Will Billy Graham go to heaven?

[Theodora]

I think Billy Graham will go to heaven because he never preached against Jesus. For saying this, I was considering the following things:

Somewhere in this forum the question was made: How can I be saved? James Akin’s website was used whereby the basic answer was “Repent, believe and be baptized.”
cin.org/users/james/questions/q022.htm

From all appearances it can be deduced that Billy Graham by preaching Christ zealously for so many years has repented, he certainly believes, and is baptized.

In the gospel of Mark Ch 9, 37-39, John tells Jesus “Master, we saw a man who was not one of our followers casting out devils in thy name, and we forbade him.”

And Jesus said, “Do not forbid him.” and further on “he who is not against you is for you.”

True, this story is about performing a miracle by using Jesus’ name. But considering Mr. Graham’s track record, he will make it to heaven.

But, after all is said and speculated, in the end God will decide.

 

[JWilson]

Thank-you Theodora and well said!

 

[TylerAlex]

Your Title is rather offensive and attacks protestants.You could have worded it much differently than you did.I’m not attacking you but the question of whether Billy going to heaven or not is a very unfair question.I am only trying to defend him just as you would the pope or a saint.

Would you have been as offended if I substituted “I” for Billy Graham?

Is my soul as important as his?

If I taught what he teaches, or believed what he preaches, would my salvation be in jeopardy?

Does it matter if it is Billy Graham, or TylerAlex or JWilson or any other? Does his works, as great as they are save him… without a conversion, baptism, confession of sins, the sacriments, and everything the Catholic Church states is necessary?

I am not sure. I was hoping someone might know.

I know that if what we believe as Catholics assumes that Billy Graham… one of the most respected non-Catholic evangalists of our time… if his soul, after all he has done, is in jeopardy… that frightens me terrible about my own salvation.

May the holy spirit help me.

 

[carol_marie]

Your Title is rather offensive and attacks protestants.You could have worded it much differently than you did.I’m not attacking you but the question of whether Billy going to heaven or not is a very unfair question.I am only trying to defend him just as you would the pope or a saint.

I don’t understand why you are so offended? He just asked the question - that’s what these forums are for. And mind you, they are CATHOLIC forums - we are allowed to discuss our own beliefs. Why is asking if Billy Graham will go to heaven an unfair question? The majority gave our opinion that he is a wonderful man and will indeed go to heaven, although only God knows for sure.

I was a Protestant when Mother Theresa died. Our Sunday school discussed whether she’d be in heaven or not & the general opinion was NO (because they felt she tried to “work” her way there.)

I think it’s wonderful that you are defending him - as I would - but I also think there’s nothing wrong with Tyler asking.

 

[JWilson]

Tyler,

Your soul is just as important as Billy Graham’s.The thought of going to hell is terrifying and it’s not a place I would like anyone to see.A true follower of Jesus shouldn’t desire anyone to go to hell.If you want to know you’re going to heaven and have a peace like no other in your heart about it,the Catholic church won’t teach you that and so no answer given here can calm your nerves.The Bible tells me that you can know for certain.I advise you to read it and ask lots of questions about it.there are some things that are quite clear in it and other things need some explaining from those who may have a better understanding.You should read Matthew,Mark Luke and John.They clearly tell you what it takes to a know so salvation as apposed to a hope so salvation.I don’t think any person can give you an answer that will satisfy your soul.As you read the scriptures,ask God to open your eyes to them.As it says in the book of James,pray to God in faith and he will answer.Put your trust in Him and not the church or anyone else.I have seen to many churches try to operate under their own laws and give people does and dont’s.People can fail you but God never will!I will pray God reveals himself to you

 

[JWilson]

carol,

I here what you’re saying and see your point but if it were the question ‘Will Mother Theresa go to heaven’ I would get equally offended by it and I’m protestant.I have in the past defended Mother Theresa and shame on any protestants who say she wasn’t an amazing christian woman.

 

[DeFide]

Tyler,

.Put your trust in Him and not the church or anyone else.

Where exactly do you think the Church came from?

And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. (Mt 18:18ff)

‘If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. . . . But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you. . . . If he refuses to listen . . . tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector’ (Mt 18:15-17).

-Jesus

The Bible is very clear to me about what to do if we have a disagreement with one another over some issue pertaining to the Faith. And please remember: To lead someone into heresy is a grievous sin against your brother according to Galatians 5:19-21! The Bible tells us that the Church, not the Bible, not personal feelings, is the final court of appeal.

P.S. You’ve offered no response to the verses I mentioned earlier that illustrate that we can reject God’s graces since we have free will.

 

[water]

Put your trust in Him and not the church or anyone else.

How do you know God in the first place if the Word of God never passed down to you from generation to generation. Listen to your superior is an act of obedient and God grants the Churh the role to guide His people.

 

[Ahimsa]

Assuming Billy Graham continues to profess his current beliefs without a conversion to the Catholic Faith, do you believe he will go to heaven?

I believe he will go to heaven, where he will meet with Moses, bowl with Buddha, and jam with Jesus.

 

[JWilson]

The church is not a building,it is God’s people.The scriptures you refer to refer to Jesus’ followers.
I am leading someone into heresy?You either believe what the Bible says or you don’t.The church should be teaching people what the Bible says as it is God’s word.If the teachings of the church are not even biblical,what are they?I should hope that what Pope Benedict says on the podium is scriptural and not some nonsense off the top of his head.If what i tell someone is biblical I am not spreading rumours or lies to anyone.You dare to differ from what the Bible says?

 

[deb1]

The Bible tells me that you can know for certain.

