Catholics and Billy Graham

[PJM]

=HailHolyQueen90;9052250]Is it ok for Catholics to listen to Billy Graham?

Sure BUT with Caution

He is NOT Catholic and holds to a GREAT MANY non Catholic and unbiblical views; so IF your not well grounded in our Catholic Faith; maybe its not such a good idea?

God Bless,
Pat

 

[fred_conty]

I heard the story that Billy was young and in school, he needed books for his education. A catholic agreed to give him books if Billy would agree never to say anything against the catholic church. That was years and years ago that I heard that and I can’t give documentation. But I have never heard him or heard of him say anything derogatory about the catholic church.

The one thing I don’t care for is when he is finished with his talk, he says to search out a “bible” based church. I think that is a bit slanted but I suppose not as a protestant.

He is a good talker and stands up for hard issues.

And he is a man of granite faith in Jesus which rubs off on others.

We would do well to sweat for our faith as much as he does for his.

Just a thought.

 

[Catholic90]

Perhaps you didn’t fully understand either faith?

Oh, I understand way more than you think. Trust me.

 

[Cat]

I heard the story that Billy was young and in school, he needed books for his education. A catholic agreed to give him books if Billy would agree never to say anything against the catholic church. That was years and years ago that I heard that and I can’t give documentation. But I have never heard him or heard of him say anything derogatory about the catholic church.

The one thing I don’t care for is when he is finished with his talk, he says to search out a “bible” based church. I think that is a bit slanted but I suppose not as a protestant.

He is a good talker and stands up for hard issues.

And he is a man of granite faith in Jesus which rubs off on others.

We would do well to sweat for our faith as much as he does for his.

Just a thought.

The Catholic Church is a Bible-based church.

What Dr. Graham is talking about is non-Christian churches; e.g., the Unitarian Universalists. This fellowship does NOT base its teachings on the Bible, but on a variety of teachings. The Bible is just one of their sources.

 

[coco2]

I look at Billy Graham the same way I look at Joel Osteen or Pat Robertson. I see them as “Christian Lifestyle Comentators”, or Christian Evangalists, and nothing more. I don’t see them as pastors, priests, Fathers, or in any official context. They guide people specific to what they believe. I see them as inspiring on a certain level, but incomplete on all levels.

I have listened to both Billy Graham and Joel Osteen, and have sometimes thought, “That’s good, that’s inspirig, that’s a positive thing to keep in mind.” But, it’s kind of like a magazine on a certain subject, compared to a teaching textbook used in a university that people turn to for the whole complete truth.

And as much as I have enjoyed listening to them, there is always something there that tells me that the origins of what they are saying comes from a different source than what I was taught. It seems inspiring, but also unstructured, it also seems to lack authority. And of course, these people aren’t ordained by the true Church. When one is ordained, he is a conduit for the Holy Spirit to transubstantiate the Eucharist. So I think, he may be inspired by the Holy Spirit, but it’s just not comparable to a Catholic Pastor that we know has his Faith bound in Heaven.

Billy Graham never got near, for the most part, prosperity gospel. But Joel Osteen, he mentions riches, promotions, unemployment to better-job-paying-twice-as-much employment, and sudden check in the mail topics quite a bit. These guys like Robertson and Osteen, it’s like money is everything to them.

On the whole, to me, Protestants are way too much into praying for money. I have a Protestant friend, she says to me, “You mean you don’t pray for money?!?!” She is constantly losing money to scams, bad ex-friends, and car accidents. To me it’s clear, but I never say anything anymore.

If an old video of Billy Graham is on, I say it’s okay to watch, why not, everything is clearer, everything, with an additional perspective. But, make sure your own perspective and Faith is well founded and explored to begin with.

There are differences. Huge differences. Protestants can get up there and talk. They love that, speaking their opinion for an hour only quoting one or two out-of-context passages, but they’re never going to tell you what they really think of the Catholic Church. Just my opinion, when they go on and on talking like that? It kind of reminds me of Jobs friends, putting words into the mouth of God. That’s why I love the Catholic Mass. It’s more true to Scripture than these sola scriptura sermons. Go figure. Just another one of those things.

