the men and women who serve this nation in uniform, that God would protect them."

The elder Graham stayed out of politics, but the once-prodigal son is known for his bold commentary. Some of his fellow evangelicals are up in arms over these comments from Billy Graham's son.

"Harsh" and "unhelpful" were the words Carl Medearis, an international expert in Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations, used to describe Graham's words.

Meanwhile, Helen Lee, associate editor at InterVarsity Press, had one question for him: "This is Christian witness?" Lee's colleague, vice president and director of Campus Engagement for InterVarsity USA Greg Jao, said he "strongly" rejects Graham's idea.

And Brian Zahnd, an author and pastor of Word Life Church, said Graham's remarks were nothing short of "xenophobia." Even Chick-fil-A's general manager for leadership development, Tim Sweetman, came against Graham, saying his remarks were "despicable" and the opposite of Christian love and American freedom.

"Franklin Graham said really awful things about Muslims," Lynne Hybels, of Willow Creek Community Church, tweeted. "If he knew the Muslim men and women I know, he would never say such things."

Yet, many Americans are likely to agree with Graham. Americans view Islam as a threat to their own nation's religious liberty almost as strongly as they consider it a danger to religious freedom internationally, new research shows.

Although most persecution occurs overseas, 39 percent of American adults say Islam threatens religious freedom in the United States—almost as many as the 40 percent who see Islam as a global threat, a survey by Nashville-based LifeWay Research finds.

"Most recent headlines regarding Islam don't paint a picture of religious freedom—so we should not be surprised by the strong minority that considers Islam a threat to religious freedom," said Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research.

[nathanbedford]

Islam is a theocracy.
Islam, therefore, is more than a religion, more than a culture, more than a way of life, it is a governing system.
Islam explicitly rejects toleration of competing religious, political, and cultural views.
Islam explicitly rejects the legitimacy of other religious, political, and cultural systems.
Islam explicitly aims to incorporate every mortal on earth into its political, cultural and religious system.
Islam explicitly endorses "jihad" as a legitimate method of extending its system.
Jihad explicitly embraces violence as a method of propagating the Muslim system.
There are 1.6 billion Muslims on earth.
A substantial minority of Muslims explicitly endorse terrorism as a legitimate tool of jihad.
Terrorism employs violence, including murder, to achieve political aims.
Terrorism's tactic is to incrementally intensify murderous violence to instill fear, to demoralize and to ultimately cause the polity to surrender.
Terrorism's strategy is to force representative democracies to either resort to repressive countermeasures or surrender.
Ultimately, a representative democracy which accepts a critical mass of Muslims into its midst will be forced to choose between surrender or tyranny.
Ultimately, a non-Muslim system which accepts Muslim immigrants will be so beleaguered by terrorism that it will be forced to choose between surrender and gulags.
It is more democratic and less tyrannical for a democracy to halt Muslim immigration than it is to defend against Muslim terrorism by increasingly repressive methods.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

I am Roman Catholic, so I don’t know of the ministries of those criticizing Franklin Graham, but I know that Rev. Graham is saying WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.

We need non PC types in leadership. True leaders, who will take a stand are few. Franklin Graham is like the Donald Trump of ministers right now, getting out Infront, speaking the truth and LEADING.

[daniel1212]

I don't have any knowledge as to the orthodoxy of these evangelical sources she mentions in the article. Mostly liberal, though concern by Arab evangelicals against preventing immigration from Muslim countries, since it would keep Christian brethren out, is understandable.

And it is clear that Islam, vs the NT, advocates religious bloodshed.

But many seem to concur with the pope in his "APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION" EVANGELII GAUDIUM, who states "authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence." - 253; http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html .

Which i am confident you do not concur with. Then there is the large collection of statements by the USCCB -http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/interreligious/islam/vatican-council-and-papal-statements-on-islam.cfm

Like:

We feel sure that as representatives of Islam, you join in our prayers to the Almighty, that he may grant all African believers the desire for pardon and reconciliation so often commended in the Gospels and in the Qur’an...

