Just
8 1/2 months shy of his 100th birthday, Evangelist Billy Graham (November 7,
1918 - February 21, 2018) died peacefully at his home in Montreal, North
Carolina. His longevity, influence, and role modelling have been epic. In a 60
year plus evangelistic career, it is estimated that he evangelised 210 million
people in 185 nations, with 3.2 million recorded decisions for Christ. His most
famous phrase in preaching: The Bible Says.
Graham
met many world leaders and was confidant to 12 US Presidents. He didn’t limit
his ministry to personal appearances: Billy harnessed the media and written
material to get the gospel message out. So well-known and respected was Billy
Graham that he was called ‘America’s Pastor’ and the ‘Protestant Pope.’ He was
given a Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan. Hollywood even gave him
his own ‘Billy Graham Star’ on the city’s footpath.
Billy Graham was greatly honoured in life and
death. This blog will highlight his greatest legacy: The Bible Says.
The Bible
says: For
he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes — Matthew
7:29
A
story is told that Graham, as a young man, wrestled with the issues of the
authority and inerrancy of the Bible. Somehow, despite the doubts which tried
to eclipse his convictions, the gift of faith descended on him and he rose up,
clutching the Bible, and declared that he believed this book - every word of it
- is the every word ofGod. From that
point, he went forth to preach the gospel with authority, and ‘not as the
scribes.’
Billy’s
big break happened early in his ministry. His ‘canvas cathedral’ in the Los
Angeles revival of 1949 gave him a national profile. In his 12 week London
crusade in 1954, Graham ministered to 2 million people. Madison Square Gardens
crusades in New York 1957 was a home-run, too. People in Melbourne still
remember Graham’s visit in 1959. From these events, and more to come, Graham’s
ministry went from strength-to-strength.
Though
a dedicated evangelical, Graham was willing to raise the ire of narrow
fundamentalists by working with a variety of churches. He also insisted that
his meetings be interracial, a real ground-breaker for a Southerner over 50 to
60 years ago. His attitude: ‘I intend to go anywhere, sponsored by anyone,
to preach the gospel of Christ.’
The Bible
Says:
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will
not stand before unknown men — Proverbs
22:29
Billy
Graham was the ‘Pastor to the Presidents,’ starting with Harry S. Truman and
finishing with Barack H. Obama. Graham was particularly close to Lyndon B.
Johnson, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, where he was their chief spiritual
advisor. In fact, Bill Clinton became a Christian as a child while attending a
Billy Graham crusade. Ironically, the Presidents he was least close to were his
fellow Baptists Truman and Jimmy Carter. At the age of 98, he was unable to
visit the White House with current President Donald J. Trump, though son
Franklin prayed at his 2017 inauguration.
Describing Billy Graham
When
thinking about the life of Billy Graham, certain adjectives come to mind:
Consistency:
Graham
did not gyrate from one fad to another; he was focused on one thing and one
thing only: do the work of an evangelist. This consistency over a 60 year plus
period is remarkable and inspiring.
The Bible
Says: But
you be watchful in all things endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry — II Timothy 4:5
Integrity:
Unlike
some televangelist and high profile ministers, Billy Graham was never tainted
with a whiff of scandal, personally, professionally, or financially. He kept
himself above reproach in public and public dealings. Graham showed great
propriety in his conduct with the opposite sex, thus scandal-proofing his
ministry. People of integrity are supremely trustworthy and Graham would fit
that description to a ’T.'
Loyalty:
Billy
Graham exhibited a rare loyalty to his friends that is most remarkable, almost
to a fault. He stuck with US President Nixon during the heat of the Watergate
scandal almost until the very end. He forgave Bill Clinton at the height of the
Monica Lewinsky scandal. The Grahams remained loyal to televangelist Jimmy
Bakker, who they considered a friend; Franklin Graham even visited him in
prison, even though there was the risk of ‘guilt by association.’
The Bible
Says:
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy — Matthew 5:7
Mercy:
Billy’s
loyalty may have been based on his merciful side. If its a choice between being
too judgmental versus being too merciful, it’s always best err on the side of
mercy. Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount that the merciful will receive
mercy. His message is simple yet profound: be merciful to others and when
you need mercy, you will get it.
Billy’s
inclination to mercy would help him in his latter years. Back in 1972, Graham
had a meeting with President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office. He may or may
not have known that every word uttered in that office was recorded. In
that conversation, Nixon uttered comments about Jewish people that were
negative, perhaps even anti-Semitic (though, the very next year he sent a
massive military airlift to help Israel during the October 1973 Yom Kippur War).
Billy Graham may or may not have agreed, or stayed in silence when he could
have spoken up. At one point, he told President Nixon that Jews ‘don't know
how I really feel about what they're doing to this country.’
Thirty
years later in 2002, with Nixon long gone, the tapes were released and Jewish
community would know how Billy Graham felt … back in 1972. When the news broke,
Graham, age 83, was deeply embarrassed over the incident. He probably did not
recall the comment and said it did not reflect his true feelings. Furthermore,
he offered to go on his hands and knees to apologise to any rabbi who came on
his path. From all accounts, the Jewish community’s response was mild, perhaps
moot. After all, it’s Billy Graham … let’s give him a pass. The whole thing
blew over very quickly. As Billy Graham experience: He reaped mercy
because he sowed mercy.
Go
and do likewise!
In
his long life, Graham will be remembered for many things. Yet, perhaps the most
important, is the simple three-word phrase he used again and again while
preaching: The Bible Says. This is tantamount to: God says. For Billy
Graham, along with all classic evangelicals, the Bible and God’s Word are one
and the same. When we equate the words of the Bible with the Words of God,
salvation and a myriad of other blessings flow. In combating today’s scourge of
Biblical illiteracy, Billy Graham’s three words give wisdom for today and hope
for tomorrow.
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