Posted on 08/19/2016 9:19:02 AM PDT by amorphous
Metro Vancouver Christians are colliding over the coming crusade of televangelist Franklin Graham, who is known for criticizing homosexuals, Muslims and U.S. President Barack Obama.
Saying that Graham is often “incendiary and intolerant,” some evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics are opposing his participation in the three-day Festival of Hope event at Rogers Arena in early March, 2017, that many of the city’s mega-churches are supporting .
“Rev. Graham is a polarizing figure … His ungracious and bigoted remarks have the potential to generate serious negative impact on the Christian witness in Vancouver,” says a statement from five prominent evangelical and Catholic leaders (see full letter at bottom).
“We … denounce the frequent incendiary and intolerant statements made by Rev. Graham, which he unapologetically reiterates,” said the letter, signed by Marjeta Bobnar of the Catholic archdiocese, City in Focus president Tom Cooper, Tenth Church pastor Ken Shigematsu, Calvary Baptist pastor Tim Dickau and First Baptist pastor Tim Kuepfer.
Franklin Graham, son of 97-year-old retired televangelist Billy Graham, has said homosexuals are “the enemy” and will “spend eternity in hell” if they don’t repent.
While attacking Obama, Graham has called Islam a “very wicked religion” and argued that Muslims shouldn’t be allowed into the U.S.
RELATED: ‘Casual’ Vancouver church demands strict sexual ethics
The state of evangelicalism: Canada differs from U.S.
Liberal Christianity: Ten things to know about this ‘middle’ way
Some of the large, often ethnically mixed evangelical congregations in Metro Vancouver that are endorsing Graham’s crusade include Willingdon Church, Westside Church, Coastal Church, Broadway Church, Glad Tidings Church, Holy Trinity Church and Richmond Pentecostal Church.
Earning more than $1 million a year as an evangelist and head of the charity Samaritan’s Purse, Graham led a crusade in Toronto in 2014 that was attended by 40,000 people of diverse ethnic origins.
After the Toronto event, Samaritan’s Purse terminated a Canadian volunteer because she refused to sign a standard statement opposing abortion and homosexual marriage.
Rev. George Wong, head pastor at Evangelical Chinese Bible Church in Burnaby, one of many congregations training volunteers to work at Graham’s crusade, said “the last thing we want to do is promote hate.”
Graham “is not coming to Vancouver to preach against homosexuality, but to preach the gospel,” Wong said.
Saying he was unaware a Christian group is opposing Graham’s involvement in the Festival of Hope, Wong didn’t want to comment on Graham’s statements about gays and Muslims, other than to affirm “the gospel is for people from all walks of life.”
In North Vancouver, another endorser of the Festival of Hope, Valley Church Pastor Owen Scott, declined to comment on the controversy other than to say, “I know Franklin is not the same as his dad. His dad is a pretty gracious person.”
In an interview from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association headquarters in Calgary, David Ingram said his organization “never expects 100 per cent support for one of our festivals.”
Noting that a relatively small number of evangelicals and Catholics signed the dissenting letter, Ingram said, “I wouldn’t want a few people who are opposed to the festival to overshadow the wide support for it.”
Ingram said leaders of many churches and ethnic groups are backing Graham’s crusade. Maintaining that protest letters can be divisive, Ingram asked whether The Vancouver Sun and The Province planned to publish an article about the inter-Christian disagreement.
While the opposition statement was signed by Catholic ecumenical relations official Bobnar, Paul Schratz confirmed the archdiocese also formally declined an invitation to take part in the Festival of Hope.
“Initially we were supportive of next year’s event, since it was intended to draw a large number of people to hear the gospel and grow closer to Jesus,” said Schratz, spokesman for the archdiocese, which includes more than 400,000 Catholics.
“While we obviously acknowledge Mr. Graham’s zeal in preaching the Gospel we had second thoughts about participating when we noted that American evangelicals, whom we were trying to work with on this event, were criticizing Mr. Franklin for various comments and stances that didn’t promote religious tolerance.”