“Our pilgrimage to these holy places is not for purposes of prestige or power. It is a humble and ardent prayer for peace, through the intercession of the glorious protectors of Africa, who gave up their lives for love and for their belief. In recall the Catholic and Anglican Martyrs, We gladly recall also those confessors of the Muslim faith who were the first to suffer death, in the year 1848, for refusing to transgress the precepts of their religion.” - Paul VI, address to the Islamic communities of Uganda, August 1, 1969 [emp. mine.]

“I deliberately address you as brothers: that is certainly what we are, because we are members of the same human family, whose efforts, whether people realize it or not, tend toward God and the truth that comes from him. But we are especially brothers in God, who created us and whom we are trying to reach, in our own ways, through faith, prayer and worship, through the keeping of his law and through submission to his designs...

“As Christians and Muslims, we encounter one another in faith in the one God, our Creator and guide, our just and merciful judge. - John Paul II, address to representatives of the Muslims of Belgium, May 19, 1985

We believe in the same God, the one God, the living God, the God who created the world and brings his creatures to their perfection...Both of us believe in one God, the only God, - John Paul II , address to the young Muslims of Morocco, August 19, 1985

Meanwhile,

Evangelical leaders in the Middle East and North Africa are most likely to say religious conflict is a moderately big (37%) or very big (35%) problem. 55% of those in the Asia-Pacific region and 49% in sub-Saharan Africa also see inter- religious conflict as a moderately or very big problem. 90% who live in Muslim-majority countries say the influence of Islam is a major threat, compared with 41% of elsewhere. http://www.pewforum.org/2011/06/22/global-survey-of-evangelical-protestant-leaders/

[Elsie]

 

"Harsh" and "unhelpful" were the words Carl Medearis, an international expert in Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations, used to describe Graham's words.

Not only THIS; but you've made Rodney King cry!

[Elsie]

Carl Medearis, an international expert in Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations, today denounced those who are SO unappreciative of the gift of the fine horse statue delievered by the Trojans.

"We need to learn to reach out to those who oppose us; to try to find common ground upon which to stand.

"We'll NEVER have peace in our time if we do not!"

[AppyPappy]

“Franklin Graham said really awful things about Muslims,”

Muslims did some really awful things to us.
Hybels doesn’t care if Muslims execute gays.

[Elsie]

The lost verse of the Koran reads:

Teach the infidels to kill off their undesirable, unborn-as-yet children. This will lower their ability to think clearly and conquest will be simplified.

[umgud]

Yes

[Elsie]

You get marked in the forehead by bowing to Mecca

One day, about 15 years ago; Muslims killed about 3000 of our people.

Today (and tomorrow and next Monday and...); CHOICE will kill about 3,300.

Yup; these radical Islamists are gonna wipe us ALL out!

[Elsie]

... but I know that Rev. Graham is saying WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.

So is the Donald.

[bramps]

Even Chick-fil-A’s general manager for leadership development, Tim Sweetman, came against Graham, saying his remarks were “despicable” and the opposite of Christian love and American freedom.

..................................

I'll be calling Chick-fil-A and telling them that the next next time they will see me is after this ignorant man apologizes to Graham.

[DungeonMaster]

Matt 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

[mollynme]

About 15 years ago, a Carl Medearis spoke at the church I was attending. He told us that he had been kidnapped by Muslim terrorists who set him free after he converted their leader to Christianity.
The BS alarms went off loudly and I’ve remembered that name ever since.
He’s still a phony.

[af_vet_1981]

"Harsh" and "unhelpful" were the words Carl Medearis, an international expert in Arab-American relations ...

He is for sale at Amazon, so to speak, touting 30 years of travel to the Middle East with 12 years residence in Beirut, Lebanon.

A spot check on google yields no information on where he began his religious journey, went to college/seminary, or who laid hands on him. He wrote he and his wife attended Mountain View Community Church near their Denver area home. It seems to me he is a typical nondenominational in that regard; does not want to be labeled.

His website seems to indicate he speaks at Protestant/Reformed churches.

