RIP Billy Graham

[steve-b]

steve-b:

lilypadrees:

He wasn’t Catholic because that’s not what God called him to be. And perhaps, not as many people would’ve listened to him had he been Catholic.

so you’re saying, Jesus didn’t want Billie in His Church?

I definitely wouldnt say what lilypadrees said, but…

Billy was in communion, though imperfect. But i think more perfect than many Catholics.

Here’s how language gets a bit screwed up

in the secular sense

communion = union of community
imperfect communion ≠ union of community

 

[rcwitness]

To give it to his Catholic friend…

 

[rcwitness]

You should know the language of our Catechism.

 

[steve-b]

You should know the language of our Catechism.

I said I was using communion in a secular sense.

 

[rcwitness]

Why would you do that?

 

[TheNeutral]

I definitely wouldnt say what lilypadrees said, but…

Billy was in communion, though imperfect. But i think more perfect than many Catholics.

This isn’t unfounded though. It’s simply factual that Catholics are universally stigmatized, and thus, Billy Graham genuinely belonging to a more “mainstream” denomination–could reach and convert more souls. So while God desires everyone to come into perfect truth, it’s completely rational that He, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, permitted Graham to maintain a certain ignorance, so as to enable him a broader reach without risk of damnation on those grounds.

Personally, while being Catholics is better for ourselves, I find Graham’s protestantism to be better for the world.

 

[rcwitness]

rcwitness:

I definitely wouldnt say what lilypadrees said, but…

Billy was in communion, though imperfect. But i think more perfect than many Catholics.

This isn’t unfounded though. It’s simply factual that Catholics are universally stigmatized, and thus, Billy Graham genuinely belonging to a more “mainstream” denomination–could reach and convert more souls. So while God desires everyone to come into perfect truth, it’s completely rational that He, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, permitted Graham to maintain a certain ignorance, so as to enable him a broader reach without risk of damnation on those grounds.

Personally, while being Catholics is better for ourselves, I find Graham’s protestantism to be better for the world.

I disagree. I believe God was calling Billy to Catholic Communion.

And I dont think Catholics need to be so “stigmatized” as you claim.

Im not trying to be confrontational, but I just really disagree.

I like Billy Graham in many ways, but I do think Open Communion is wrong and opposed to God’s will.

Billy rose above much of the animosity of Protestantism, which allowed him to see so much Catholic unity. But his testimony of receiving Confirmation and Holy Communion in the Catholic faith would have been greater for all the Churches coming together than what he even did do.

That said, I have no doubts that he was probably a much stronger man than myself. Only God knows.

Was he stronger than many because he remained neutral in his preaching? Or was he neutral in his preaching because he was stronger?

I think some of both.

 

[pnewton]

so you’re saying, Jesus didn’t want Billy in His Church?

He was in His Church.

 

[pnewton]

Man, I wish I could be there.

 

[rcwitness]

Though imperfectly.

 

[Mary888]

May God forgive him!
I don’t know who he was except from what I read here so I pray for the forgiveness of all his sins and may our Lord take him home in Heaven.

 

[obvious_ron]

The Billy Graham Channel - SiriusXM

 

[Tis_Bearself]

There were two Dominican friars in full habits in line for the viewing a little ways behind me, which was nice.
The tourists were all taking many pictures of them.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Whatever one thinks of his beliefs, the fact that a major Christian religious leader lay in state in the Capitol is pretty impressive to me. Several major media outlets already published articles or op-eds about this being a violation of the separation of church and state. I don’t think we will be seeing this happen again any time soon, if ever. I’m also willing to bet that if a Republican president had not been in office, we wouldn’t have seen it at all.

 

[Wannano]

Whatever one thinks of his beliefs, the fact that a major Christian religious leader lay in state in the Capitol is pretty impressive to me. Several major media outlets already published articles or op-eds about this being a violation of the separation of church and state. I don’t think we will be seeing this happen again any time soon, if ever. I’m also willing to bet that if a Republican president had not been in office, we wouldn’t have seen it at all.

You had the privilege many of us would have loved to have. I am happy for you.

 

[Maximilian75]

For someone who served as a chaplain and advisor for so many presidents, both D’s and R’s, I think it’s only fitting for him to lay in state.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

You had the privilege many of us would have loved to have. I am happy for you.

It was not easy to work into the schedule, but I felt it was my Christian duty to go, not just because Billy was a great American and a celebrity, but because it was a chance to publicly rep for Jesus as a Christian in front of national lawmakers and media. Not for the attention, but to remind them that a lot of believers live here.

 

[lilypadrees]

lilypadrees:

He wasn’t Catholic because that’s not what God called him to be. And perhaps, not as many people would’ve listened to him had he been Catholic.

so you’re saying, Jesus didn’t want Billy in His Church?

No, that is not what I’m saying. I’m saying that Jesus did not call Billy Graham to be a member of the Catholic Church. He called him to be a Protestant, more specifically, a Southern Baptist preacher.

 

[rcwitness]

This is a good topic for another thread.

I dont believe the Catholic faith would support your position. But alot would have to be discussed about wht that all means.

The Baptist traditions appealled to him. It doesnt mean God was calling him to be separated from His Eucharist!!

 

[Athanasiy]

I still think about the question, what is better to be a nominal Catholic or spiritually revived Protestant ?
If a person changed his life and turned from sin to 180 degrees, he is looking for the Lord, the Holy Spirit and the fear of God reigns in the family, then I think that such a Protestant repentance is only for good.