In an age when Christianity and Christians are a preferred object of ridicule, it is almost unprecedented for the secular press to have nothing but good things to say about an evangelical Christian. That seems to be the case for Billy Graham, though, who died yesterday.
Criticism, as is so often the case, has come instead from an Anglican in the form of Michael Coren, an – in chronological order – ex-Roman Catholic/ex-Evangelical/ex-Roman Catholic who has come to view the cosmos through pink tinted Anglican lenses. His main complaints about Billy Graham are that he regarded homosexual activity as sinful, his theology was not nebulous and flaccid, he held to 2000 years of tradition, he tempered experience with the Bible and was what Coren used to be: conservative.
In other words, he was too Christian.
From here:
Billy Graham brought countless people to a deep Christian faith, and to better lives; and unlike so many other high-profile evangelists, he was not financially corrupt or vainglorious. But his theology was rigid and conservative, and he was unable or unwilling to allow experience to temper his fierce resistance to the new and non-traditional. On issues of sexuality in particular, there are too many broken relationships, too much pain and suffering, too many suicide attempts, and children thrown out of parental Christian homes, for the complete man not to be exposed. He had so much influence, and knew so many world leaders, and could have done so much better. Rest in Peace sir, but let us pray that in the afterlife you think again.
Well, my Christian husband, one of the most brilliant men of his generation, owed his conversion to that man’s preaching.
Coren’s ego (is it ego?, well whatever you would call this need to call attention to his current view) is stunning.
I am finding myself wondering what Coren would have said about Jesus Christ. For as much as Dr. Graham was steadfast in his Faith and Following of God, Jesus Christ was infinitely more-so. For Jesus Christ never compromised on anything!
Sadly for people such as Coren there is a great divide that they refuse to cross and so expect and even demand that others cross over and come to them. Even if that means abandoning God in order to acknowledge Coren’s secularism. In calling Dr. Graham too rigid Coren reveals his own rigidness. In accusing Dr. Graham of an unwillingness to allow experience to temper his position Coren is exposing his own unwillingness to allow the Word of God to take precedence over his experiences.
Coren is in effect a pot calling a kettle black, but does not realize that Dr. Graham is no kettle but is in fact a candle that burns with such incredible brightness that such illumination can only come from being in love with the Divine. Such light is so powerful that it exposes the blackness, the sin, of people like Coren, and these people do not enjoy having such a light present in this world.
A very good and just comment by David.
The vultures have landed.
Although the Rev. Billy Graham received a modest salary and housing allowance when he was working as an evangelist, he had managed to attain a net worth of $25 million; he was the sixth richest American pastors. I trust he did use his God-given time, talent and treasure to serve the one true God. Many people throughout the world can continue to thank God for His faithful servant.
Whether on the matter of cupidity + Luke 16, or concupiscence-LGBTQI type, there can be no afterthought in the afterlife: our LORD says so, for “if they hear not Moses and the Prophets”/The WORD of GOD, “neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead” because “between us and you there is a great gulf fixed.”
For all those Servants of His WORD who abide faithful to Him, The Living WORD, no such
afterthought is necessary, because “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of The Law to fail.” v. 17.