His writings indicate he eschews denominational labels, believes Zionism is a heresy and that monogomous homosexual unions should be lovingly and fully accepted but not technically called marriages, which are reserved for a man and a woman.

"They say it's a living,
we all gotta eat."
Words by Robert Hunter, music by Mickey Hart

[af_vet_1981]

And Brian Zahnd, an author and pastor of Word Life Church, said Graham's remarks were nothing short of "xenophobia."

Brian Zahnd was born March 5, 1959, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He claims to have become a Christian at a David Wilkerson Crusade on November 9, 1974, at the age of fifteen. Called to preach the gospel, he delivered his first sermon four months later in a Baptist church, and ministered in churches and youth outreaches throughout his teen years. In November 1981, at the age of twenty-two, he founded Word of Life Church with a handful of young people.

Zahnd and his wife, Peri, have been married since 1980. They reside in St. Joseph, Missouri.

What has changed over the past forty years? Much. My eschatology has changed. (Completely re-worked.) My soteriology has matured. (More holistic, less afterlife-oriented.) My ecclesiology has grown. (Embracing the Great Tradition.)

He does not seem to be Reformed. His faith community lists the Niceness Creed as a statement of faith and is sponsoring a pilgrimage tour to Israel in 2015.

[af_vet_1981]

Even Chick-fil-A's general manager for leadership development, Tim Sweetman, came against Graham, saying his remarks were "despicable" and the opposite of Christian love and American freedom.

Tim Sweetman is a bit easier to trace.

During the day he serves as the General Manager for Training and Leadership Development for Chick-fil-A in Edgewater, Maryland and Annapolis, Maryland.

He previously served as the Director of Communications and Brand Strategy at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a graduate from Boyce College, the undergraduate school of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He had been much more widely known by his “code-name,” Agent Tim. This name also served as the name of his popular blog, which received over 750,000 visits between 2005 to 2007. In 2005, he quickly rose to become a leading teenage spokesperson and cultural critic within the booming blogosphere, taking on issues such as social networking, alcohol, homeschooling, racism, tolerance, apologetics, and other topics relating to our culture today. Tim’s written work has appeared in Lifeway’s Living With Teenagers, Lookout Magazine, FUSION Magazine, The Brink Online, Virtue Magazine, Regenerate Our Culture Online Magazine, and on many other blogs and websites across the internet like Marry Well and the Lies Young Women Believe Blog. He has also been featured in WORLD Magazine, Towers Magazine, and Maryland Newsline. He also has written for the Veritas Network. Most recently, his work can be found on Focus on the Family’s Boundless Webzine and at the Counsel for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

[af_vet_1981]

Apple SW changed Nicene Creed to Niceness Creed; some algorithm there.

[af_vet_1981]

Franklin Graham said really awful things about Muslims," Lynne Hybels, of Willow Creek Community Church, tweeted. "If he knew the Muslim men and women I know, he would never say such things

A female proPalestinian pastor weighs in against Franklin Graham.

Speaking thoughtfully and temperately, Hybels made the case for evangelicals to be what one prominent evangelical relief group calls: “Pro-Israel. Pro-Palestine. Pro-Peace. Pro-Justice. Pro-Jesus.” Citing Christian Zionist critics, she related that she’s been called a “threat to the state of Israel, a subtle (and therefore extremely dangerous) anti-Semite, a spokesperson for the PLO, and a Christian Palestinianist who traffics in anti-Israel propaganda and historical misinformation.”

Hybels also recalled that she’s been accused of participating in a “massive effort in the heart of the evangelical church to lure its members—especially its youth—away from the pro-Israel position God commands to an uncritical and unbiblical support for Palestinians.”

[af_vet_1981]

About 15 years ago, a Carl Medearis spoke at the church I was attending. He told us that he had been kidnapped by Muslim terrorists who set him free after he converted their leader to Christianity. The BS alarms went off loudly and I’ve remembered that name ever since. He’s still a phony.

It all makes sense if he said the shehadeh in order to be released. That happens frequently where Christians convert to Islam to escape persecution and are released.