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Christianity Today, December (Web-only), 2008 |

INTERVIEW

Franklin Graham: What's the Fuss About?

The evangelist who once prayed at an inauguration offers his take of Obama-Warren inauguration controversy.

Interview by Sarah Pulliam | posted 12/23/2008 03:35PM

President-elect Barack Obama chose California megachurch pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at the January 20 inauguration, igniting fury from same-sex marriage advocates and progressives.

Obama ...

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Dmarie65

Posted: January 03, 2009 10:29 PM

The woman caught in adultery was saved from death as Jesus asked those ready to stone her, "you without sin throw the first stone" as you know the onlookers cast down their stones and walked away. The key words Jesus spoken to this woman were"Go and sin no more. That messagae has not changed, Jesus tells us when we come into a relationshipo with Him to SIN NO MORE! gay's and lesbians are people often wounded, in childhood, they turn from the pain and anger of their sexual abuse and try to create a "love" relationship because by nature they have been so hurt they can't bear a true relationship. I say what Jesus said. Acknowledge your pain and the sins committed against you, but SIN NO MORE. Jesus came to save us from our sins, not to leave us bound by them. Jesus said "If you love me then obey me"! wHEN WE TRULY lOVE THE lORD WE WILL OBEY hIM AND NOT SEEK TO CHANGE hIS hOLY WORD TO MEET OUR OWN LUSTFUL DESIRES.

Duane in North Carolina

Posted: January 01, 2009 11:20 AM

Perhaps MJ does love Jesus but does not hold to the teachings of Jesus and his followers, nor respects or honors Old Testament teaching, to which the biblical Christian church honors as the Word of God. The Jewish religion also recognizes the homosexual act as sin. Not everything biblically hangs off the sin of homosexuallity, but it is a sin amongst others. I am guessing but MJ probably has a heart to love, just like Jesus does, but is confused by including the acceptance of a lifestyle of sin. Yes, we shouldn't cast the sinner aside and only hang with "the righteous!" Christ said he didn't come for the righteous but he never accepted the sin or he came to die for nothing. I want to love and hope to grow more loving, but I don't want to start to believe a lie as if it were the truth because society says I am hateful and is accepting this into the mainstream. The truth biblically states this is a sin and living a lifestyle of sin does seperate you from God. Not my words!

Steve Skeete

Posted: December 31, 2008 6:51 AM

I agree with Franklin Graham: any union not between a man and a woman is unscriptural. The apostle Paul says that in order to avoid fornication "every man should have his own "wife" and every woman should have her own "husband". If same sex individuals want to get "married" that is their business, but let them leave the Bible out of it, the only "support" they will get from the Bible is the one they concoct. And if the worst thing that can be said against Rick Warren is that he is against homosexual "marriage", then I say good for him, because so are all those who are willing to allow the Bible to say what it means and not what they would like it to mean. My word to those who support homosexuality is that you do not need the Chrisian Bible to give your belief respectability, because there is nothing respectable about it. And another thing, what if were true that heterosexuals had made a mess of marriage? Exactly how will homosexual "marriage" clean up the mess?

James Reid Ross

Posted: December 31, 2008 2:03 AM


repent repent

terry

Posted: December 30, 2008 7:45 AM

Stephanie, We "Evangelicals" or "Fundamentalists" use the Bible as our source for Truth. As harsh as it may seem to you. God gives us a choice as to whom we may serve. If it is the choice of people to be homosexual or participate in any other lifestyle that is contrary to the biblical text..that is their choice. I think we should all allow each other the freedom to choose whom we will serve. We disagree and we should be allowed to disagree with those who don't agree with the Bible without the name calling. After all if one reads the Bible with an open mind he/she will find a God who loves them.

David Yutzy

Posted: December 28, 2008 11:37 PM


Mr. Graham you must have listened to the left to long. Global warming is nothing but a hoax. Man could not destroy the seasons if they tried. Read Genesis 8:22.

H. D. Schmidt

Posted: December 28, 2008 11:13 AM

However, when it is all said and done, procreation within Christian heterosexuals, is evermore practiced way below the animal kingdom, as sex is king and queen in bedrooms with even viagra, cialis is needed to make marriage happy! In essence ladies are letting themselves treated like prostitutes for free! No wonder that more American women want nothing to do more and more, with men anymore as more live without a man than do.l Yes, as today more and more it is oky for children to see their pet dog do his procreation, while when the female got her "shot" no more sex. Yet our Christian children than may ask: What is going on with dad and mom? How come I don't have brothers and sisters, while I am just one boy and maybe a sister. Yes, as the kids know very well that sex is rampant, with the use of contraceptives. So children become sort of a necessary evil, for dad and mom, and of course how can the few really than love their dad and mom. Thank you Christianity for providing this forum!

