Billy Graham Faith in an Insulated, Isolated, Muted Christian Era

Uniter of a country divided by race. A preacher. Refusing to separate color, culture or ethnicity.

Isolation didn’t stop him. Traveling Australia to South Korea, London to behind the Iron Curtain.

400 crusades, 185 countries, and six continents.

He gave spiritual counsel to presidents and kings, be-friending Dwight Eisenhower, Lydon Johnson, and Richard Nixon. Senior Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton spoke at the opening of his library.

A man who met with world leaders and royalty; Queen Elizabeth, Pope John Paul II, and Kim Il Sung, the previous North Korean leader. 

• Yet, he preached the pure, simple gospel, not fancifying it up for his hearers.
• No fluff, no hypcrosy, no long personal stories, taking the focus off of Jesus. 
• A humble preacher, yet he bolted out a message, scripturally.

(Join me in streaming Billy Graham’s Memorial Service here)

Yet, this man they call, “God’s Machine Gun” had such a simple message, the same gospel message I heard in childhood.

It still holds true today.

Yesterday, today and forever. Where have we gotten “off” thinking somehow the gospel needs reducing or decorating?

A gospel of repentence and sin. A call for people to come and confess their need for Jesus, draws millions.

Still, Reverend Graham would be the first to tell you, he was just a man. He never wanted people to focus on him, just Jesus.

All the while, the world turns in sorrow over the loss of a man who evangelized nations, brought salvation to millions upon millions. A heart set on Christ. His life a witness of faithful obedient.

Billy Graham didn’t just “do good”. He spoke obediently, the true gospel.

Often good works substitutes speaking in our day and culture. Nations fed, non-profits birthed, homeless, street, orphan ministries started, helping many…and rightfully so…

All, undeniable fruit of His goodness and mercy…

• Yet, it was Billy Graham’s words that changed nations, radically setting the world on fire.
• Words from a “simple farmboy” as Billy Graham put it, that brought repentence and confession.
• Words Jesus used to change, heal, and bless people.
• Words through this preacher that set millions upon millions free.

When did we think acts of silent righteousness could be a substitute for the spoken, truth of the gospel? When did we replace confessions of faith for muted Christianity?

• Words are scripture.
• Words of prayers heal people.
• Words of honest confessions of faith move people.
• Words sharing our testimonies promises to slays the enemy.

When did we begin watering down the gospel, exchanging it for a silent “good works” message, justifying it for the sake of not “offending” people?

When did we make it about a one time, “slipping up our hand”, or getting saved for the reward heaven has waiting for us?

• Isn’t the gospel about getting a whole new identity?
• Letting him take our filty rags, replacing them with His righteousness?
• Aren’t we dead and given new life when we fall upon His feet?
• Haven’t we grasped the cross? And realized we are more than “new improvements” but called to be completely different people?
• Don’t we find hope by clinging to His speaking, audible teaching, and others whole confession of faith? And doesn’t our conversion take place through words. (i.e.”Confessing on the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we might be saved”?

He was “just a preacher” some many might. A man. An evangelists. Still, the world calls Him “America’s Preacher“. He was the first to be a world-wide traveling evangelist….

Tansforming people and nations.

Many I personally know have been saved in his meetings, helped with his ministry, or radically turned their life around after hearing Graham speaking. My guess is, you know many too changed by the world of Billy Graham? 

Yet, Graham wasn’t some larger-than-life character with body guards, or exclusivity. Graham…

• “Listened”, many said.
• He was a man with God at the center and others his priority.
• He was a man who cared, was kind.
• A man who sat down, asking questioned, sincerely wanting the heart behind other’s eyes.
• His goal, never selfish or scandelous. His sole priority being to point the world to Christ.

And unlike the arrogant and proud…

Graham didn’t flatter us with some “12 Steps to Make Your Life Better.” He knew true life came through death of the flesh, and spritual resurrection through Christ, by grace, as a free gift.

And I wonder…

Where did we get it wrong? Where did we fluff up this gospel so many still have yet to hear of?

Unity, Inclusion, Humility, Repentence. Words almost absolete in the Christianity that has become silent, comfortable, and insulated…

Jesus left the gates and met with people. Prophets crossed cultures, sought obedience, Christ-like character and repentence.

Won’t you take a moment and learn about this man that changed our nation? The one who led through humility and example.

An unapologentic message of a baby born to redeem us, shedding blood, dying on a cross, then resurrecting so that our sins are no more and the hope of new life might live in us.

How might the gospel spread again if we abandoned insulated, isolated, muted Christianity, being like Billy Graham, a vessel fully used to speak of the cross? 

Might a whole world of honest, sincere Christians begin witnessing His radical tranformation?

• Let’s abondon ease, and rise in faith.
• Let’s truly speak the simple message He gives us, bold and fearlessly.
• Let’s cast the net of our lives, in humilty and with integrity.
• Let’s catch a world of men and women, looking for peace in His presence, His kindness and goodness, and a life with a hope, the world often only dreams about.

In a post-Billy Graham world, who will rise up and fill the gap, confidently, living as examples, people who profess the truth of what He’s done?

The world has enough “good people”. Let’s throw our nets wide and deep, giving it all to follow our Lord Jesus who calls us each of us, to be evangelists.

Won’t we rise up in this generation and be Billy Graham’s?

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” ~  Mark 16:15