Billy Graham & the Future of Christianity

I was shocked by what I viewed today.  While I am sure that this is not new to most people, it was new to me.  Even though I knew that Billy Graham was a false teacher, I did not realize the depth of his hypocrisy and antiChristian beliefs and teaching.  The following is a video clip where he answers Robert Schuller’s question: “Tell me, what is the future of Christianity?”



The transcript can be viewed at On Doctrine: Billy Graham and also below:

   
Dr. Schuller begins by speaking to Billy Graham:

    Dr. Schuller: "Tell me, what is the future of Christianity?"

    Dr. Graham: "Well, Christianity and being a true believer, you know, I think there's the body of Christ which comes from all the Christian groups around the world, or outside the Christian groups. I think that everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the body of Christ. And I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time."

    "What God is doing today is calling people out of the world for His name. Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist 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. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts they need something that they don't have and they turn to the only light they have and I think they're saved and they're going to be with us in heaven."

    Dr. Schuller: "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've been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you're saying?"

    Dr. Graham: "Yes it is because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, have never heard of Jesus but they've believed in their hearts that there is a God and they tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived."

    Dr. Schuller: "This is fantastic. I'm so thrilled to hear you say that. There's a wideness in God's mercy.

    Dr. Graham: There is. There definitely is."

Growing up, I always wondered about the times that my mother would tune in the TV to the Billy Graham crusades.  Everything that was portrayed was entirely foreign.  As a child I found it to be entirely hokey.  It certainly was not preaching of the Gospel.  I did not know enough to articulate what my spirit knew was wrong, but I wanted nothing to do with it.

This type of theology and preaching always leads to spiritual bankruptcy.  This view of evangelism is fraudulent.  The Sacraments are discarded for emotional appeal.  The decisions of men are elevated above the conviction and calling and comfort of the Holy Spirit.  People are led to rely upon themselves and their own reason and strength, and in the end, faith is reduced to wishful thinking and Christ is reduced to a platitude.


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