Pray for Billy Graham!

[Fighting Instinct]

My wife and I went to see Billy: The Early Years this weekend and I must say, it was a great movie. A few scenes even moved me to tears. Billy's life is very inspiring and after leaving the theater on Saturday, I said to myself "I want God to use me like he used Billy" and I truly mean that. As I got to work this morning, before I started my day, I went onto Youtube to look up some video about a man named Mike Murdock, who is a TV evangelist that is famous for the "$1,000 seed". He believes that if you give to the Lord, you must expect something in return, or as he calls it, your "harvest". Well, as I looked through videos of Mike, I glanced over at the related videos box and something caught my eye that will forever change the way I view evangelism forever. The title of one of the videos was "BILLY GRAHAM SAYS JESUS ISNT THE ONLY WAY TO GOD EXPOSED". This shocked and angered me that someone would even say this about Billy Graham and his ministry. I have always respected Mr. Graham and what he has done for Christ. I thought to myself "Let's just see how someone is twisting his words to say what they wanted him to say". I clicked on the video and to my amazment, it said what the title said. My jaw dropped open and my mind began to run wild with thoughts of "How can this be?!". In a previous blog on my facebook page, I wrote about Bill's son, Franklin, who I had seen sitting across the table from Jane Crouch, co-founder of TBN, and wondered if he supported the teachings of Paul Crouch and Benny Hinn, two of the biggest false prophets of our time. In one small instant, it all came clear. What I had feared about Franklin Graham, and now his father, came true. Although this is pretty devistating to a multitude of Christians, this just further proves the word of God when Jesus spoke in Matthew 24:11 and said to his disciples "and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." I believe that Billy Graham once stood strong for what God wanted him to do, but after seeing the video of him on Youtube, that can no longer be said. My soul died a little today, but knowing that God is in control and knowing that Jesus fortold of this very thing, it brings me back to where I was and just builds my faith in God even more. So, as I end this, I say to everyone who reads this, be careful of the men and women you put your faith in here on earth. They can appear to be something that they are not. Do your research on anyone you find to be a man or woman of God before you buy into what they say. Please pray for Billy and his family. They need it so bad. He has been such an inspiration to millions and this could be a devistating blow to the faith of those he has brought to Christ.

To view the videos that I mentioned, click on the links below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAE5yagnadM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axxlX...eature=related

[tt1106]

Sir,
So you are basing your opinion of Billy Graham on a Youtube Snippet. That is like basing your interpretation of the Bible on a single verse.
I understand what you are saying, but I would be cautious about abandoning a family devoted to Christianity on the basis of a youtube video. I think there is a question of context. Maybe you should do more research and then make an informed decision.
On youtube you can find one of those videos on many different pastors.
In many cases they are out of context.
Again, I respect what you have to say, but I think it should require more investigation on your part if you claim to be a fan. I have seen the video.
I think it may be misleading.

[Fighting Instinct]

Sir,
So you are basing your opinion of Billy Graham on a Youtube Snippet. That is like basing your interpretation of the Bible on a single verse.
I understand what you are saying, but I would be cautious about abandoning a family devoted to Christianity on the basis of a youtube video. I think there is a question of context. Maybe you should do more research and then make an informed decision.
On youtube you can find one of those videos on many different pastors.
In many cases they are out of context.
Again, I respect what you have to say, but I think it should require more investigation on your part if you claim to be a fan. I have seen the video.
I think it may be misleading.

I am not going off just a video. It is what he said, with his own mouth in the video that I am basing my accusations on. You can't misinterpret what someone says when you hear it more than once and in it's completion. I think you need to go back and what the videos again.

[HisLeast]

Deleted...............

[Frances]

I went onto Youtube to look up some video about a man named Mike Murdock, who is a TV evangelist that is famous for the "$1,000 seed". He believes that if you give to the Lord, you must expect something in return, or as he calls it, your "harvest".

I've never heard of Mike Murdock, and from what you day of him I don't want to.

Those of us whose life has been given, and is repeatedly given, to God; are not entitled to anything in return, but because of His Compassion and Mercy my Lord often Blesses us in many and various ways.

for Billy Graham's protection from the fiery darts of the Evil one. (and just for the record, a film can be cut and spliced to say virtually anything, by someone with that ability)

[Buck shot]

We should see what people believe instead of just spreading things about someone...

Official Billy Graham website
http://www.billygraham.org/StatementOfFaith.asp


"That all men everywhere are lost and face the judgment of God, and need to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through His shed blood on the cross."

[Lisadawn]

Without looking at the Youtube video, (I just happen to be up letting the cat out) there was a major argument about this on another board having to do with an interview by Robert Schuller. I think Billy Graham was saying something to the effect that a person who never heard the name of Jesus in some foreign land where a missionary had never been could still believe. God puts it in their heart to believe. They just don't know his name.....Jesus.

Billy Graham NEVER said that Jesus is not the only way to heaven. I grew up watching him and there was always a John 14:6 banner at every crusade. "Jesus said: 'I am the way the truth and the life'".

You are correct in that we should be careful who we put our trust in. We should not put our trust in people, but in Jesus.

It is not the man - but the message.

God bless Billy Graham and his family for allowing God to use them.

