Your Opinion on Billy Graham???

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Well, I’d have voted, but I just couldn’t find my particular feelings among the choices 😃

I think as far as Protestants go, Billy Graham is OK. I think he’s not the brightest penny in the jar to let himself get so close to Richard Nixon. I don’t think he did it because he was a schemer, just not to savvy and understanding that politics was getting more complicated than he had originally signed up for. But I think he is definitely proof that America is still a Protestant country in its morals and thinking.

I do admire his marital fidelity.
 
I grew up Protestant, so Billy Graham’s definitely a familiar figure (I’ve heard him jokingly referred to as the Protestant pope :)),although I haven’t been to one of his rallies. I might go with a friend this fall, just to see what they’re like. I don’t know his views on Catholicism, but I’ve never placed him in the same category as the televangelists (can’t stand them). He seems to be honestly serving God as best as he knows how, and has led many to Christ.

I think it helps to remember that not all people will run into the Catholic Church first (we don’t advertise ourselves much). Many Catholics found Christ initially through someone like Billy Graham and then later were led by God toward our Church. There is absolutely no substitute for the Catholic Church (please don’t get me wrong on that!!!), but at least he gets the word out about Christianity to those who might not hear it from us. Obviously this says Catholics aren’t evangelizing enough! 🙂
 
Catholic Eagle:
Catholics aren’t supposed to even go into Protestant worship services and churches. Catholics can’t even go to Protestant churches even though the worship maybe very Catholic looking.
Funerals and weddings are exceptions.
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I’d beg to differ with you on that one. One who is Catholic CAN attend a protestant worship service. Two things that a Catholic CANNOT do:
ONE:A Catholic can’t fulfill the Sunday obligation at a protestant church
TWO:A Catholic cannot receive the communion offered at a protestant church.
That’s really it. There’s nothing in the teaching of the church that says one who is Catholic and practicing can’t attend a protestant service, though I choose not to. Since I became Catholic, I’ve only walked into a protestant church ONCE, and before that when I was in RCIA, I didn’t attend my old protestant church at all for the whole 9 months. But that’s just me.
 
Corpus Cristi:
I’d beg to differ with you on that one. One who is Catholic CAN attend a protestant worship service. Two things that a Catholic CANNOT do:
ONE:A Catholic can’t fulfill the Sunday obligation at a protestant church
TWO:A Catholic cannot receive the communion offered at a protestant church.
That’s really it. There’s nothing in the teaching of the church that says one who is Catholic and practicing can’t attend a protestant service

You are correct…I often go to a Protestant Sunday School class…These people are my friends, and it is something my husband and I can share.

I do not receive communion in that church, nor do I consider going there to have fulfilled my “Sunday obligation” to attend Mass. But, I feel free to go there…
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Katia:
Many Catholics found Christ initially through someone like Billy Graham and then later were led by God toward our Church.
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I believe this is how Jim Caviezel found Christ initially. I think i read this on Billy Graham’s website a while back, when him and Jim were talking about Jim’s role as Jesus in the Passion of the Christ.
 
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Salvo:
I think as far as Protestants go, Billy Graham is OK. I think he’s not the brightest penny in the jar to let himself get so close to Richard Nixon.
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Yes, but when somebody confesses their sins I must forgive them too.

If I didn’t feel that way, I might not be going to RCIA classes this year (and it is better not to talk of sins in the past that have already been forgiven).
 
My favourite Billy Graham story:

Graham showed skill in handling the media. Once, he was asked by a reporter, “Rev. Graham, will there be golf in heaven?”

Almost without hestiation he replied, “If golf is necessary for happiness, then there will be golf in heaven.”

Blessings,

Gerry
 
T.A.Stobie:
First, the couple of times I heard him, he demeaned the Church, so I have lost all interest in hearing him speak.

Second, the only time I have seen a normal human being worshiped was by a television anchor (i will not mention the name) worshipping Billy Graham.
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I agree. When I was ignorant of my faith, I lauded Graham and followed his theology. However, I matured in the faith and sought treasures only in the Church Christ intends, and the teachings christ gives through the saints. We have the truth, we have the saints, we have the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God(whom protestants despise, mostly the fundamentalists) and we have all the wisdom of the 33 Doctors of the Church. hence, no need to search and search for answers. The answers are already given in the Church.
 
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Matt16_18:
Billy Graham is a Southern Baptist, and I believe that I have heard him preach “Once Saved, Always Saved” (OSAS). I admit I could be wrong about that.