MARIAH WREH

Posted: December 26, 2008 5:24 PM

I AM MARIAH WREH FROM LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA IT'S MY PRAYER THAT OBAMA WILL NOT FORGET THAT IT'S GOD ALMIGHTY THAT PUT HIM UP THERE AND NOT HUMAN. IT WAS GOD THAT MOVE INTO THE HERAT OF MAN TO ELECT HIM AND IT WAS ALSO BECUASE OF THE SINCERE PRAYER OF CHRISTIAN. I ALSO KNOW IT WILL BE HARD FOR HIM, BECUASE WE ARE TALKING NATION AND IT PEOPLE WITH THEIR DIFFEREN BELIEVE,BUT LET ME REMIND HIM NOT TO FOR GET THE SAME JEHOVAH GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST THAT TOOK HIM THA FAR WILL FOR EVER GUIDE HIM IF ONLY HE REMAIN FAITHFUL AND SINCERE TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. MY PRAYER CONTINUE FOR U OBAMA GOD BLESS U AND UR FAMILY.

Jacob

Posted: December 26, 2008 4:01 PM


I have to disagree, Stan. The stronger use of Scripture does not mean you are more fundamentalist.

Isabelle N.

Posted: December 26, 2008 12:42 PM

I agree 100% with Franklin Graham. He has so much insights (just like his father). I would like to reply to 'Stephanie'. Stephanie, you need to carefully read and study the Bible. The Bible has been and will always be an advocate to marriage between One MAN and One WOMAN. There is no other way to cut it. Homosexuality is an abomination both before God and men. People should be wary of a homosexual community... pretty soon there would be a pedophile community as well!!!... I applaude those who stand for MORALITY!!!!!!!

Shoney

Posted: December 26, 2008 10:30 AM


Franklin Graham is a genuine leader and champion of the Gospel. I believe him to be one of the lone voices on the national stage willing to speak the truth in love. I would love to visit with him.

Jon in Chicago

Posted: December 25, 2008 12:36 PM

Let me get this straight. Franklin Graham is "wrong, tactless and an embarrassment to his father?" Actually, Franklin Graham and Rick Warren for that matter, both are simply repeating what God believes. Don't shoot the messenger! If you have a problem with what they are claiming God believes, go look it up yourself. Test everything. Don't trust man. Go to God's Word. See for yourself. Why do so many who call themselves Christians get so upset when anyone simply points out how something in our world is different from God's clear standards in his Word? Homosexuality, as well as other types of unnatural in God's eyes sexual activities, is a sin, ACCORDING to God, not man. I don't get it. Why not be intellectually honest, call yourself a non-practicing Christian, and give it a rest?

David

Posted: December 24, 2008 3:07 PM

The interviewer gave Mr. Graham the opportunity to speak concerning both the far left and the evangelicals" who are so upset with Pastor Warren. However, he only criticizes the far left. At one time, the far right, in my opinion, were those who posed a threat to social issues facing America; such as poverty and racism. Somewhere along the line, the far right usurped the term "evangelical" and made it their own. I used to identify myself as evangelical and still do most of the time, but my social concerns are not always those of current "evangelicals." I agree with their stands on abortion and same-sex marriage, but not with the strident, unloving rhetoric I often hear from "evangelicals." If we stoop to denying freedom of discussion of such issues, we lower ourselves to the standards of those who want to deny Pastor Warren the right to pray at the inaugration. What's happened to "...love God with everything and your neighbor as yourself"? Shalom!

Hank Hudson

Posted: December 24, 2008 1:22 PM

Stephanie comments, "Any type of sexual relations outside of marriage between a man and a woman is a sin against God." That would be why evangelical, fundamentalist, literalist christians do not want gays to get married. They don't want to lose the argument that that is why it is unbiblical for same sex couples to marry. They must make sure gay marriage stays illegal so that they can continue their bigoted stance. ADULTERY AND FORNICATION are much more prevalent sins than is homosexuality (about 2% of the population) -- so a condemming message of sexual relations outside of marriage applies towards a greater number of heterosexual sinners,; so your argument that our position is bigoted because it's directed strictly towards homosexuals is wrong. God hates sin from heterosexuals or homosexuals -- He is not a respecter of persons when one is a sinner.

Bill in Los Angeles

Posted: December 24, 2008 12:31 PM

Ikenna, I don't see a shred of logical reasoning in your post. First, there are, and will always be, enough straight people wanting to get married and have kids. Second, gay people can (and do) have kids, just like straight couples get an assist when one or both are infertile. If we take your logical reasoning to _your_ extreme, then we should ban marriage among straight couples who are infertile or past menopause. Not all Christians agree with your judgment on gay marriage. Having kids is a justification for marriage, but it's not the only one, nor is it a necessary one. Reducing marriage to mere upstream production for Kindergarden is politically, and morally incorrect.

stan	Posted: December 24, 2008 12:28 PM

I note an interesting phenomenon here. Franklin Graham is more "fundamentalist" (for want of a better term) than is his father. This is demonstrated by his comparatively harsh rhetoric and strong statements in various areas, including against gays and Muslims for two. I believe gays and Muslims are wrong generally, as does Billy, but the denunciations have a different tone and dogmatism when coming from Franklin. SImilarly, Robert Schuller, the younger, is more "fundamentalist" than his father, as demonstrated by his stronger use of Scripture. Bottom line: we (as a body of believers) are seeking to find our way between extremes of fundamentalism on the one hand and liberalism on the other. What we need is to do so in a spirit of civility and charity.