[Lisadawn]

Ok, I watched the videos. The Schuller interview was just like I just said in above post. A person from any denomination or world religion or no religion can have God speak to their heart. They just don't know his name yet....Jesus. He is not saying that a Muslim can be saved because he is a Muslim. He is saying that God calls people from everywhere. It is God who does it. I have heard that Jesus is appearing to many Moslems in dreams. You see, God doesn't really even need us but he chooses to use us anyway.

In the Larry King interview, Billy Graham just said it was not up to him to judge.....it was so quick. Like what about Jews and Mormons, etc. What about them? If they become saved then they are saved like everyone else by believing in the sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross.

Look at Billy Graham's entire life and message not some 1/2 a sentence taken out of context.

In fact just quit looking to people.....and look to Jesus.

Like Billy said, we are not to judge, it is in God's hands.

In Christ,
Lisa

[ilovemetal]

Look at Billy Graham's entire life and message not some 1/2 a sentence taken out of context.

indeed.
if we examine some books billy has written i'm sure they will tell us more of what he thinks. according to wika (thanks wika!) he wrote 28 books. so if in any of them it says "Jesus isn't the only way to heaven" then i will believe a 3 second video on youtube.

until then, God knows his heart.

out.

[Fighting Instinct]

indeed.
if we examine some books billy has written i'm sure they will tell us more of what he thinks. according to wika (thanks wika!) he wrote 28 books. so if in any of them it says "Jesus isn't the only way to heaven" then i will believe a 3 second video on youtube.

until then, God knows his heart.

out.

Many false prophets started out with the best of Jesus on their heart and lips, but most have fallen prey to the world. Just because someone USED to be Christ-like, doesn't mean they still are. I know. I was one of them.

[holyrokker]

There are many reasons why I like the internet. This thread is NOT one of them.

[ilovemetal]

Many false prophets started out with the best of Jesus on their heart and lips, but most have fallen prey to the world. Just because someone USED to be Christ-like, doesn't mean they still are. I know. I was one of them.

well, i suppose that is a good point. and, for record, i haven't read any of his books

although, i have watched the video, and to me at lease it didn't seem that he was directly saying 'Jesus isn't the only way'. at least not in context. i'm sceptical at best, and in the end, it's between him and God.

There are many reasons why I like the internet. This thread is NOT one of them.

this is a decent thread, i think. talking about a man who once was a huge influence on society at large and is now in question (although that vid is old)

no?

[David161099]

When he was talking about peopel from Bushhism and Islam heairng the call of God...I don't think he was menaing that Jesus is not the way.

Jesus is God. God is three parts, each are God.

I know lots of Buddhists/Muslims etc who have been converted to Christianity.

God would work on their hearts well befor ethey may even come to know of Jesus.

I think that's what he is saying.

In terms of teh first video, I believe he is saying that he would rather not hand down the judgement of God, but rather leave that to God. Who are you to condemen a man befor ehis time is up? People have a whole life to come to the lord. They may be athiest now, but convert later.

I think this is just another case of people being too literal and too legalistic, and too judgemental of Billy Graham.

Hmmm... So you think God is going to Send Billy Graham to hell?

[tt1106]

That's the problem with youtube. You can put up a 4 minute clip and it changes people's opinions of you.
I have been on television before and I was interviewed by 3 different News agencies. All three did different editing jobs and one intentionally edited me mid sentence to make my comments sound inflammatory.
Billy Graham has also raised Franklin Graham and Anne Graham Lots.
I think that is some pretty good fruit. Billy Graham is probably on television every other day. He has written 28 books and probably toured quite a bit to promote them. I bet there is probably an interview somewhere that someone can put together to make him look silly, stupid or any number of things.
Do you always have your game face on? Do you ever have a bad day? Have you ever said something you regretted? The difference here is Billy probably has a camera in his face all the time.
Can you not cut him some slack? He's been serving God for 60 years? I am not going to relegate him to eternal damnation based upon youtube.
I do agree that he needs plenty of prayer, though. I think we should remember the different circumstances that our Christian leaders are in though. Granted they are not immune from falling away, but I believe they are under alot more scrutiny than the normal person and are subject to much larger attacks.
Blessings all.

-Todd

[Lisadawn]

Billy Graham is in no way "falling away". As I said in an earlier post I grew up watching him. Since I live in a city that has very small Christian Churches the denominations had to associate with each other for us "as teens" to have any friends. I was involved in Youth for Christ and Campus Crusade for Christ.

Extremely conservative churches didn't want us to associate with each other.......Baptist, Evangelical Free, Bible Church, Christian Missionary Alliance.....

The Main Criticism that Billy Graham got when I was growing up was that he associated with the wrong people. Didn't Jesus get that same criticism?

Because Graham was a world evangelist and not just US he had to be greeted by perhaps a Anglican Bishop while holding meetings in England. He may have been greeted by a Catholic Mayor when in Chicago. When he was in Russia he was criticized for a high percentage of the audience being KGB..(do I have those initials right? LOL) Well guess what happened.....SHOCK.....THE KGB member got to hear the gospel? You think that is a bad thing?

I took a counselor training course put out by the BGEA and worked at one of the films to talk to inquirers. The biggest crictism we got was from extremely conservative to extremely liberal churches. The liberal ones thought Billy was too narrow.....the conservative ones thought that he erred in not telling people what church to join once they got saved.

Now let me ask you, don't you believe that the Holy Spirit is capable of leading them to a good church or out of a cult. Yes, we had followup, that is what I did, but the Holy Spirit is really the one who did the work.

We worry too much folks.

Lisa