Posted on 02/21/2018 7:08:30 AM PST by oxcart
Graham also had his children baptised as infants.
Documentation???
Southern Baptists do not baptize infants but hold to the idea that baptism is an act of obedience when one had received Jesus Christ as Savior. Presbyterians, however, do practice infant baptism though NOT as an indicator of new birth but as one of a dedication of the adults for the child to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Billly Graham and his wife were brought up in the Presbyterian faith and I guarantee you they were both baptised as infants. As far as the quote you wanted here it is. The following article is about the error of water baptism.
http://cnview.com/on_line_resources/baptismal_regeneration_and_bible_salvation.htm
TIME magazine for 10/27/61 printed the following quote by Dr. Billy Graham: “I still have some personal problems in the matter of infant baptism, but all of my children with the exception of the youngest were baptized as infants. I do believe that something happens at the baptism of an infant, particularly if the parents are Christians . . . I believe that a miracle can happen in these children so that they are regenerated, that is, made Christian through infant baptism.”
Yes, Billy Graham and his wife Ruth were raised as Presbyterians and were baptized as infants. However, in Graham's own autobiography, he says in 1934 (age 16) after attending Dr. Mordecai Hams revival meetings in Charlotte, NC, was the night he came to Christ. Don't you wonder what changed in his heart that his last child was NOT baptized as an infant?
The following quote is from an article written in October of 1961, after Graham gave an interview to Lutheran clergyman Wilfred Brockelman, who was then the associate editor of The Lutheran Standard:
Like I said, Southern Baptists do not believe in the baptism of infants but that such an act of obedience and personal testimony of faith is reserved for those who are at an age to understand what they are doing.
I'm sensing some animosity in your comments on a thread that is a positive article about the late Billy Graham. What is your intention for doing this?
I’m sensing some animosity in your comments on a thread that is a positive article about the late Billy Graham. What is your intention for doing this?
After Billy Graham became a Baptist and had been preaching for years his children were being baptised as infants. Ned was born in 1957 and was baptised as a teenager, who knows for what reason.
I have no animosity. What I sense is you pretending that Billy Graham was as opposed to the Catholic Church as you are.. What made Billy Graham different that todays evangelicals is he NEVER put down the Catholic Church and blabbed away about Catholicism being a false religion. When he asked people to come down during the altar call he would often call out Christian faiths by their name by saying I dont care what faith you might be, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc. Come and give your heart to Christ, ask him to come into your life,make him your personal savior, then go back to your churches and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ
Billy Graham was despised by the fire and brimstone evangelicals because he did exactly what I just said. And Billy Graham went to church. It would have never entered his mind to tell people they didnt need to go to church,but rather sit on their rumps and watch him on TV. He was also despised by countless evageicals because of his relationship with the Catholic Church.
Billy Graham on the death of Pope John Paul 2. The exact same words can now be said about the Reverend Billy Graham,
Pope John Paul II was unquestionably the most influential voice for morality and peace in the world during the last 100 years. His extraordinary gifts, his strong Catholic faith, and his experience of human tyranny and suffering in his native Poland all shaped him, and yet he was respected by men and women from every conceivable background across the world. He was truly one of those rare individuals whose legacy will endure long after he has gone.
The only pretending going on here, as far as I can see, is in your trying to stir up discord on a thread that was meant to honor the man for the many souls he led to Jesus Christ - a seed he helped plant in my own heart. Maybe you forgot the many times I have stated that genuine Christians can be found even in the Roman Catholic church and that it is NOT the church that brings salvation but faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sins. Are you pretending that you agree with Billy Graham when he said, "I dont care what faith you might be, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc. Come and give your heart to Christ, ask him to come into your life, make him your personal savior, then go back to your churches and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ? I know I have seen some of your posts where you claim the opposite and assert that ONLY Catholics can be saved. There's your animosity!
As an Evangelical, I do NOT despise Billy Graham but appreciate the sacrifices he made to win souls to Christ - sorry if that disappoints you.
I always thought our patriarchs were the founders of America.
**the following quote by Dr. Billy Graham: I still have some personal problems in the matter of infant baptism, but all of my children with the exception of the youngest were baptized as infants. I do believe that something happens at the baptism of an infant, particularly if the parents are Christians . . . I believe that a miracle can happen in these children so that they are regenerated, that is, made Christian through infant baptism.**
Wonderful quote.
**What made Billy Graham different that todays evangelicals is he NEVER put down the Catholic Church **
BTTT!