al mullins

Posted: December 24, 2008 11:21 AM


I think son of Graham has it right...but if I'm not mistaking those convictions have already been altered....taking wording off his website concerning his church and members....which to be a member of the church now you can be gay and before you could not..al mullins....myrtle beach

Fred in Omaha

Posted: December 24, 2008 10:24 AM

Of course, there is much I agree with Franklin Graham about, generally and specifically in this interview. But, I continue to be disappointed in what seems to me to be a lack tact and of grace in his tone and in his one sided sweeping analyses like 'people on the far left hate God.' It is also true that 'some' far right Christians hate even moderate republicans. There are also many, from far left to far right who passionately love both God and their country and a growing majority of us in the middle who are tired of the extreems and are ready to work together even as we learn to disagree agreeably in order to advance the cause of the poor, the blind, the wounded, the prisoner, the fatherless. God Bless and convict us all.

Ikenna

Posted: December 24, 2008 10:14 AM

Anybody can believe what he choses to believe but must be ready for the consequencies. Is it not funny that people are deluded into approving same sex marriage? 'He that made them at the begining made them male and female, not male and male or female and female. Lets even apply logical reasoning here. Assuming all female on earth wed female and all male wed male, in the next fifty years, how many new children will come to earth? Will the earth still have human inhabitant? I wan to be morally correct and don't care if I am politically incorrect!

Patty

Posted: December 24, 2008 10:13 AM

I admire and respect all the Grahams, and appreciate Franklins common sense in this article. Whether you voted for Obama or not, he will be our president and scripture tells us to pray for those in authority. Nero was in authority when that command was given. I pray that my narrowminded Christian sisters and brothers would just trust God more and judge the Brethern less, they will know us by out love, remember. Could you lighten up a bit? And, Stephanie, the gay community is not mad at Warren for his beliefs, their mad at God for His. If you don't believe that The Bible is the inspired word of God, that's up to you, live and believe whatever way you want. But why borrow an instituition such as marriage from the same book you want to throw away? I believe in the inerrancy of scripture and moral absolutes but I don't expect people who don't believe in the same things to live the same life I do. So why do you expect me to compromise what I believe to suit you?

Al	Posted: December 24, 2008 1:30 AM

Several of the previous posts show a.......shall we say......"lack of understanding" concerning what the Bible says and why Christians who follow the Bible actually believe it. When I see the same old tired "argument" which lack any semblance of logic and simply pushes a personal agenda that suggests that God has no moral standards which we are expected to follow......I feel like all I can do is *sigh*........but I suppose I should pray instead. "They shall call evil good and good evil."

Stephanie

Posted: December 24, 2008 12:22 AM

Franklin Graham says: "Any type of sexual relations outside of marriage between a man and a woman is a sin against God." That would be why evangelical, fundamentalist, literalist christians do not want gays to get married. They don't want to lose the argument that that is why it is unbiblical for same sex couples to marry. They must make sure gay marriage stays illegal so that they can continue their bigoted stance. The LGBT community is angry because Warren (whom I do not believe should be exalted like he is here) compared gay people with pedophiles, polygamy and incest. Let's start with pedophiles and incest--it is a well known fact that at least 95% of pedophiles and incest abusers are heterosexual. Then let's look at polygamy, has anyone here read the Old Testament?? Do you all really want us to go back to traditional marriage through out history: 1) Women treated like property 2) Men divorced women if they are barren 3) Polygamy 4) Interracial marriage was illegal

Anna	Posted: December 24, 2008 12:21 AM

I agree with Franklin Graham. Judging from the "hate" responses being posted here towards Mr. Graham, I'm assuming that there are those who think the inauguration is theirs not Obamas. Who Obama wants he should have, he won because a lot of different people voted for him, not just a few who have the blind belief that they now own Obama because just they voted for him. And, I'll say here that Obama needs a heavy prayer for him, if he thinks that the Muslims of the world are going to bow to him because he is a great speaker. And the economy, destroying the unions and the living wages they bring will only put us back centuries into the third world economies and apparantly that is what so many of these taxing politicians actually want with their blaming unions for the economy retoric. Yes Obama is going to need some heavy praying for him, he might as well have the biggest prayer guy or woman on the block he can get.

Jack	Posted: December 23, 2008 11:06 PM


Less than 10% of the population is born with same sex attraction, what's the fuss about? Obama wants a minister who gave George W. Bush a peace award to pray at his inaugural-that's outrageous.

Carl T. Fynboe

Posted: December 23, 2008 9:31 PM


Thank God for Franklin Graham, and for Rick Warren, and other believing Christians who stand up and speak our loudly for the Holy Inspired Scriptures as our guide for life and living in the world today.

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