Franklin Graham: Christianity Being Pushed To The Back

The Rev. Franklin Graham is pulling no punches when it comes to the state of Christianity in America.

Graham says that Christians are being pushed to the back of the room while government groups and activist entities are promoting all other religions.  Graham made his statements while appearing on WNCN to talk about the recent incident with Duke University’s now-revoked plan to air Muslim calls to prayer from their bell tower.

“I agree with diversity but what’s happening with this country is all these religions are getting front row and Christians are being pushed — and we’re the majority — are being pushed back to the back of the room,” he said.

“This country was built with Christian principles — it was men and women who believed in God and believed in His Son, Jesus Christ, who built this country. We’re the greatest nation in the history of the world. It wasn’t built by Islam, and it wasn’t built by any other group. It was those who supported and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Graham said that in America, people do not realize that Imams in Middle Eastern nations are not condemning terrorist attacks and that the Quran calls for violence against non-Muslims.

“First of all, you don’t have condemnation outside this country,” he said. “You’ll have clerics in this country who’ll condemn these acts. But these acts of terrorism are not condemned by the mullahs in Saudi Arabia or in Egypt, or Iraq or Syria.”

“The reason is,” he continued, “is because the Quran teaches this. And so, if they condemned it they would be condemning the Quran, and they’re not going to condemn the Quran.”

Franklin Graham Says America is Praising Sin

Rev. Franklin Graham is taking a bold stand against what he is calling the government’s assault on Christianity while society glorifies sin.

“What’s happening is we’re glorifying sin, we’re lifting up sin. And it’s like little children shaking their fist at Almighty God,” Graham told Fox News.

Graham’s statement came in the midst of a discussion about how one city is planning to rename Christmas “sparkle day” and a Minnesota courthouse banning poinsettias.

“It’s all over the country,” Graham asserted. “You have the secularists and the humanists who are wanting to deny that Jesus ever existed. And they want to take His name off of everything.  What’s happening now is that it’s infiltrating our government. And our government is attacking Christmas. And it’s not only attacking Christmas, but the name of Christ.”

Graham says the same people who are doing all they can to remove Christ from society are the same ones that are pushing a satanic, sinful agenda.

“We are glorifying sin. People have got to understand that God takes sin seriously, because sin will separate us from God for eternity. Hell is a real place. And that’s where every person who turns their back on God [will go] — and God will condemn them. He’s a righteous judge. He has no choice but to condemn a person because of their sins. But He’s willing to forgive a sin, every sin,” he said.

TIME Magazine Named Ebola Doctors “Person Of The Year”

TIME Magazine surprised many by naming the doctors fighting Ebola as their “Person of the Year” including Christian doctor Kent Brantly.

“From the community health care volunteers in Liberia, to the dedicated staff of organizations like Samaritan’s Purse and MSF, to the doctors and nurses at Emory University Hospital, Ebola Fighters are mostly anonymous heroes whose diverse faces are largely unknown even to their patients as they wage this war in head-to-toe protective gear,” Dr. Brantly said. “It is these nameless champions that TIME has recognized today.”

The magazine also honored other Christians such as Dr. Jerry Brown of the Christian mission Eternal Love Winning Africa Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia.

“Well, of course, turning the chapel into an Ebola unit was not welcomed by the staff of the institution. The bulk of them said, ‘Why should we turn the house of God into a place where we put people with such a deadly disease?’ And some said, ‘Where will you provide for us to worship in the morning?'” Brown recalled.

The story also focused on other stories of survival of virus including SIM missionary Nancy Writebol.

Several Christian organizations have hailed TIME for making this choice instead of something political.  One of those praising the choice was Samaritan’s Purse head Franklin Graham.

“This battle for life is far from over, and Samaritan’s Purse will continue our work in this huge effort. We pray for each one of these heroes on the frontline and those suffering from Ebola. May God bring healing and comfort to them all,” Graham said.

Franklin Graham Says Christians Need To Step Up Against Persecution Abroad

Reverend Franklin Graham is making a call to Christians across America to shake off their apathy and begin to work to help persecuted Christians around the world.

“I don’t think we’re doing enough. No, I don’t. There is much more we can do,” Graham told The Christian Post.