I checked out Billy Graham’s website to see what it says about OSAS. His site seems to dance around the OSAS controversy without ever coming out and actually stating where Billy Graham stands on this issue. I personally have never known a Southern Baptist that didn’t believe in OSAS. The antinomian flavor of OSAS is THE central dogma of the Southern Baptist religion, and I would be very surprised if Billy Graham has ever publically renounced OSAS as false doctrine.

Here is an quote from Billy Graham’s website:
Indifference to sin in one’s life is a sure sign of serious spiritual sickness, and may indicate that one has never truly invited Jesus into one’s life as Savior and Lord (1 John 2:3-4).

I’m a Christian. Will I lose my salvation if I sin?
This seems to be a standard Southern Baptist response - the backslid Christian may never have been really “saved” in the first place.

This answer is also hints of acceptance of OSAS without actually being explicit:
Does the Bible teach that every time you commit a sin you lose your salvation?
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I am an evagelical and can perhaps be of a little help. I do not claim to know Billy Graham’s innermost thoughts but in my church and other evangelical churches backsliding is not the same as loosing your salvation. Essentially a backslider is a saved person who has let sin back into their lives and thus has handicapped their ability to grow in Christ and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. When a backslider comes forward it is generally to rededicate themselves to live according to God’s will for them. A scriptural description of a backslider would be 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (ironically Catholics use it to justify purgatory)
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1 Corinthians 3:11-15 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.**
 
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Vincent1560:
Essentially a backslider is a saved person who has let sin back into their lives and thus has handicapped their ability to grow in Christ and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives.
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Is “backslider” actually a term that evangelicals use?
 
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Mickey:
Is “backslider” actually a term that evangelicals use?
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Sure they do.I hid my face and was angry; but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
Isa 57:17

Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return.
Jer 8:5
 
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Vincent1560:
I am an evagelical and can perhaps be of a little help. I do not claim to know Billy Graham’s innermost thoughts but in my church and other evangelical churches backsliding is not the same as loosing your salvation.
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My question was about OSAS, not backsliding.

Billy Graham is a Southern Baptist, and from my experience with Southern Baptists, antinomian OSAS is the central doctrine of their religion. If Billy Graham has renounced the heresy of antinominanism, I would be greatly surprised (and greatly pleased). 🙂

I find it interesting that Billy Graham’s website dances around issue of OSAS without ever either trying to defend this doctrine or condemning it outright. Southern Baptists are quite aware that their version of OSAS is considered to be heresy by Catholics, Orthodox, and many other mainline Protestants.
 
Billy Graham is a wonderful man of God and whenever I listen to him preach, I always get something out of it. He is an excellent example of a good Christian and his messages are clear and true. He’s not quick to condemn, but quick to save.
 
I heard on a tape once … can’t remember by who … that the speaker really respected Billy Graham because after his altar calls during his crusades, he would encourage people to go back to their own Church. He would say things like ‘if you care a Catholic, go back to your Catholic Church to worship and share the love of Jesus’ (me paraphrasing). I’ve never listened to more than about 15 minutes of Billy Graham, but it sounds like he is very respectiful of others’ Christian beliefs, even though he may not agree with them.
 
Billy Graham is the one non-Catholic evangilizer that I don’t get the “heebie-geebies” whenever I see him on TV or read articles about him. Even before this thread was posted, I had thought for a long time that he may convert to Catholicism. Let’s hope, be it God’s will, that this would come to fruition. 👍
 
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Matt16_18:
Sure they do.I hid my face and was angry; but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.

Isa 57:17

Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return.
Jer 8:5
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Which Bible is that from. I freely admit that I need to study the OT more, but the Douay-Rheims states it this way:

Why then is this people in Jerusalem turned away with a stubborn revolting? they have laid hold on lying, and have refused to return. Jer 8:5

For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, and I struck him: I hid my face from thee, and was angry: and he went away wandering in his own heart. Isa 57:17
 
Nevermind. I just did a Bible search, and most versions use that word except the Douay-Rheims. :o
 
I have always liked Graham and have watched Graham Crusades on television for years. What I like about Graham is that after Catholics have come forward at the Altar Call to receive Christ as Savior Graham tells the Catholics who have come forward that they do not have to leave the Catholic Church and join a Fundamentalist Church and that they can remain Catholic and remain saved.
 
John Mazar:
I have always liked Graham and have watched Graham Crusades on television for years. What I like about Graham is that after Catholics have come forward at the Altar Call to receive Christ as Savior Graham tells the Catholics who have come forward that they do not have to leave the Catholic Church and join a Fundamentalist Church and that they can remain Catholic and remain saved.
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How open minded of him… :rolleyes:
 
Billy Graham was a great man and great “RE”-former just like Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Joseph Smith, White, Baker, Eddy, etc…
 
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