|
|
|
Billy Graham conducted a crusade in Oklahoma City June 12-15 2003. This was referred to as
Mission Oklahoma City. Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham is speaking during one of
their crusades in Tulsa, Sept. 12-15, 2003.
Serious students of the Scriptures seek scriptural answers to questions concerning these crusades. Should Christians attend these events? Should there be concern for any attendants of these events? Will the truth be taught? These and many more are the concerns of caring Christians who still believe contending for the faith once for all delivered (Jude 3) is applicable today. Souls are at stake! Mr. Graham has probably preached to more people than any other man who has ever lived, yet he has never told one person what to do to be saved! Why is that? A couple of passages come to mind: "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:10-12). "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you" (2 Pet. 2:3). From the latter passage it is the assumption of this writer what is the real mission for the Mission Oklahoma Crusade. Strong's Analytical Concordance indicates this (i.e. "make merchandise") means:
Thus, it seems the real mission for this Mission Oklahoma Crusade is a mission traveling for business to sell, to use a person for monetary gain! Listen to those on television, so-called television evangelists. Their mainstream speech is that of monetary blessings if one will give to their ministry. Hell will be filled with such mockery and those duped by their merchandising the gospel! (Matt. 23:15). A family member recently asked, What can you possibly have against him? How can you say that about him? These questions were exactly what I was answering before his enlightened emotion ended the discussion. With most this event is emotional rather than objective. Our attack is not against Mr. Graham's person, but the doctrine which he and his cohorts propagate. Our focus is upon Graham's doctrine which will not save, but cost souls! Before we investigate his doctrines, it is necessary to divest your mind of preconceived notions (Acts 17:11). Prejudice can blind the mind from searching as one ought. Admittedly, for one having a high regard for Graham and doctrine, to read further will not be easy. Perhaps you may be of that number already turned off. We beseech you, please further your investigation (Acts 17:2). Ponder the fact that Mr. Graham has not told one person what to do to be saved. This is life's most important question and deserves not an opinion or a mere suggestion but a forthright Scriptural answer (Acts 20:27). If Billy Graham teaches something more or less than the doctrine of Christ (2 John 1:9-11) he teaches fatal error. The answer to that most important of life's questions must come from the Bible, not an uninspired 'I think so'! (2 Pet. 1:20; 1 Cor. 2:1ff). Friend, make your calling and election sure! (2 Pet. 1:10). Many today think they are saved but they are deceived by men like Billy Graham. (Matt. 7:21ff; 13, 14; 1 Cor. 15:33). Eternity hangs in the balance! Years ago on a television Crusade, Graham answered the question 'What must I do to be saved,' by saying the new birth is mysterious because the Lord said it was like the wind which cannot be seen. He believes the new birth is an experience. In some circles which Mr. Graham — and others of his religious persuasion — consider the new birth is more like a convulsion than conversion! Some have explained it's better felt than told. Not one record or hint of such a conversion can be pointed at in the book of conversions (Acts) as described by Graham and such gurus. Does Mr. Graham use Scripture to prove his assertion? Yes he does, however the passage in no way proves his contention. Read carefully: "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:7, 8). Jesus said, "so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." Note the vivid contrast between Jesus' teaching and Graham's statement: so is the new birth! That which is invisible, like the wind, is not the new birth, the inner man changed by conversion to Christ. Instead of the aforementioned figurative language, notice the clear and precise language: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15, 16). The Billy Graham Crusade Edition of the King James Version contains Mr. Graham's instruction on how one becomes saved from sin. On page. 7 of this particular version (TBGCE), Mr. Graham writes, When you receive Christ into your heart, you become a child of God.On page 8, he suggests that this same one should pray a prayer: I know I am a sinner and need your forgiveness...After the lengthy prayer further on down the page, Mr. Graham inconsistently states, Eternal life is yours the moment you believe.Why would one need to pray a prayer for forgiveness if at the moment one believes he possesses eternal life? God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). But Mr. Graham's statements are confusing! The reason for such confusion is not the fault of holy writ but of men such as Billy Graham who pervert the Scriptures to their own destruction as well as those who follow their pernicious ways! (2 Pet. 3:16). The new birth is nothing less than the process of faith culminating in baptism, (immersion in water), by the authority of Jesus (Matt. 28:18ff), as Holy Spirit-guided men commanded children of the devil to obey (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 22:16)! To this all reputable scholars admit relative to Titus 3:5. This corresponds to that of John 3:3-5. The washing of regeneration in Titus 3:5 is what Jesus said in verse 5 of John chapter 3. It's often asserted that Jesus was speaking about the birth of a child. But this makes Jesus out to be an ignoramus! He didn't teach that one must first be born physically and exist before he can receive the new birth. Moreover, Jesus was talking about a man — not an infant. Physical birth is called born of flesh — not born of water (v. 6). In natural birth a child is born with water, not of water. Read the text again with these things in mind. One needs a lot of help to miss the import of what water is in this text. Read 1 Pet. 3:21. Which does Peter write? "Baptism doth also now save" or "Baptism doth also not save?" Now not this: We are not teaching nor have we ever taught baptismal regeneration. Should we be accused of that, it is a false accusation. Baptism apart from true faith and genuine repentance (2 Cor. 7:10) does not have the ability to remove one sin. Yet Billy Graham believes in faith-alone regeneration, ruling out repentance, confession, and baptism as necessary conditions for salvation through the blood of the sinless Son of God. Jesus shed his blood in His death (John 19:34). Therefore as a final act of the new birth of water and the Spirit, one is to be baptized into the death of Christ where His blood was shed. (Rom. 6:3-5). Friends, Billy Graham does not teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). He will not preach what Peter preached in Acts 2:38 — baptism for the remission of sins, and no one will hear that truth preached by him at the Mission Oklahoma Crusade. Billy Graham does not preach the whole counsel of God about salvation and thereby leads multitudes to eternal condemnation (Matt. 7:21ff). Jesus said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). We must accept and teach all of God's will for man's redemption. To reject the necessity of baptism is to continue as an unbeliever. We deny that salvation is by faith only. Notice what the Bible says in the only place where it uses the words faith and only together: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (Jas. 2:24). Hebrews 11 is entirely devoted to a demonstration of the kind of faith the Lord rewards — a faith that works and not faith only! Billy Graham teaches that salvation comes at the moment of belief. But inspired men of the first century did not so teach (Eph. 3:3-5). In the New Testament, when one believed on Christ, repented of past sins, confessed Jesus as Lord, and was immersed in water for remission of sins, he was saved by grace through faith. No changes were made to this and, as the apostle clearly said, no changes are allowed today (Gal. 1:6-9). Billy Graham either does not understand what the Bible says about baptism, or he understands it and refuses to preach it. There is no other alternative. If I said, 'He that washes his car and waxes it shall receive $1,000.00,' would you understand what I meant? If one only washes his car is he entitled to the $1,000.00? Any right thinking person who is able to see between two telephone poles understands that both washing and waxing are both necessary in order to receive the money. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). But Billy Graham rips baptism out of that passage and preaches a false doctrine of faith only. Here's what the Bible says — something people didn't hear from Billy Graham at Mission Oklahoma City:
Having done this, you will be added to the church by Christ Himself — the church which He will save (Acts 2:47; Col. 1:13; Eph. 5:25). Then remain faithful to Him and heaven will be yours at last (Rev. 2:10; Matt. 10:22). |