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.
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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.”
The NT was more about Jesus and the Holy Spirit and another great way for us to get to Heaven since we are never worthy. The OT was God the Father and Creator.
All are about using some of us to fill that third of Heaven Lucifer got kicked out of.
The NT is clear we only gain Heaven through faith in Christ.
Oh, so God the Father is OUT just like that.
Nope. Just noting what the NT says.
Graham has called Islam a “very wicked religion” and argued that Muslims shouldn’t be allowed into the U.S.
After the Toronto event, Samaritan’s Purse terminated a Canadian volunteer because she refused to sign a standard statement opposing abortion and homosexual marriage.
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.”
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....“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.”
Thank God for Graham who stands against Islam and the homosexual agenda, and the rejection of him by pseudo-evangelicals and RCs reveals who is on the Lord's side.
And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. (Ezekiel 9:4)
Indeed.
You are separating the inseparable. God the Father always worked Thru His Son by the Spirit, and the Rock that Israel followed was Christ, as was the One whom Isaiah saw in His glory in Is. 6, the Divine Son being the visible manifestation of the invisible God, one in nature. And who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Him. (Jn. 14:6) Glory to God.
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:2-4)
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-4)
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. (Isaiah 6:9-10)
...who is this Son of man?... (John 12:34)
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: (John 12:37)...Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (John 12:39-40)
These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. (John 12:41)
In addition to which are other examples of the Holy Spirit ascribing uniquely Divine titles, glory and attributes to Christ, which were only ascribed to God.
Amen!
Then why is there so much confusion?
Maybe the problem lies in the interpretation, the meaning of words even, like the word 'faith', which no longer means to actually do what Yeshua told us to do.
Most (Jews, Gentiles, and 'not so sures') agree on a coming day of judgement.
So if you look at the words of Yeshua/Jesus:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
They make perfect sense, for He will be the judge of us all, and that according to the full Gospel (both Old and New Testaments).
So let's (I'm speaking of us all here) be a little less sure the other fellow got it wrong when we ourselves could benefit from more study/consideration.
Except for the fact that the Jews went to the Father through the Father that would make total sense.
Though Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Father are like three roses on the same bush I don’t see how God the Father His chosen people due to Christ. Makes zero sense.
Maybe what you are referring to in scripture is when all rise from the dead and at that point the Jews among others will know who Christ is, would have lived a probably faithful life under God the Father and would then accept Christ before judgement.
I have found it to be a very clear presentation of the Gospel message.
Both the Old and New Testaments verify this. Even the most beloved Prophet Daniel, in Daniel 12:13 was told, “As for you [Daniel], go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”
Yeshua's words are true and apply to all. For as God planned, we must ALL enter the Kingdom of Heaven through the Father's Son.
No Jew, whether before or after Christ, has ever been saved except by the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross. All the old ceremonies were pictures or types pointing to the eventual sacrificial death on the cross. They were shadows of the better thing to come (Hebrews 10:1), namely Christ Jesus.
The Bible tells us that without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22), but then it also says that the blood of Bulls and goats can’t take away sin.
“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
- Hebrews 10:4
Only the shed blood of Jesus is sufficient to take away sin.
Please study both Romans and Hebrews very carefully.
According to Paul, not all the descendants from Jacob are Israel; as he states in Romans 9:6 “They are not all Israel who are Israel.” Not all who are named Jews are truly Jews, the true Israel of God (the Jews) are those who believe in the Messiah.
“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Romans 2:28-29
At the beginning of Romans 9, Paul expresses his grief over the lostness of his kinsmen, the Jewish people. At the end of chapter 9 he says they have stumbled over the great stumbling stone, Christ Jesus. And then in Romans 10 he continues with this:
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. - Romans 10:1-4
Paul clearly teaches the Jews are not saved by their law and old covenant system. The only way of salvation for both Jew and Gentile is by faith alone in Christ Jesus. The Bible couldn’t be more clear on this. Dual-Covenant Theolgy that teaches one way for Jews and another way for Gentles is heresy that puts precious Jewish souls in danger.
Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through (HIM).
I think all these faithful people who lead good lives but did not have a way to believe Christ was the Son of God will rise up again with the knowledge of Christ and will accept Him then as Savior before judgment.
You know, the one thing we all have to keep in mind is that God has a lot of Mercy involved even down to sending his Son to help save us. We see the love our own human parents have for their children. If a good child doesn't fully get everything but leaves a good life you don't even see a human parent throw that child out. How much more would God who created us in love be understanding on these issues?
Even Thomas doubted and had to place his hand in the wound where Christ was pierced to believe, and mind you this was someone who had already been in the actual physical presence of Christ who had been exposed to all his teachings and saw all that transpired. So who could blame the Jews if many don't accept Christ because Christians tell them they should?
Also keep in mind, we may not have perfect translations of what the exact meaning or words of Christ or the Apostles were since all we have is an interpreted historical record and sometimes God inspired writings.
The meanings of what was written down can even further be misinterpreted by our lack of understanding of context in those far older times and places. But the one thing we know for sure is God's mercy.
Abraham was saved by faith, faith in the promise made in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:15), that God would send a Redeemer. That belief was counted to Abraham as righteousness. The Promise came before the Law. You seem to have a good grasp of OT Jewish issues, perhaps the first 5 Chapters of Romans would be helpful. Paul goes into the very arguments you are espousing now. God is the Same and has been so for eternity.
In the end, both Jew and Christian will unite under a better understanding of God's plan/word. Certainly the confusion which exits today is proof no one fully understands it. I freely admit I don't fully understand it - only enough to know that no one else does either.
The inescapable conclusions I have come to is that no one gets to Heaven without going through the Messiah, one way or another. And another conclusion is that faith means you also live life according to the Father and Son's commandments.
Finally, I conclude that Grace is something you receive when you begin to live according to the word of God. It's a power we don't understand that He shares with us through the Holy Spirit. It helps us to overcome this world in numerous ways, health, sin, understanding, wisdom, necessities, fear, and at the end, life everlasting.
Faith isn't a one time proclamation of something you say/confess; it's a lifetime commitment you live by. And no matter how many times you fail: confess; repent; and do your best to sin no more, for the "wages of sin is death." We are judged daily and some of us, those not in Christ, will ALL face judgement day together.
I don’t disagree about your Messiah statement, but I am saying there will be a time where all rise from the dead before the last Judgement in preparation for it.
I think then Christ will reveal Himself to those who did not know Him or did not understand who He was.
I think then most all will accept the Messiah and as you say, and then “Through Him” go to heaven.
It's about time that SOMEONE is!
I think then Christ will reveal Himself to those who did not know Him or did not understand who He was.
True, but by then too late.
Ya think??!!??
Matthew 10:34 New International Version
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
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