Though you listen to every sermon he preaches and read every line he writes, you will never read or hear several things contained in God's word. The "he" of whom I speak is a Protestant preacher, often referred to as "Reverend Billy Graham." Throughout the world, and especially in North Carolina, Mr. Graham is quite influential. A few years ago, they named a freeway in Asheville, NC in his honor. He and his wife attended the ceremony. He has counseled several presidents, and has met many foreign leaders as well. In January 1997, "Larry King Live" aired an interview with Mr. Graham. On this program, Dr. Graham affirmed his fellowship with both Roman Catholicism and the Mormon religion. Remember, Roman Catholics accept the Pope as head of the church; and the Mormons elevate Joseph Smith's teachings above those in the New Testament.
It is unscriptural (wrong, sinful) to exalt oneself by wearing a religious title (Matthew 20:25-28; 23:5-12). Please read these passages before you continue reading this article. There was no such thing as a "class system" in the early church, His kingdom. There still isn't. Those who give, and those who wear, such titles as Father, Reverend, or whatever, show just how far they are from Christ's kingdom, the church for which He died. This practice is a violation of the law of Christ. Rather than honoring one person on whom another lavishes great praise, such religious titles bring condemnation on both the giver and the wearer (2 John 9-10).
Somehow, we must get into our minds that violating any principle, teaching, or practice taught in Christ's word is a very serious thing and a detriment to the soul. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak." {John 12:48,49} Also read Matthew 17:1-5; Acts 3:33,23; Romans 16:16-18. Peter wrote long ago "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ..." {1 Peter 4:11} Mr. Graham accepts a title, which Christ's word condemns. I hope and pray that you will draw the proper conclusion. It is important that you do. Our conclusions must agree with God's word. Not only is "Billy" condemned for wearing titles that exalt him, those who bestow such titles are likewise condemned for bestowing them! Occasionally, he tells an interviewer to call him Mr. Graham or Billy. Still, he often allows himself to be billed as, and books he writes call him, Reverend Billy Graham. Hardly any Protestant will agree that it's right for a man to wear the title of "Pope," but calling preachers "Reverend" or "Pastor" is a common practice.
You will never learn from "Billy" the fact that Christ's church and His kingdom are one and the same, and that it has existed for more than 1900 years. He will not teach you that Christ's kingdom is a spiritual, not a literal earthly, kingdom. Billy believes and teaches that Christ will return to this earth and set up a physical kingdom in Jerusalem, where He will reign on David's throne for 1000 years. About this, Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." {John 18:36} Billy and many other premillennialists say: "oh, yes it is!" Who should we believe--the Lord or Mr. Graham?
Billy will never tell folks, as I do, that when Jesus returned to heaven, He begun His reign on David's throne, at God's right hand, as Daniel prophesied, and as the apostle Peter, by inspiration, stated: "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! Came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion, and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages, should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion. Which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one that will never be destroyed." {Daniel 7:13,14} Also read Acts 2:22-37. My brethren and I serve King Jesus, not a crown prince who awaits coronation.
In the first century, the apostle Paul claimed to be in the kingdom. "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." {Colossians 1:13,14} The kingdom cannot be a future kingdom; Jesus said His kingdom would come with power during the lifetimes of some who heard Him speak. "And He said to them, Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power." {Mark 9:1) From the Hebrew writer (Hebrews 12:22-28), we learn that the church and the kingdom are one entity.
The Bible makes abundantly clear that Jesus now reigns on David's throne, at God's right hand. If He doesn't, He wasn't raised from the dead. If He wasn't, why did Peter quote, as being fulfilled, the prophecies that said He would (Acts 2:29-36)? If the kingdom does not exist, we cannot partake of the Lord's Supper, for Jesus placed the supper in the kingdom (Luke 22:16).
We know that Christ's church and His kingdom are one and the same, because Paul taught the Corinthian church the proper way to partake of the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). What's to do after learning these facts? If the kingdom has yet to come, there is no such thing as a "new birth;" yet, Jesus said that, to enter the kingdom of God, one must be born again (John 3:1-5). We are baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13). We are reconciled to God, by the cross of Christ, in one body (Ephesians 2:10-17). This one body is the church of Christ (Colossians 1:18,24).
Hebrews 12:22-28 refers to the church of the firstborn as the kingdom received during the first century. As previously noted, first-century Christians had been delivered "from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son." In the face of all these biblical truths revealed in the sacred text, can one continue to believe in a future kingdom, with Jesus ruling on earth?
You may read what Billy writes and listen to what Billy says for as long as you wish, but you will never learn what God's inspired word teaches the alien sinner who is outside the church--the kingdom of Jesus Christ--to believe and do to have his sins forgiven. Exactly what does Mr. Graham tell the sinner who is dead in sin, separated from God?
He says: "Eternal life is yours the moment you believe." {Billy Graham's Crusade Edition of the N.T., page 8} "When you receive Christ into your heart, you become a child of God." (Same book, page 7) He adds: "You can invite Jesus Christ into your heart, right now, praying to God something like this: "I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness; I believe that Christ died in my place, paying the penalty for my sin; I am willing to turn from my sin; I now invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior; I am willing by God's grace, to follow and obey Christ as the Lord of my life." (Page 8) Where is the Bible authority for reciting this so-called Sinner's Prayer?
Mr. Graham doesn't tell folks the rest of the story. My brethren and I believe the sinner must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:21-24). We believe, too, that the sinner must accept Jesus as his Savior--as his Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36; Luke 6:46). Not one of the great commission passages contains the instructions Billy conveys to the alien sinner. He has yet to tell his audience what the apostle Peter told the unbelievers on the Day of Pentecost. "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." {Acts 2:37,38}
Not one of the conversions in the book of Acts gives the sinner the instructions Billy gives his listeners. No sinner was told to say a sinner's prayer, or pray through, to receive salvation. Is a child of the devil on praying terms with the God of heaven? Christ is not His High Priest and God is not His father. All spiritual blessings are in Christ. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." {Ephesians 1:3} Please take the time to read the following passages: Titus 3:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:10; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:13-16; Acts 2:46,47.
Mr. Graham, along with many other religious teachers, sees the new birth in a different light, as a better-felt-than-told experience. Billy often reads John 3:8 as a proof text that this new birth is some inexplicable experience. This comes as no surprise to those who have read what Edward T. Hiscox stated on page 63 of The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches. "We believe the Scriptures teach that in order to be saved, men must be regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life."
What Mr. Hiscox is actually teaching (and what Mr. Graham, inconsistent with his other quotes, believes) is that men are first saved by a "direct operation of the Holy Spirit," and then, because they are already saved, they repent, believe, and reform. Who can believe this? It is not supported by any Bible passage. Yet, many, including Billy, do believe. *** (Edited KMG)
What can one think about Mr. Billy Graham? Is he a true man of God? He is loved and respected by millions--but does that make him right in God's sight? Mr. Graham is known as the clergyman to many powerful people--including our own President Bush. While I intend no disrespect to Mr. Graham, I must also be honest--he is a danger to the souls of those he teaches. Why? Simply put, he teaches only part of the truth. True, millions believe him, but if he teaches his own doctrine--it is of no spiritual help to his listeners. ***(KMG)