Billy Graham's group removes Mormon cult reference from website after Romney meeting

CNN ^ | 10/16/12 | Eric Marrapodi

[Clint N. Suhks]

Shortly after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney enjoyed cookies and soft drinks with the Rev. Billy Graham and his son Franklin Graham on Thursday at the elder Graham's mountaintop retreat, a reference to Mormonism as a cult was scrubbed from the website of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

In a section of the website called Billy Graham's My Answer there had been the question "What is a cult?"

Answer: "A cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith."

"Some of these groups are Jehovah's Witnesess, Mormons, the Unification Church, Unitarians, Spritualists, Scientologists, and others," the site continued.

No longer. On Tuesday, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association confirmed that page has recently been removed from the site.

“Our primary focus at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has always been promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ," Ken Barun, chief of staff for the association, told CNN in a statement. "We removed the information from the website because we do not wish to participate in a theological debate about something that has become politicized during this campaign."

[Elsie]

..if you check Elsie compared me to Joseph Goebbels in post 262

And it seems to have touched a sore spot.

So can you tell us just WHY you are SO good at using his tactics?

[Elsie]

Elsie, I doubt whether you will even remember this conversation in the morning...

I guess we'll see if your doubts have any validity in about 10 hours then; won't we...

[af_vet_rr]

I bet if the GOP nominee were a Muslim or a homosexual, you’d be angry that we wouldn’t vote for him either, and you’d be claiming that we hate all law abiding hard working Muslims or all law abiding hard working homos as well.

[fireman15]

We have far more in common than you probably imagine. Romney was not my candidate in the Primary; I was quite hostile towards him for exactly the reasons you mention. But the fact is that Romney prevailed and he is the only person who can throw Obama out of office. Aside from the differences between Obama and Romney which I feel are dead serious... I just can't take another four years of having the Marxist in my living room on TV and radio.

I live in Western Washington one of the most liberal areas in the country. It is incredibly frustrating and I can tell you that I work with a bunch of hard core union people. Sometimes I come home feeling a little mean and I apologize if I have come on a little too strong in this thread. Thank you for your service and have a good evening.

[Elsie]

I didn't realize that a person who considers themselves a Conservative and a Christian could hold views that are as callous and damaging to the precious gifts that God has blessed us with, that you apparently do

Oh my!

I must defend myself!

[Elsie]

I’m glad you managed to get a reply in to ILLUSTRATE just how heinous DD is becoming in this thread!

[Elsie]

We have self professed Christians who hate decent hard working law abiding Mormons....

[fireman15]

You know I love you. I will see you on the next thread; hopefully we will be able to bash on someone else and not each other.

[af_vet_rr]

We have far more in common than you probably imagine.

Up to a point, maybe. Here's the thing: I no longer stop being a Christian or Conservative the moment my choices leave the primaries.

Don't get me wrong, I used to do that. For far too many elections, I would say "well my guy lost, guess I have to set my principles aside on election day." What did that get me? Nothing but more RINOs that believed in bigger government.

1988 - 2008, you know what those elections were? Those elections were the equivalent of me putting my bare hand on a hot stove every 4-8 years in the hopes that it would somehow not be hot.

and he is the only person who can throw Obama out of office.

Any of the top Republican candidates who could string a few sentences together could beat Obama. Obama has handed the election to the GOP time and time again.

If anything, it's quite telling that Romney isn't blowing out Obama everywhere. I don't mean the slim margins the Romneybots are trumpeting, I'm talking a Ronald Reagan-Walter Mondale blowout, where Obama should only be getting Washington D.C. and Illinois, California, or New York.

[fireman15]

Any of the top Republican candidates who could string a few sentences together could beat Obama. Obama has handed the election to the GOP time and time again.

We agree on that! I am sure you realize that I meant that at this point in the election Romney is the only one who can throw Obama out of office. I am not particularly happy about that either, but it is the situation we find ourselves in.

[UltraV]

He goes by his middle name. Why don’t you use that? Have you never heard of someone going by their middle name before? Most children get to choose in this country.

[UltraV]

He goes by his middle name. Why don’t you use that? Have you never heard of someone going by their middle name before? Most children get to choose which name they want to go by in this country.

[driftdiver]

I dont want to see people die, which is why we must prevent the current prez from beeing reelected. Its very obvious what four more yrars will bring.

[driftdiver]

yes the truth hurts svcw.

[Syncro]

Thanks for your excellent reply to the comment made about all voters with a conscience should be put into a Holocost type oven and burned to death.

[Elsie]

He goes by his middle name. Why don’t you use that?

I'm sure if (when?) he gets sworn in, he'll use his full name.

[Elsie]

yes the truth hurts svcw.

And DD Doubles Down!

[SoConPubbie]

To further clarify my point of view... actively attempting to discourage your fellow citizens on a conservative forum from voting for the only person who has a chance of beating Obama in the upcoming election... is irresponsible and the most likely explanation is evil intent.

At this point, SR, I'd say this has become like "casting pearls before swine". It would appear that Fireman15 has no intention of engaging in an honest debate but would rather fall back on various debating techniques that are less than honorable.

The only thing left for dishonest posters such as this one is open rebuke.

[SoConPubbie]

This is an election and not a theological debate.

I see this excuse a lot.

However, no where in my bible is there any hint or reference or suggestion or direct command that we are to leave God's commands, God's rules out of consideration when making decisions or performing actions in any part of our lives.

In fact, it is quite the opposite.

Romney supports Abortion and the Gay Agenda.

How is a Christian supposed to rectify this purposeful continual sinful behavior from a man who has been warned about this many times by conservative Christians, with Christ's commands and his Apostles to have nothing to do with such people?

How are we to rectify Christ's commands in this matter with the idea that we must vote for Romney because Obama is worse than Romney?

Do we, as Christians, practice Pragmatism over our loyalty to Christ, and in the process commit sin ourselves?

Or do we leave the outcome with God, trusting to his providence, and obey the commands of our Lord and Savior?