Do you actually believe Billy Graham would be in full agreement with all the doctrines and dogmas of Catholicism? If you do, then why did he NEVER convert to Roman Catholicism? Billy Graham was an evangelist not a theologian. It was more important to him that someone received Jesus Christ as Savior than where they chose to worship after that and he trusted the Holy Spirit to complete the work begun in the hearts of those who committed their lives to Christ. A great many Catholics should learn by that example and stop attacking and putting down Protestant/Evangelical Christians who disagree with many doctrines of Catholicism.
I was accepted into the Catholic faith 10 years ago at the age of 58. I was raised Southern Baptist and like Billy Graham I was born and raised in NC. I saw him many times as a child and young adult. I went to many of his crusades and yes I answered the altar call many times. I became Catholic after many years of studying the gospel and the history of the Christianity. In the end I converted for one reason and one reason only. Its the truth.
I was accepted into the Catholic faith 10 years ago at the age of 58. I was raised Southern Baptist and like Billy Graham I was born and raised in NC. I saw him many times as a child and young adult. I went to many of his crusades and yes I answered the altar call many times. I became Catholic after many years of studying the gospel and the history of the Christianity. In the end I converted for one reason and one reason only. Its the truth.
You say you "answered the altar call many times" which tells me you probably didn't understand what saving faith did in your life and you thought something was lacking which is why you eventually converted to Catholicism. Did you give up your assurance of salvation when you did that?
Graham's ministry was preaching the gospel to everyone he could. What each person does with that knowledge is between them and God. He believed, and I agree, that the Holy Spirit is who gives the increase of faith once the seed is planted and watered.
Jesus Christ Established a Visible Church On Earth
https://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/churb1.htm
Every Christian believes that Jesus Christ established and sustains a community of faith, hope and love for all believers. This community we call His Church. The Church that Christ founded is the Catholic Church which has a formal earthly structure established by Christ and which continues under His authority and protection.
In the Old Testament we see God’s continual involvement in the lives of the Israelites through appointed prophets. God delivered, instructed and admonished the Israelites. He made His motions in a visible, specific and formal way. He always did so through human hands, mouths, feet, minds and wills. God established a law and a means for executing it.
In concert with His redemptive act, Jesus did three things that established the framework of His Church. First, He chose humans to carry out His work. He appointed Peter to be the visible head of the Church. Jesus said to Peter, “You are Rock and on this rock I will build my Church.” (Matthew 16: 18) Jesus said “build,” as in to create a structure. Jesus built His structure on specifically chosen human beings Peter and the apostles.
Second, Jesus gave Peter and the apostles the power and authority to carry out His work. “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.”(Matthew 16:19; 18:18) “Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven, whose sins you retain, they are retained.”(John 20:23)
Third, Jesus gave Peter and the apostles commands as to what that work should be. At the last supper, He commanded, “Do this in memory of Me.” (Luke 22:19) He commanded them to “Make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), and to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
The early Church was structured in a hierarchical manner as it is today. We see in Acts, chapter 15 how the apostles and the elders came together under the leadership of St. Peter to decide the question of what was required of Gentiles. We also see how St. Peter was regarded as the head of the Church when St. Paul, “Went up to Jerusalem to confer with Kephas [Peter] and remained with him fifteen days.” (Galatians 1:18) There is no Scriptural evidence of independent local churches.
The Catholic Church is the only church that can claim to have been founded by Christ personally. Every other church traces its lineage back to a mere human person such as Martin Luther or John Wesley. The Catholic Church can trace its lineage back to Jesus Christ who appointed St. Peter as the first pope. This line of popes has continued unbroken for almost 2,000 years.
God rules, instructs and sanctifies His people through His Church. Under her teaching office, the Catholic Church preserves the Word of God. She is the custodian, keeper, dispenser and interpreter of teachings of Christ. And she accomplishes this under the protection of the Holy Spirit.
Now I see why you swam the Tiber - you swallowed every fable, myth and legend they fed you! I disagree with just about EVERY point EWTN has stated here and can (and many HAVE) dispute each one. Anytime you are at all interested in hearing them instead of hijacking a tribute thread to Billy Graham, let me know.
You didn’t answer my question. Did you have to give up on your assurance of salvation when you converted? Don’t they tell you it’s a “sin of presumption” to believe you are saved? Guess they don’t know the Bible as well as they want people to think they do. Billy Graham would certainly say they are wrong about that.
Of course youre one of the early church fathers and also a world renowned Christian theologian. Have a great day.
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.