Posted on 10/25/2012 10:24:38 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has responded to rising criticism from people accusing the Rev. Billy Graham of becoming too political by praising GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
"Throughout his public ministry spanning more than six decades, Mr. Graham has been careful to remain non-partisan, but has been a consistent advocate for a biblical worldview and taken a strong stand for biblical values with respect to political issues," Larry Ross, spokesperson for Billy Graham, said in an email with The Christian Post.
"During this time, a number of political leaders and candidates have stopped by to visit Mr. Graham in his home as their travels would bring them to the region, including President Obama in April 2010 and Sen. John McCain while the presumptive Republican presidential nominee prior to the 2008 campaign," Ross noted.
Romney visited the Graham and his son, Franklin Graham, at their home in North Carolina earlier this month. The popular preacher praised the Mormon politician for his "values and strong moral convictions." The BGEA website has also published several articles urging Americans to vote based on issues such as the traditional definition of marriage and the sanctity of life, and released an ad featuring a direct statement by Graham. Unlike President Obama, Romney is in favor of the preserving marriage between one man and one woman, and wants abortion in most cases banned.
Furthermore, an article which calls Mormonism a "cult" was removed from the BGEA website following the Republican's visit.
This caused a number of critics, both from the conservative and liberal sides, to announce their disappointment with the Graham's apparent support of Romney. Evangelist Bill Keller, who is warning against Christians voting for Romney because he fears it will allow the Mormon "cult" to grow, said that it was a "sad moment" when Graham decided to give his support to the GOP candidate.
"To not just endorse a 5th generation high priest of a satanic cult that propagates a false gospel leading souls to hell, but then remove the warning from his website that Mormons are NOT Christians in order to justify that endorsement is a sad moment," Keller told CP.
Timithy Beal, an author and religious scholar, who is a Florence Harkness Professor of Religion at Case Western Reserve University, wrote in an open letter to Graham that he feels the evangelist is allowing his voice to be leveraged for a political cause.
"It truly pains me to call you out on your decision to be party to this ad," Beal wrote, noting that he grew up in a household that revered Graham as a "Man of God" and was inspired by his work. He criticized the preacher for claiming that the biblical definition of marriage is set in stone and not open for discussion, and that he is using this stance essentially to voice support for Romney.
"[A]s soon as you crack open a Bible, things gets messy and complicated, leading to anything but a clear biblical view on homosexuality, let alone a biblical definition of marriage. Sadly, this is not about trying to be faithful to the text; this is about converting religious capital to political capital. Which is why it is so heartbreaking to see your name and face front and center. I guess I still expect you to rise above that cynical sort of political fray," Beal wrote.
In his statement to CP, however, Ross said that "the biblical values ads sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) that ran the following week are also consistent with both the mission of the ministry and Billy Graham's personal methodology throughout his public ministry to diligently and consistently remain politically neutral and non-partisan."
He added that "against the backdrop of moral decline and a cultural shift in our nation that reflects timely issues, Mr. Graham's quotation in the ad is an extension of his faithful preaching of a timeless message and strong stand on biblical values for more than six decades."
Graham's spokesperson noted that the minister, who will turn 94 on Nov. 7, is suffering from a number of physical limitations at this stage of his life, such as macular degeneration, hearing loss and limited mobility. However, the minister still remains productive, with an active mind, and continues to "enjoy good general health and remain engaged in the overall ministry that bears his name."
Ross also noted that the preacher is working on another book that is likely to come out next spring, and he is still involved with his syndicated newspaper column, "My Answer."
“Timithy Beal, an author and religious scholar, who is a Florence Harkness Professor of Religion at Case Western Reserve University, wrote in an open letter to Graham that he feels the evangelist is allowing his voice to be leveraged for a political cause.
“It truly pains me to call you out on your decision to be party to this ad,” Beal wrote, noting that he grew up in a household that revered Graham as a “Man of God” and was inspired by his work. _He criticized the preacher for claiming that the biblical definition of marriage is set in stone and not open for discussion_, and that he is using this stance essentially to voice support for Romney. “
Dear “Timithy”;
He’s Billy Graham.
He preaches the true word of God.
Deal with it.
I think that Billy Graham has more than earned the right to speak up. Not that that right has to be earned. We need more ministers to speak up.
They ALL should speak up.
The shepherd is supposed to guide his flock.
Too much PC crap has crept into the church.
Silence is consent.
I never felt that Billy compromised his stand on Christianity, but between the two candidates, Romney is MUCH more desirable. We’ve had all these claims over the years that voting for this candidate and that because of this religion or that have, proves to be ill-founded. If anything, electing Obama has led directly to Islam gaining a much broader impact in our society and is the ONLY religion that cannot be insulted. It is sad to see Christians unable to separate our true faith from the reactions of scare-mongers. In the church we have had MANY so-called Christians who one can tell are not true believers. We’ve had several presidents who made a huge thing about their faith...Clinton, anyone? Yet, his actions are anything but. His beliefs are anything but. And, yet, we can give him a pass because no one is perfect and if he says he is one, we have to believe it? Nonsense. I am certain that Mormonism will NOT be forced on any of us. PERIOD! This is a shameful claim. Obama claims to be a Christian, although he has also said he is a Muslim. Can’t be both! Obama holds views that are the antithesis of Christianity, so let’s stand back here and look at the option. A man who acts as if he is a true believer should act although he may not be, according to the teachings of his church, or a out and out LIAR? We have a choice of a righteous man and a -—well I won’t go there. Put your own word in there.