Could you start a new thread on this? It would make an interesting topic for discussion but I am afraid that it would derail this thread.

 

[DeFide]

The church is not a building,it is God’s people.The scriptures you refer to refer to Jesus’ followers.
I am leading someone into heresy?You either believe what the Bible says or you don’t.The church should be teaching people what the Bible says as it is God’s word.If the teachings of the church are not even biblical,what are they?I should hope that what Pope Benedict says on the podium is scriptural and not some nonsense off the top of his head.If what i tell someone is biblical I am not spreading rumours or lies to anyone.You dare to differ from what the Bible says?

It should be noted that implicit (perhaps even explicit) in this passage from Matthew is the fact that the “Church” must have been a visible, tangible entity established in a hierarchical fashion. Otherwise, how would anyone have known to whom the wrongdoer should be referred? If the Protestant definition of “church” were correct, then the wrongdoer would have to “hear” each and every believer who existed, hoping that there would be unanimity among them regarding the issue at hand. The inherent absurdity of this scenario is readily apparent. The only way we can make sense of Our Lord’s statement here is to acknowledge that here was a definite organization, to which an appeal could be made and from which a decisive judgment could be had. (source)

When you teach people to disregard Christ’s Church, and to think that they can sin all they want and still go to heaven, you are teaching at least material heresy (assuming you do so out of innocent ignorance).

Your interpretation of what the Bible says is not equal to what Bible verses mean, unless you think you have the charism of infallibility.

Do you think your interpretations are infallible? If so, why?

 

[estesbob]

The church is not a building,it is God’s people.The scriptures you refer to refer to Jesus’ followers.
I am leading someone into heresy?You either believe what the Bible says or you don’t.The church should be teaching people what the Bible says as it is God’s word.If the teachings of the church are not even biblical,what are they?I should hope that what Pope Benedict says on the podium is scriptural and not some nonsense off the top of his head.If what i tell someone is biblical I am not spreading rumours or lies to anyone.You dare to differ from what the Bible says?

Under what authority do you presume to interpert the Bible for the rest of us?

 

[mercygate]

I believe he will go to heaven, where he will meet with Moses, bowl with Buddha, and jam with Jesus.

I dunno, Ahimsa. There are a lot of Protestants who think Billy is headed straight for the flames because he’s too cozy with Catholics and doesn’t believe we’re all bound for Hell!

The Church comes closest to a position on this in the statement from Dominus Iesus (or is it Veritatis splendor?) that one places his soul in certain peril if he becomes convinced that the Catholic Church is the Church established by Christ, and his authentic body, yet refuses to acknowledge and accept that, remaining outside her embrace.

A lot of sincere Christians will die before they are able to subdue their own prejudices and preferences and take the step.

 

[water]

The church is not a building,it is God’s people.The scriptures you refer to refer to Jesus’ followers.
I am leading someone into heresy?You either believe what the Bible says or you don’t.The church should be teaching people what the Bible says as it is God’s word.If the teachings of the church are not even biblical,what are they?I should hope that what Pope Benedict says on the podium is scriptural and not some nonsense off the top of his head.If what i tell someone is biblical I am not spreading rumours or lies to anyone.You dare to differ from what the Bible says?

Your advice on “Put your trust in Him and not the church or anyone else.” can really make someone confused.

 

[mercygate]

The church is not a building,it is God’s people.The scriptures you refer to refer to Jesus’ followers.
I am leading someone into heresy?You either believe what the Bible says or you don’t.The church should be teaching people what the Bible says as it is God’s word.If the teachings of the church are not even biblical,what are they?I should hope that what Pope Benedict says on the podium is scriptural and not some nonsense off the top of his head.If what i tell someone is biblical I am not spreading rumours or lies to anyone.You dare to differ from what the Bible says?

Welcome to CAF, JW. It would be great to take each of these subjects to a different thread. But I warn you, suggesting to Catholics on THESE forums that the teachings of the church are “not biblical” will get more scripture to the contrary dumped on you than you will easily refute.

Get ready.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[mercygate]

So, if he somehow in the future commits a mortal sin, and he’s dead before confessing, will he go to Heaven?

Not if he is perfectly contrite and has had no opportunity to come to the Sacrament of Confession, which, by the way, is one of the very best things about being Catholic – take it from a convert!

 

[JWilson]

good idea.I think this would make for a good discussion.

 

[JWilson]

I didn’t say I was an interpreter of the Bible but there are many statements made in the Bible that are pretty direct.If for example the Bible says “Whoesoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”.Is that hard to understand?Do I need an interpreter for that?I think not.If so,who does the interpreter get his interpretation from?If this is the case you obviously cannot even read the Bible on your own because it would be a wast of time .

 

[mercygate]

There was a murderer on a cross beside Jesus.He asked Jesus to take him where he was going.Jesus told him,“today you shall see paradise”.It was not the catholic ways that saved him but his faith alone.A guy who spent all his life in sin was saved in his dying last days.You think that because Billy hasn’t converted to catholisism that he hasn’t a chance of being saved?How naive.I believe Mother Theresa is saved simply by the love she showed others and her confessed faith in Christ.So she’s catholic.What difference does that make?

Nobody is saying “just because” someone is not Catholic they are destined for Hell. Get a grip, man!

Look at it this way: Catholics, for excellent reasons, believe the Catholic Church is the Church founded by Jesus Christ and that in her alone is found the fullness of the truth he intends to impart to his followers until “the end of the age.” Therefore, wilfully to reject her is to reject him. To reject him is to reject salvation. This isn’t a matter of the in group and the out group. It is a matter of how we best follow God.

If I’m voting on Billy, I say he’s in.