I tried to make a transcript of the point in the talk where Reverand Graham makes the comments so many seem concerned about.
I am not a theologian But I think that knowing what Reverand Graham has said in the past, you need to take these considerations if you are not going to view him as having radically changed his views. The first is that he appears to take the Trinity - God and Christ and the Holy Spririt are one - in the fullness of what that means. The second is that he seems to be saying that he has met people that sought God, met God and tried to live as their prayers with God tried to guide them. They did not profess a belief in the Christian "bible", but in Grahams opinion they had been led to an honest belief in "God" and in that honest pursuit God was there for them.
Here is the text, as best as I could type it.
Robert Schuler, speaking to Graham: Tell me what do you think is the future of Christianity?
Billy Graham: Well, Christianity and being a true believer - you know I think there is the body of Christ which comes from all the Christian groups around the world or outside the Christian groups.
Billy Graham: I think everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ whether they are conscious of it or not they're members of the body of Christ.
Billy Graham: And I don't think we are going to see a great sweeping revival that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time.
Billy Graham: I think James answered that - the apostle James in the first council in Jerusalem when he said that God's purpose for this age was to call out a people for his name and that's what God is doing today.
Billy Graham: He's calling people out of the world for his name. Whether they come from the Muslim world or the Bhuddist world or the Christian world or the non-believing world they are members of the body of Christ because they've been called by God.
Billy Graham: They may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their heart that they need something that they don't have and they turn to the only light that they have. And I think that they are saved and that they're going to be with us in heaven.
Robert Schuler speaking to Graham: What I hear you saying is that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into a human heart and soul and life even if they have been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you are saying?
Billy Graham: Yes it is. Because I believe that.
Billy Graham: I have met people in various parts of the world and travel situations that they have never seen a bible or heard about a bible and never heard of Jesus. But they believe in their heart that there's a God and they tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived.
Thanks. As I suspected, the premise of the thread is full of crap. I believe St. Paul makes much the same point as Graham, somewhere in Romans.
So Billy is saying that if someone is good, they receive Christ, even if they follow Buddha?
The key exchange, IMO:
Robert Schuler speaking to Graham: What I hear you saying is that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into a human heart and soul and life even if they have been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you are saying?That's pretty much classic Reformation theology, dealing with God's sovereignty and calling. Better still, it's consistent with Christ's comment that "no one can come to me unless the Father draws him." Even a non-Calvinist like Charles Wesley proclaimed this in the great hymn, "And Can It Be" --Billy Graham: Yes it is. Because I believe that.
"Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye defused a quickening ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light. My chains fell off, my heart was free. I rose, went forth, and followed Thee..."
The point being, before a person can come to a saving knowledge of Christ, there is required a drawing act of grace on God's part. I think this is what Graham is saying here, if a bit awkwardly.
This is very weak. What he should have said was that folks who have never heard about the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible, can still be called of God and have saving faith; putting their faith upon God to save them from their sins.
However, in this world where radio and the Internet is global, I'm not sure there are too many who haven't heard His name or haven't heard some scripture. So I don't think they were talking about a lot of people out of the world. Rather, many have heard, but rejected the Gospel, it is more the cynic and the debater we encounter these days.