…Now, if someone doesn’t understand where I come from, should I trust him to guide me where I’m going? If someone says my fathers aren’t quite as christian as them, don’t you think he’s going to attempt to change me?

What these people above are saying is that; the more understanding and devout you become to Catholicism, the clearer it is to you that there are temptations everywhere leading you away from The One True Faith.

I say stay pure, stay true.

Billy Graham being the same as Joel Olsteen? Not even close. Do you ever hear Joel preach about hell say that people actually go there? Nope. Billy, was interested in leading people to Christ, therefore, he was helping God save souls. Joel is interested in people feeling good about themselves, and prospering in this life…with God’s blessing.

Pat Robertson? I don’t think I could categorize him with either of the other two. He recently has been going off the deep end with his comments about how divorce is ok if your spouse has Alheimers disease. If I was his wife, I would be very afraid.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I agree, there is no comparison between Billy Graham, Olsteen and Robertson.

Jim

 

[cajunhillbilly]

Pat Robertson? I don’t think I could categorize him with either of the other two. He recently has been going off the deep end with his comments about how divorce is ok if your spouse has Alheimers disease. If I was his wife, I would be very afraid.

Really? what about in sickness and in health, for better and for worse? My wife was disabled and had many problems physically before she passed away at 54 years of age. Did I leave her? Heck no. I made a vow to the Almigty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to love her until parted by death,. People leave their spouses for the most ridiculous reasons these days

 

[coco2]

Really? what about in sickness and in health, for better and for worse? My wife was disabled and had many problems physically before she passed away at 54 years of age. Did I leave her? Heck no. I made a vow to the Almigty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to love her until parted by death,. People leave their spouses for the most ridiculous reasons these days

Preach it, brother! You are correct. No one bats an eye at breaking a vow to God these days, and I think it is because they don’t really believe in God, they believe in their made-up version of Him. It drives me nuts to hear people say, “Well, I THINK God is like this…” or I THINK God is like that…" You can get to know God quite well if you pick up the Bible and read it, then read the Catechism. It doesn’t matter what they THINK. The truth lies in Christ, those two books, and the Church.

 

[Miriam1947]

I’m a convert from Protestantism to the Catholic Church. I heard about Christ through the Protestant church, not the Catholic. And to be honest I think they still do a much better job of evangelising as a whole.

I don’t particularly listen to anybody, as I’m hard of hearing, although from time to time I’ll buy a Christian DVD. I have a few tapes of my old pastor, and now and again I’ll dig them out. But the only DVD I’ve got that’s Catholic was Bishop Fulton Sheen towards the end of his life, and it’s pretty good.

But I wouldn’t have a problem listening to Billy Graham.

While I’m at it, my favourite apologist is CS Lewis, and he was an Anglican. Again, like Billy Graham, he was not anti-Catholic. I haven’t read much Chesterton, since his books are fairly hard to find these days. But I don’t know of any comparable figure in modern Catholic literature.

The reality is that there are no Catholic Billy Grahams. Bishop Sheen died 30 years ago or more, so where’s his evangelical replacement?

Likewise bookshops - I don’t particularly like buying books online, as I like to have a bit of a skim through it before I decide to take it. The only Catholic bookshop in Brisbane is in the city itself, and I don’t work in the city. That’s 30kms away, yet within easy driving distance are two large well equipped Protestant bookshops.

No wonder they’re cornering the field.

I have a Catholic bookstore and we have many of Chesterton’s books in stock all the time.

If your local store doesn’t have any they are easy enough to order. I’m pretty sure we get ours from Ignatius Press.

If you can’t get to a Catholic store try the Protestant one. If they are not anti-Catholic.

 

[Miriam1947]

Here’s proof that Billy Graham is a friend to Catholics:

None other than our pal, Jack T. Chick, has denounced Dr. Graham as a Catholic sympathizer, and has written a well-researched article to prove it.

I would post a link to the article, but I’m not sure if it’s allowed on this site. You can find it by Googling, if you want to read it.

I just read the article. J Chick reminds me of some people I have to deal with on another forum and they are so anti-Catholic that it’s: “Don’t bother me with the facts, I have already made up my mind.”

