B175. Franklin Graham's Poligion

What you need to know about Franklin Graham's Decision America Tours: They are Politics dressed in Christianity's clothing. (Matt. 7:15)

In 1981 Rev. Billy Graham, Franklin's father, told Parade magazine, “I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.”

In the 1970s when Jerry Falwell changed the face of American Christianity by marrying it with conservative politics, Rev. Graham refused to be a part of it. Although a Southern Baptist and a registered Democrat, he never let either of those distinctions rule his life. Graham willingly pastored all presidents from Truman to Obama regardless of political party.

In 1979 Rev. Graham refused to join Falwell's Moral Majority, saying, "I'm for morality, but morality goes beyond sex to human freedom and social justice. We as clergy know so very little to speak with authority on the Panama Canal or superiority of armaments. Evangelists cannot be closely identified with any particular party or person. We have to stand in the middle in order to preach to all people, right and left."

Now the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (including its publications) is completely in the hands of Graham's son Franklin, who has whole-heartedly embraced the right-wing poligion his father warned against. Follow Franklin's religion, or follow his father's, but let's not confuse one with the other.

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The above was originally posted a few years ago when Franklin Graham was crossing the U.S. with his Decision America Tour to influence the coming election.

A pastor with whom I attended seminary responded to that post:

I went to the Decision America tour . . . this Saturday in Charlotte. The closest thing to politics mentioned was we obeyed the Scripture to pray for those in authority. We prayed for wisdom for both the president and the leaders in Congress. We prayed for the governor and for local leaders. We did not pray for a revival through politics but that our leaders would put aside selfishness but do what is right for our nation. Franklin Graham preached an evangelistic message very much reminiscent of his father's. We all (are) sinners in need of a savior. He mentioned sins such as gossip lying and stealing. He reminded us that all are guilty and need (God's) love. The one thing he emphasized was He wanted everyone to know that God loves them.

To this I responded to him and to you, my readers:

(Name), I understand. You are a Southern Baptist pastor, and Southern Baptists form the base for the “poligionists” this post is about - Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell, Jerry Falwell Jr., Paige Patterson, Adrian Rogers, James Dobson, Pat Robertson . . . As you know, Southern Baptist was my first language too, so I understand it well.

I agree with you that Franklin’s looks, his voice, and his speaking style are almost identical to his father’s, and I’m glad he is calling for prayer and preaching God’s love. I’m sure you are aware of Franklin’s political activism and how the powerhouse formed at the marriage of politics and fundamentalism has fed the greatest historical and corporate sins of this nation, oppressing women, people of color, and people of other nationalities, languages, orientations, and religions.

I know you as an educated man, and one with power that comes with position. Is it possible in Baptist life today to follow the life and teachings of the Christ of the Gospels without buying into the mess of poligion?

While I have no doubt Franklin Graham says some good things, you and I both know his agendas. I pray for wise and courageous pastors, and I’m seeing some hope.

A few videos that might be interesting, not about whether you as a Southern Baptist pastor agree with his words or not, but whether you would say he has no political agenda and is not manipulating the “God is Republican” mindset forged into fundamentalist Christianity in the Moral Majority era. I think you and I would agree that God is neither Republican nor Democrat, nor American. And I'm certain we would agree that Jesus alone is our Christ, worthy of our following. I wish all the best for you, your family, and your congregation.

Franklin Graham: This Is the Most Important Election of My Lifetime

Franklin Graham Praises Trump

Billy Graham's Son: God Put Trump in Office

Franklin Graham: Decision America Tour

Rev. Graham: Trump Is a Changed Person

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You might also be interested in this post: 

B50. Franklin Graham's Religion Is Not His Father's

B50. Franklin Graham's Religion Is Not His Father's

Franklin Graham is using the power of his father’s name for his own political agenda.

Throughout history there may not have been a more respected Christian leader than the Rev. Billy Graham.  He ministered for a lifetime without serious controversy or compromise, focusing on preaching the message of Jesus Christ and keeping himself clean of all political factions.

In the 1970s when Jerry Falwell changed the face of American Christianity by marrying it with conservative politics, Rev. Graham refused to be a part of it.  Although a Southern Baptist and a registered Democrat, he never let either of those distinctions rule his life.  Graham willingly pastored all presidents regardless of political party, from Truman to Obama.

He refused in 1979 to join Falwell's Moral majority, saying, "I'm for morality, but morality goes beyond sex to human freedom and social justice. We as clergy know so very little to speak with authority on the Panama Canal or superiority of armaments.  Evangelists cannot be closely identified with any particular party or person.  We have to stand in the middle in order to preach to all people, right and left."

In 1981 he told Parade magazine, “I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form.  It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right.  The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.”

In 2005, struggling with Parkinson’s disease and then 86 years old, Rev. Graham handed the reins of his Billy Graham Evangelical Association powerhouse to his son Franklin, whose ministries include the popular Samaritan’s Purse shoebox ministry which delivers Christmas gifts to needy children around the world.

Franklin, however, is unquestionably a proponent of the Christian right that his father so avoided and denounced, and now, with the aging minister approaching his 94^th birthday and struggling more and more with his failing health, including substantial vision and hearing loss, his Association, led by Franklin, is using his name and face to press a political agenda the respected minister would never have advocated. 

Most recently there have been photos circulated on-line of Gov. Mitt Romney’s visit with Franklin and his father, implying an endorsement by the elder Graham of Romney for president.  Yet, the only quote they could get from him was “I’ll do all I can to help you.”  Had there been anything more substantial from his lips than that, we surely would be seeing it in videos all over the internet.

Following this visit and the deceptive implications of an endorsement, the Association’s website deleted its description of Mormonism as a cult. Does this mean the organization has decided to embrace Mormons into its Christian box?  No, Franklin does not call Gov. Romney a Christian.  It’s all just politics.

Earlier this year when NC was voting on an amendment to define marriage, Billy Graham’s name and face were used in ads in favor of the amendment.  No voice.  No meaningful quotes.  No video.  But there was his face, implying that he initiated the ads.

It was Franklin, also, who won the fight to make the Billy Graham Library the burial site of his parents where it will be a tourist attraction, despite his mother’s plea to be buried near Asheville where they had lived for many years, and despite his brother Ned’s strong support of his mother’s wishes.

Franklin is devoted to the political religious climate of his time, but we should be very wary of accepting anything we see or hear that appears to be coming from his father, especially during this volatile election season.  Franklin now has control of the Billy Graham Association, but Franklin’s Christianity is not his father’s.  More newspaper ads are coming.  Look at them, but be sure to notice the details that are missing and the voice that is not really speaking.  If we can hear the words as those of Franklin, not his father, we can protect the respected name of a dear man who deserves to live his last days as he so carefully lived the rest, according to his own spiritual wisdom and conscience.

Gov. Romney's recent visit with Rev. Graham
(photo from Washington Post)

President Obama's 2010 visit with Rev. Graham
(photo from Wikipedia)

" . . . (Billy) Graham always functioned as a 'paramedic' rather than a 'policeman' for the Kingdom of God."  - A. Larry Ross (B. Graham's principal spokesperson since 1981)