The formal letter of opposition to the Festival of Hope’s leadership committee was signed by Christian leaders in Metro Vancouver whom the Billy Graham Association had asked for endorsements, including Cooper, Shigematsu, Dickau and Kuepfer.
Cooper, president of City in Focus which specializes in ministering to business people, said those who signed the letter “were willing to provide suggestions for an alternative speaker. But the Festival of Hope leadership committee was content with having Reverend Graham give the major talks.
“We therefore, reluctantly, decided we could not endorse this event. We understand that we are just one of many evangelical and orthodox voices and there will sometimes be disagreement.”
Glad to hear that the church is growing there. If you have the interest, you might wish to consider serving as a volunteer counselor at the event, to pray with and encourage people who come forward. I have done it. It's a way to help out, and can be a blessing to you as well. :)
Malachi 3:6... “For I am the Lord, I change not.”
The Jews were already saved by God. Christ brings the rest in thank God.
Jews were the choosen people and I don’t think God would turn His back on them for continuing to follow Him in the old ways.
Jews have a front door key, Christians have the side door key but thank God because we are not worthy on our own and would never make it to heaven without the Divine intervention.
Excellent observation. Canadians are so polite, except when they play hockey.
FU Canada
Amen.
Polarizing? Luke 12.49-51 is a good example.
Graham doesn’t have a tv program. The only time he appears on tv is as a guest on someone else’s program, or during a news broadcast of one of his prayer meetings. He is currently holding prayers meetings in every state at the state capital buildings to pray for the nation.
He is not a televangelist.
Franklin Graham is a televangelist?
Does he have a regular TV show?
I seriously do not know. I don’t watch TV, most of the time I’m not even in the US. I thought he ran Samaritan’s Purse. Didn’t know he was on TV, too.
Will someone remind me when Jesus spoke approvingly of tolerance of evil?
Your statement does not correspond the the Bible’s account of either Jew or Gentile.
I guess Jesus and the Apostle Paul would be "polarizing" to them, as well.
God’s choosen people were who?
We get to heaven by the grace of God through Christ. None of us are worthy.
Christ never nullified God’s promise or relationship with the Jews.
In ending, enjoy your weekend because Roses are Red, Violets are blueish, if not for Christ, we’d all be Jewish!
A problem some 'pastors' in this piece may have, according to scripture.
You realize Jesus was a Jew, right?
I'm thrilled to hear it.
In a day and age when everyone and his brother is capitulating morally and cozying up to the LGBTFDHJLIASJX community and compromising on morals and sexual sin, it's AWESOME to see a real MAN take up leadership position and say what needs to be said without apology and making nice.
I am so sick of the wusses men have become.
You’re right.
He’s NOT a televangelist.
We get to heaven by the grace of God through Christ. None of us are worthy.
Agree
Christ never nullified God’s promise or relationship with the Jews.
Paul was pretty clear the Gospel applied to all....Jews included. In his travels he always went to the synagogue first to preach to the Jews, then the Gentiles.
So to you God the father has less authority than God the son?
The Father, Son and Spirit are all equal like three roses on a rose bush.
God does not kick Jews to the curb over Christ.
Granted Paul was trying to educate people that the Messiah was already here, but the Jews weakness like our weakness would not keep them from heaven.
I believe you can come to heaven through the Father, Son or Holy Spirit. God doesn’t limit himself because he sent His Son. It’s not like God the Father took a vacation or retired to Florida.
The Father, Son and Spirit are all equal like three roses on a rose bush.
God does not kick Jews to the curb over Christ. Granted Paul was trying to educate people that the Messiah was already here, but the Jews weakness like our weakness would not keep them from heaven.
I believe you can come to heaven through the Father, Son or Holy Spirit. God doesn’t limit himself because he sent His Son. It’s not like God the Father took a vacation or retired to Florida.
The NT would disagree with you.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 NASB
13When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 NASB
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.