Franklin Graham Defends Comments on Gay Activists and Islam, Compares Himself to Father Speaking Out

Christian Post ^ | March 27, 2014 | Morgan Lee

[xzins]

Franklin Graham defended his controversial remarks about homosexuality, Russian president Vladimir Putin and Islam, saying that he is only following in his father's own activist footsteps.

"You talk about controversy – my father (Billy Graham) stood with Martin Luther King in the early 1960s," Graham told The Charlotte Observer. "My father never worried about polls. I don't care about them, either. And with the issues we are facing today – if my father were a younger man, he would be addressing and speaking out in the exact same way I'm speaking out on them."

Late last month, Graham suggested that Putin was "right" on how the Russian government had dealt with its LGBT activists.

"Obviously, he may be wrong about many things, but he has taken a stand to protect his nation's children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda," he wrote for Decision magazine.

In 2011, the head of the humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse suggested that American Muslims do not genuinely practice their faith, because those who do are violent.

"True Islam cannot be practiced in this country. You can't beat your wife. You cannot murder your children if you think they've committed adultery or something like that, which they do practice in these other countries," he told CNN.

But on Tuesday, Graham suggested that his blunt remarks about LGBT activists and those "living in sin" were rooted in tough love.

"I love people enough and care enough," Graham said, "to warn them … that if they chose to continue to live in sin, God is going to judge them one day and they'll be separated from Him for eternity in hell."

He also asserted that gay couples who want to adopt children are possibly looking to indoctrinate them with a pernicious worldview.

"[Gay couples] can recruit. You can adopt a child into a marriage, but you can also recruit children into your cause. I believe in protecting children from exploitation – all exploitations," he said.

On Tuesday, Graham hosted a dinner for 175 Charlotte, N.C., pastors to focus on the plight of pastor Saeed Abedini, who has been imprisoned in Iran since 2012.

Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, attended the event and encouraged the public to speak out for her husband's release.

"The more people who are praying and getting involved, the better," Naghmeh told the Observer. "The spotlight on him is keeping him alive."

[Linda Frances]

I admire his courage and conviction, but I hope Franklin is ready for what’s coming. The radical gay organizations will try to ruin or divest his financial structure, namely that of Samaritain’s Purse. It matters not how much good his organization does around the world. They will come after his investors and backers as with The Boy Scouts. I’m surprised The Boy Scouts still exists at all considering how many big name lemmings have thought it fashionable to drop their support. I wish him luck and great awareness against this foe.

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We have supported Sams Purse for years. When the obama Administration dis invited him to the prayer breakfast a few years ago, we doubled our giving. Most of the people giving to SP are true Christians who agree with him/Gods word. Yes, the left will attack him viciously, but I really don't believe he will cave like world vision(then relent). A few years back world vision sided with global warming frauds so I stopped giving to them completely. God is separating the wheat from the chaff. We already have seen a lot of that with churches becoming worldly. I think Franklin will stand like Jesus disciples did, like we should. We need to pray for him. We've had two great awakenings. Franklin, if he stands strong and speaks Gods truth to the people and evil, could lead us to the third. We are ripe for a revival, as we watch this country and the world deteriorate.

[SoFloFreeper]

[VerySadAmerican]

This country is over when millions will speak out for gay marriage and gay rights but remain silent when Christians are imprisoned and murdered all over the world.

[rdb3]

Preach it, Franklin! I stand with you!

As do I.

Jesus Christ: You can’t impeach Him and He ain’t going to resign.

[Gumdrop]

I think your observation about Franklin being more willing to speak out against PC (than his father was) - I can see what you are saying - but, OTOH, during the time of Billy Graham’s, preaching days there was not so much liberal PC being jammed down our throats.

I have no doubt that if Billy were still on the preaching circuit, he would be just as forthright as his son.

[ForYourChildren]

Good, keep it up Franklin.

[dcwusmc]

There was a time when I thought Franklin was a weaker version of his father. Boy, was I wrong! GO, Franklin!!! Keep yourself IMMERSED IN GOD and He will keep your paths safe for you! Thank you for your faithfulness to His Word.

[daniel1212]

Thank God someone is!

[daniel1212]

Then they must come thru us as his investors.

[ScottinVA]

Now THAT.. is leadership! Franklin stands in the gap!

[eleni121]

He is right.

[xzins]

This stand by Franklin Graham is straight up conviction and courage.

He and Ted Cruz should join forces.

[Guenevere]

No he won’t......Graham is made of stronger stuff.......
And he wants to please only one......Jesus Christ.

[attiladhun2]

One cannot rise to senior levels in the military today unless one @$$-kisses the political class. There are no more Billy Mitchells and the media would either ignore or destroy the character of a Mitchell today.

As a consequence, we could very well lose the next war--disasterously. We could recover from disaster in wars past, but not today.