My understanding is that Billy Graham has always sent people back to their own church if they had one. I watched him when I was a kid and I also watched Bishop Sheen. I have no problem watching BG, he is a hell and brimstone preacher. He is not parsing the Bible.

 

[MJE]

Billy Graham’s wife,Ruth, believed in infant Baptism but Billy (a Baptist) did not. Their children were baptized as infants. But I think over the years he modified his views & came to believe in the merits of infant baptism.

Is he, Graham, pro-life?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Billy Graham’s wife,Ruth, believed in infant Baptism but Billy (a Baptist) did not. Their children were baptized as infants. But I think over the years he modified his views & came to believe in the merits of infant baptism.

Is he, Graham, pro-life?

Yes, Billy Graham is pro-life.

Jim

 

[Zooey]

The Catholic Church is a Bible-based church.

What Dr. Graham is talking about is non-Christian churches; e.g., the Unitarian Universalists. This fellowship does NOT base its teachings on the Bible, but on a variety of teachings. The Bible is just one of their sources.

I’m with Cat on this. That is how I understand it, too.

 

[coco2]

Yes, Billy Graham is pro-life.

Jim

All true Christians are pro-life.

 

[twf]

I echo previous posters who ask why one would want to listen to Billy Graham when the Church has such a rich and deep wealth of saints, doctors, popes, and bishops to read and listen to? Men and women who proclaim the full Gospel of Christ - men and women whose teaching was inspired by the same Lord who they received - body, blood, soul and divinity, at every mass. One poster asked where the Catholic Billy Grahams are… what about Blessed John Paul? He travelled the globe and brought millions to Christ through his heroic witness to the faith. Our current holy father, Pope Benedict, is also a profound and prolific writer/speaker and his audiences and sermonds are widely available online. Billy Graham has some good points to offer, but the truth he professes is tainted by numerous errors that are bound to lead the unsuspecting Catholic astray. He is our brother by virtue of his baptism, but he does not possess the fulness of the faith Our Lord entrusted to the apostles. Read the fathers and doctors of the Church. Look up the homilies of your local bishop. Follow the regular sermons and audiences of our holy father. Drink deeply of the well of divine knowledge Our Lord has graciously given us through His Church. As a former Protestant, I was blown away by how incredibly nuanced, profound, and deep Catholic theology was compared to Protestant theology - and even more so, how consistent it is! The teachings of the Fathers, doctors, saints, bishops, and popes down through the ages, together with the prayer of the Church as expressed in her liturgy, forms a beautiful organic whole that, despite nearly infinite layers of complexity, fits together so perfectly. It seems like every day I learn some new insight that adds to my appreciation for the richness that is our faith! We celebrate the same feasts, memorials, and liturgical seasons year after year, yet every year I find some new jewel in the Church’s liturgy.

Why seek out a snack when you have a great feast laid out right before you already?

 

[PatrickSanDiego]

Pat Robertson? I don’t think I could categorize him with either of the other two. He recently has been going off the deep end with his comments about how divorce is ok if your spouse has Alheimers disease. If I was his wife, I would be very afraid.

Okay, now, don’t get me wrong. I’m Catholic Catholic, very Catholic. …BUT, I happened to be watching that episode where he allegedly said those remarks about Alzheimer’s Disease and divorce. Honestly, he really didn’t come off like that. CNN took the sound bites and ran with it. Anytime the press crucifies any Christian, like they did him, we all should be concerned. What CNN did to him was utter bllsht. He was merely saying that it is heartbreaking when your own spouse no longer recognizes you. It’s something that few of us can relate to if we’ve never been in that position. That’s what he was saying. And besides, some folks with Alzheimer’s Disease need professional care, they have to be put in senior homes for their own protection. You could go to the store, return, and they can be long gone. The Church will allow you to seperate and, if necessary, divorce. You really have to put yourself in the desperate position some seniors find themselves in in these not so golden years.

But long story short, he didn’t come off like that on the actual show, he merely said in that situation, it’s heartbreaking what spouses face.

