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Wolves in Sheep's Clothing and Hirelings |
As the curtain falls on the career and the life of the man whom many consider to be the greatest and most successful Christian evangelist of all time, newspaper and magazine articles are drawing attention to the accomplishments of this man, and men from all walks of life are lavishing praise upon him. But before joining in the accolade of Billy Graham, it behooves the Christian to make an objective and long-overdue inspection of the messages which Graham has delivered, both in word and in deed, and to ponder the propriety of according respect, support, and praise to this man.
Numerous individuals have warned concerning Graham, alleging that he is affiliated with Freemasonry; others have cited the fact that Graham accords legitimacy to the Papacy and embraces Roman Catholics as fellow Christians. But few of the critics of Graham focus upon the message which Graham proclaims, and upon the question of whether the message of Graham indeed is the Gospel of the Scripture. In comparison with this matter, all other matters are secondary to this.
A recent article1 in `Time' magazine refers to Graham as “a preacher who had no church”. However, it would be more accurate to refer to Billy Graham as “an `evangelist' without a gospel”. For a half century or more in his `crusades', Graham has been palming off a mere counterfeit of the Gospel—an ill-defined, non-offensive pablum which panders to the emotion and has virtually nothing in common with the Gospel of the Scripture:
A consummate flimflam artist, Graham leaves his audiences with the impression that they have received from him something of value. But in the typical hour-long `crusade' meeting, most of the time is squandered upon presentations by the choir and `testimonials' by celebrities or prominent individuals. Of the half-hour or less in which Graham himself actually addresses the audience and delivers his message, a large portion typically is expended in the telling of anecdotes. The remaining few minutes are hopelessly inadequate for communication of the Gospel. Graham challenges his hearers to make a decision, but he fails to give them the information which is required for an intelligent decision regarding obedience of the Gospel.
In any city of the United States, a Billy Graham crusade is a major and memorable historical event, the details of which typically are etched into the memories of the participants. And no wonder, for the preparation for a crusade begins many months in advance, with all the churches of the respective city being encouraged to support and participate in the event.
Much of the magic of a Billy Graham crusade is due to this advance preparation and the involvement of local Christians. Some are recruited and trained as `counselors' for the brief one-on-one interview of those who walk the aisle at the crusade. Others are recruited and rehearsed as members of the choir. Still others are recruited for various functions including regular prayer for the crusade. Local pastors are recruited and trained to serve as supervisors for the counseling.
Thus, each crusade becomes a project for the local community of Christians. This participation tends to defuse criticism of Graham: an individual who has a personal role to play in such a community project tends to view the project in a non-critical light, rather than objectively. Even long after the crusade, nostalgia tends to block objectivity regarding benefit of the endeavour.
Graham has been instrumental in the ecumenical movement, primarily through his invitation to Papists (Roman catholics) to participate in his crusades. Graham lavished praise upon the recently-deceased pope (who went by the pseudonym `John Paul II'), with whom Graham had an audience at the Vatican, calling him “unquestionably the most influential voice for morality and peace in the world during the last one hundred years”.
Graham was been a pioneer in the field of multi-ethnic evangelization; early in his career he insisted that his crusade meetings be open to all races. Through this attack upon segregation within the Christian community, Graham has been a powerful, though little-appreciated, influence in the desegregation of the American nation and the attendant, inevitable rise of miscegenation.
An episode in a crusade a decade or two ago illustrates the clever wresting of the Scripture by which Graham has been successful in promoting the non-Scriptural concept of racial integration. Speaking about the cost of following Christ, Graham referred to the necessity of “taking up the cross”—a reference to Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Mark 10:21, and Luke 9:23. However, Graham interpreted the requirement according to the popular conception of “bearing the cross”, rather than to the Biblical concept.
In the epoch of the Incarnation, the cross was an instrument by which an individual was tortured until he expired, in a process which lasted at most a day or two. The cross consisted of a fixed vertical pole and a removable crossbar. The pole was permanently set into the ground at the place of execution, ever ready for use, and ever a tacit warning to passers-by that Roman law was not to be violated, and that the authority of Rome was not to be challenged. The torture was administered in four, and sometimes five, increments.
The torture began with scourging, which immediately preceded the journey to the place of execution. Scourging, which was inflicted with a whip having multiple strands of leather into which were embedded pieces of rock or metal, tore the flesh from the back of the victim, leaving him in a state of shock, suffering great pain, and severely weakened. The second increment of the torture was inflicted by compelling the victim to carry the crossbar to the place of execution; this is the origin of the term, to take up one's cross. The third increment of the torture was administered upon arrival at the place of execution. The victim was stripped of his clothing (which was divided as booty among the executioners) and was nailed through the wrists to the crossbar. Then the crossbar with the victim was raised and mounted upon the upright pole. Finally, nails were driven through the heels of the victim, so that he might use his legs to lift his body sufficiently to take a breath; for if he were suspended by his arms alone, breathing would soon become impossible. Thus, provision was made to allow the victim repeatedly to raise himself, take a breath, and slump back into a hanging posture, the cycle being repeated until the victim reached the point of utter exhaustion, whereupon he expired. The piercing of the wrist (and not, as the popular conception has it, the hand) caused almost unbearable pain. The fourth increment of the torture consisted of the slow process of asphyxiation, combined with the processes of death resulting from loss of blood, impaired circulation, and general physiological distress. The goal of crucifixion was to inflict the greatest possible agony for the longest possible time. Only in unusual circumstances was the torture brought to a premature end; and even then, the end was not brought about with sword or spear, which would have been relatively painless and merciful. Instead, if the available time did not permit the crucifixion to take its normal course, a fifth increment of torture was inflicted, giving the victim additional pain of the most intense nature: the legs of the victim were broken, so as to preclude the victim from lifting himself to breathe.