“The greatest thing we can do is to pray — to pray for the Christians who are suffering. Saeed Abedini is on the poster behind us, but there are thousands upon thousands of Christians in Syria and Iraq who are suffering because of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Graham spoke at the Washington vigil for Saeed Abedini, whose plight has been largely ignored by the State Department and Obama administration.

Graham was also critical of Muslims around the world that have not taken steps to stop Islamic extremism.  Graham believes if they truly are against the movements of groups like ISIS or Boko Haram, they would be taking action.

“Followers of a peaceful religion do not cut off the heads of innocent people in the barbaric action the world has been watching,” said Graham before those gathered.

“Believers in a peaceful religion do not kidnap 300 young school girls as Boko Haram did in Northeastern Nigeria in April. … Men who practice a peaceful religion do not detonate bombs on American streets during a marathon race to kill and to maim.”

Thousands Accept Christ At Franklin Graham Crusade

God’s family has grown by thousands.

Franklin Graham hosted a Festival of Hope in Warsaw, Poland on Sunday where thousands came forward to give their lives to Christ.  Over 30,000 people attended the event according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

“God loves you,” Graham preached to those in attendance, “And God wants to give you everlasting life, but that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  Will you accept His love?”

Graham shared a message based on Mark 8:34-38, emphasizing that there is nothing in the world that is more valuable than a relationship with Christ.

“You could have all the iPhones in the world,” Graham said, “Control of all the armies of the earth.  You could put all the euros and stack them in his arena.  Your soul is still more valuable.”

The event with Franklin Graham capped off a weekend of celebrations that included the annual March for Jesus through Warsaw.  Concerts took place throughout the weekend including CCM superstars Michael W. Smith and Newsboys.

“For all the new believers out there who gave their life to Christ,” Newsboys singer Michael Tait told the crowd, “I want you to live your life with abandon!”

The festival’s executive chairman told the Christian Post that many connected to the festival have been waiting for Sunday night for many years.

Franklin Graham Issues Renewed Call For Release Of Pastor Jailed In Iran

Franklin Graham released a statement marking the 10th month that American Pastor Saeed Abedini has been imprisoned in Iran’s brutal Evin Prison facing torture for being a Christian.

He’s also sharing that the pastor’s wife is feeling abandoned by the American government who has done nothing to free her husband. Naghmeh Abedini worries she and her two children will never see her husband again. Continue reading

IRS Targets Billy Graham Ministries & Other Christian Groups

In the midst of the discoveries that the IRS had been targeting conservative groups for auditing comes word that Christian organizations were also targeted by auditors.

One of those groups was the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The BGEA had never been subjected to an IRS audit at any time in its history.

Franklin Graham, president of the BGEA, released a statement that in addition to the BGEA, the internationally respected charity Samaritan’s Purse was notified on the same day that they would be subjected to an IRS audit for the first time. Continue reading

“End of construction – thank you for your patience.”

Recently, we were in Charlotte, North Carolina where we visited the Billy Graham library and placed flowers on Ruth Bell Graham’s grave.  As most of you know, Ruth and Billy Graham were valley-walking friends with Jim when he went through some very tough trials.

Billy Graham visited Jim in prison several times, and Franklin sponsored him when he was released.  The very first week Jim was released from prison, Ruth made it possible for Jim to attend her church and sat with him in a very public display of love and support.

To say that the Graham family has been a friend to us is an understatement.

The Bible says that the spiritual people restore others when they have fallen:  “Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”  Galatians 6:1 ASV

Jim and I attended Ruth Bell Graham’s 80th birthday celebration and the program that evening presented her life through music and drama, using her own writings, and it was very moving.  PBS was there filming a documentary on her life.

That evening, when Jim introduced us, Ruth Graham reached up from her wheel chair and cradled my face in her hands.

“You’re so beautiful,” she said. “God hand-picked you for Jim.”

I was so touched by her words, I nearly cried.  I managed to thank her for what she had done for my husband and for being such a great example of a woman of God.

Ruth Graham had much to be proud of in her accomplishments in life, but instead of pride, Ruth exhibited the ultimate humility by recognizing her life as a work in progress all the way to her home-going, her meekness engraved in her self-chosen epitaph:

“End of construction – thank you for your patience.”