Also understand, I’m not about to pay for cable television, so if I do watch TV, it is usually something positive and wholesome that comes over digital broadcast. The 700 Club comes on at 10:00 am and that’s usually when I have a cup of coffee in my hand and I can have it on while doing other stuff. It’s the only Christian show I have access to other than Joel Olsteen Saturdays at 9:30 am, and I don’t usually watch him.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I echo previous posters who ask why one would want to listen to Billy Graham when the Church has such a rich and deep wealth of saints, doctors, popes, and bishops to read and listen to? Men and women who proclaim the full Gospel of Christ - men and women whose teaching was inspired by the same Lord who they received - body, blood, soul and divinity, at every mass. One poster asked where the Catholic Billy Grahams are… what about Blessed John Paul? He travelled the globe and brought millions to Christ through his heroic witness to the faith. Our current holy father, Pope Benedict, is also a profound and prolific writer/speaker and his audiences and sermonds are widely available online. Billy Graham has some good points to offer, but the truth he professes is tainted by numerous errors that are bound to lead the unsuspecting Catholic astray. He is our brother by virtue of his baptism, but he does not possess the fulness of the faith Our Lord entrusted to the apostles. Read the fathers and doctors of the Church. Look up the homilies of your local bishop. Follow the regular sermons and audiences of our holy father. Drink deeply of the well of divine knowledge Our Lord has graciously given us through His Church. As a former Protestant, I was blown away by how incredibly nuanced, profound, and deep Catholic theology was compared to Protestant theology - and even more so, how consistent it is! The teachings of the Fathers, doctors, saints, bishops, and popes down through the ages, together with the prayer of the Church as expressed in her liturgy, forms a beautiful organic whole that, despite nearly infinite layers of complexity, fits together so perfectly. It seems like every day I learn some new insight that adds to my appreciation for the richness that is our faith! We celebrate the same feasts, memorials, and liturgical seasons year after year, yet every year I find some new jewel in the Church’s liturgy.

Why seek out a snack when you have a great feast laid out right before you already?

Why not listen to them all?

After all, Billy Graham is our brother in Christ even though he’s not Catholic.

Why he didn’t become Catholic is probably because God wanted him doing the job he did, where he did, but we don’t know.

Jim

 

[twf]

Why not listen to them all?

After all, Billy Graham is our brother in Christ even though he’s not Catholic.

Why he didn’t become Catholic is probably because God wanted him doing the job he did, where he did, but we don’t know.

Jim

I’m not saying its intrinsically wrong to listen to him, but he does fall short of the richness of the full Gospel proclaimed by the Catholic Church. There are two reasons why I wouldn’t recommend listening to him:

1. The average lay Catholic could easily be led astray - even if fairly well catechized, Billy Graham’s emphasis will be such that it could plant even subconscious suggestions that will gradually form the Catholic’s mindset in such a way that he or she adopts an increasingly Protestant worldview
2. With such a deep well of nourishing, fully orthodox, Christ-please teaching in our own beautiful tradition, why look elsewhere? You could spend an entire life studying night after night and just barely scratch the surface. Literally.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I’m not saying its intrinsically wrong to listen to him, but he does fall short of the richness of the full Gospel proclaimed by the Catholic Church. There are two reasons why I wouldn’t recommend listening to him:

1. The average lay Catholic could easily be led astray - even if fairly well catechized, Billy Graham’s emphasis will be such that it could plant even subconscious suggestions that will gradually form the Catholic’s mindset in such a way that he or she adopts an increasingly Protestant worldview
2. With such a deep well of nourishing, fully orthodox, Christ-please teaching in our own beautiful tradition, why look elsewhere? You could spend an entire life studying night after night and just barely scratch the surface. Literally.

If a Catholic is led away by the preaching of Billy Graham, then they more likely had religion, but not faith.

This is characteristic for many cradle Catholics.

I was brought to Christ and hence back to the Church by the preaching of Oral Roberts.

So, if a Catholic is led away from the Catholic Church, if Christ comes into their life as He will if they’re open to Him, they’ll eventually return to the Church if they remain faithful to Him.

However, if they encounter Catholics with attitudes of religious superiority, they may just as well walk away and stay with Christ where they are.

Jim

 

[lizaanne]

Why would you want to drink contaminated water? Sure, it’ll still hydrate you might even come away perfectly fine…but it can still make you sick.

We have more “fresh water” in our tradition than one person could consume in his lifetime. I don’t see the point.

AMEN!!!

~Liza