Thus, in the realm governed by ancient Rome, the man who took up his cross had no future. His earthly life had come to an end, all earthly associations had been severed, and all earthly endeavours and aspirations had been abandoned. Already in a state of physiological shock, physical weakness, and intense physical pain from scourging, he faced yet another day or two of intense agony inflicted by merciless tormentors. Accordingly, the Biblical concept of “taking up the cross” is that of a man who, with respect to the present life, has no future. Such a man willingly has resigned himself to the end of his former manner of life. He willingly sacrifices everything in the present life which he once held dear, and he willingly submits himself to whatever suffering may be required, in order to lay hold upon life everlasting.
The popular notion of “taking up the cross” is quite different from the Biblical concept. Contemporary society regards a `cross' as a burden which is difficult to bear; ridicule, reproach, or ostracism which is incurred by an act of virtue; or a trial or test designed to test patience or virtue. This false conception has been fostered by false teachers such as Graham and countless other evangelists, pastors, and teachers. By failing to teach faithfully that which is involved in taking up the cross, such men not only obscure the teaching of the Scripture, but also trivialize the sufferings of Christ Jesus. In such ways the deceiver reveals his true nature and his inherent and deep-seated hatred of the Christ which he claims to represent.
Graham, in a crusade in the 1980's or 1990's, speaking of the cost of following Jesus, said that, for some, “taking up the cross” might mean “making friends with someone of another race”. Graham thereby implied that breaking down the barrier of race—a barrier which the Creator himself erected—is required of those who would follow Jesus.
While not generally appreciated, one of the most important roles of Graham has been that of official high-priest of the Establishment. It is a phenomenon which has been observed throughout human history, that, ultimately, the general populace fears the god or the pantheon worshiped by the society more than it fears Caesar. An excellent example of this phenomenon is seen in the novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by Samuel Clements (aka `Mark Twain'). Because of this phenomenon, it generally is the policy of Caesar to seek alliance with or endorsement of the dominant religion. And in some cases, Caesar attempts to deify himself in the eyes of the populace, and thus circumvent the necessity of an alliance.
Human government in essence is a predator, operating largely on the basis of deception. Moreover, human government is amoral, having as its primary restraint the opposition of its own citizens, to the extent that they are aware of the activities of government and are possessed of the means of resistance. And human government is cannibalistic: when foreign prey cannot easily be had, government preys upon its own citizens. Were the truth known and understood regarding many of the activities of government, the populace would become incensed, and government would be forced to alter its course. Consequently, much of the effort expended by a government involves the creation of false images, in order to alter the perception of the public regarding various matters. To this end, hardly any technique is more effective than that of obtaining the endorsement of a religious leader in whom the general populace has implicit trust.
Unlike true men of God—prophets such as Moses, Elijah, and John the baptizer—who indicted and withstood Caesar, Graham lends his endorsement to Caesar. According to a CNN.com news article, Graham has been the confidant of every American president since Harry Truman. And from time to time, Graham has been called to the White House for a well-publicized private meeting. Thus, much as the kings of Israel utilized false prophets to create the appearance of divine favour and to facilitate their own, evil deeds, so also has a string of American presidents utilized Graham to make it appear that the respective administration enjoys the blessing of God, and that God has sanctioned whatever it may undertake.
Interestingly, though he is a servant of the Establishment, Graham appears to be no fool. During a 1972 meeting with American President Richard Nixon, Graham was captured on tape commenting upon Jewish domination of the media, saying, “This stranglehold has got to be broken, or this country's going down the drain.” However, in March of 2005, Graham apologized for the remark.
Quite old (age 86) and decrepit at the time this article is being written, and suffering from several serious physical aliments, Graham always has projected an aura of piety. He commands respect and receives praise from all quarters. Graham even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Within religious circles, both Papist and Protestant speak well of Graham. Within political circles, he enjoys favour with both Republican and Democrat. And Graham has received an honourary knighthood, `Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire'.
The universal acceptance and veneration of enjoyed by Graham brings to mind the words of Christ Jesus:
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.– Matthew 5:11–12
and
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.– Luke 6:22–26
Curiously, and perhaps fittingly, Graham in his declining years has allowed his hair to grow long, like the hair of a woman; this, in defiance of the teaching of Scripture. In I Corinthians 11:14, the apostle Paul asks rhetorically, “Doth not even nature itself teach you that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?”
While some may think it improper to criticize a man who is tottering on the brink of death, one always must keep in mind the fact that to extend toward the predator mercy and compassion is to display hatred and contempt toward the sheep. Though he grow grey and frail with age, the wolf retains his basic nature; even old and decrepit, he nonetheless remains a wolf, and to his dying breath, his instinct is to catch, kill, and devour sheep.
Over the years, thousands have `come forward' at Billy Graham crusades, supposedly undergoing a `conversion experience'. But studies have found that, for the majority of those who walk the aisle, there is no lasting change—if, indeed, there is change at all. That which typically takes place at the crusade is a temporary and meaningless burst of emotion which works no permanent change and provides no spiritual benefit. And there is real danger that those who come forward in a Billy Graham crusade and embrace his false gospel may thereby be immunized against subsequent encounters with the true Gospel.
The author recently came across a man who declared Graham to be a vessel of God. With this assessment, the author must agree: undoubtedly Billy Graham is a vessel of God—a `vessel of wrath, fitted for destruction', Romans 9:21–24.
These, having put the world in commotion, are also here present...and these all do contrary to the decree of Caesar, saying another to be king—Jesus.– Acts 17:6–7
We ought obey God rather than men.– Acts 5:29
This document was translated from LATEX by HEVEA.