Well, one candidate worships God, is American loving, Patriotic, happy family man that loves this country...
Bill Keller wouldn't amount to a pimple on Billy Graham's backside.
A few weeks ago, our minister said almost the same thing that Graham wrote in his ad. We must stand with the party that most closely embraces the doctrine of the Bible. He specifically mentioned marriage, Israel, and abortion...without mentioning any names, or party.
Romney is in the process of becoming God in his belief, literally, and his family is not patriotic, it never has been, that is why they refuse military service and actually left America for years returning only because of worsening conditions in Mexico, and in the past have sworn oaths of vengeance against America.
(wikipedia) In Mormonism, the oath of vengeance (or law of vengeance) was an oath that was made by participants in the Endowment ritual of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) between about 1845 and the early 1930s
“You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will pray and never cease to pray to Almighty God to avenge the blood of the prophets upon this nation, and that you will teach the same to your children and to your children’s children unto the third and fourth generation.”
Whatever!
Anything I would say in reply to you can be found here;
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2950116/posts
OUT!
It looks like Billy Graham is successfully threading the needle on this, I look forward to when the election is over and Christians and conservatives can speak more freely again, I assume that the facts on Mormonism will be restored on Graham’s site after the election.
In regards to your inaccuracies about Mitt Romney, see post 10.
Mitt is in the process of becoming God, I can elaborate on his family's entire American history and their lack of patriotism as well.
Vote for him, but don't make up personal stuff for him.
Yup...Paul the apostle warned the Ephesus church for 3 yrs -- night & day -- that the "savage wolf" counterfeit leaders would attempt to ensnare the flock via truth distortion...(See Acts 20:28-31)
So what does the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association do? They essentially do what "editors" would do to Acts 20 if they could...they edited out "cults" from their Web site just like they would edit out "savage wolf" from Acts 20...
Too much PC crap has crept into the church. Silence is consent.
(So now that the "refreshed" Billy Graham Evangelistic Asso. Web site is silent on the cults -- having been scrubbed IMMEDIATELY after Billy met with Mitt Romney -- can we take it from your comment that silence from the church about cults...especially church leaders...is consent (as you say)???
Well, that's just it. On the one hand, the Billy Graham ad mentions sanctity of life...on the other hand, he endorses somebody who thinks millions of pre-borns don't have that right to live!
For the record, Mitt Romney told CBS News in late August of 2012 that he favors abortion for reasons of "health" of the mother...never mind that Roe vs. Wade fosters abortion-on-demand in this country using the same phrase loophole..."health of the mother."
Also in December of 2007, romney told Katie Couric that parents of embryos can either give them up for adoption, or choose to hand them over to "research."
Why...how "pro-choice" of Mitt...!!!!
Straw man argument...void of reality.
Who's claiming the Mormon koolaid brigaid will be out in force? Tell us who? Name names....
Who's claiming Lds missionaries taking lessons in arm-twisting & other wrestling maneuvers? Tell us who? Name names!!!
Posters like you want to focus on straw men like Mormon impositions...but why?
Is it so that you -- and others -- don't have to deal with the very real realitiy of Mormon exposition???
So, IOW, you don't give a da** about children concluding, "Mitt Romney's a 'god' from near the star Kolob...when I grow up, I want to be a 'god' from there, too!"
I suppose you'll be able to tell us, that no kid in the world emulates presidents, eh? No minors from Bill Clinton's era concluded that oral sex wasn't "sex"; and no kids from the 1950s thought in their mind, "When I grow up, I want to be like Ike."
So...you apparently don't think that there's not a lot of minors...and other spiritually vulnerable people...who won't be willing to take a second look @ Mormonism because of so many Christians endorsing Mitt the Mormon "god in embryo" + Mitt becoming POTUS???
Yes...let's "stand back and look at" ALL the options, shall we???
If you don't live in about these 9 states...Colorado, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, New Hampshire -- and I'll even throw in NC, VA, IA, and Nevada -- e'en though NC, VA, and IA look quite "red" at this time...then your vote for a third-party option like Virgil Goode won't effect the electoral outcome of this race...
Why?
Because Obama has about 15 votes wrapped up:
The Left Coast (Hawaii, OR, WA, CA)
NJ-NY-CT
Most of New England (Maine, MA, VT, RI)
DC area (including MD & DE)
Midwest states of IL & MN...
There's no way ANY of those states will turn "red." Even though a few have mentioned MN, the polls show still too far apart...and MN hasn't voted red for prez in 40 yrs!
Also, if 100% of FREEPERs voted for Goode in obvious red states (not swing states), there's still no way Obama could take those states.
What's "funny" is the utilitarian pragmatic relativist promoters of permanently liberalizing the GoP suddenly toss their pragmatism out the window when you talk about how Virgil Goode votes in 41 states & D.C. won't effect the electoral outcome one bit!
soon as you crack open a Bible, things gets messy and complicated, leading to anything but a clear biblical view on homosexuality,
Pack of lies.
Bingo!
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.