RIP Billy Graham...

[Por_sha911]

Great Op Ed:
Four things Billy Graham's life can teach us | Fox News

First, he had integrity. The apostle Paul told his sidekick Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:16, “Watch your life and your teachings closely.” Both are important. And Graham was respected even in an increasingly skeptical world because his behavior was consistent with his beliefs and his character was congruent with his creed.
Said one theologian in analyzing a Graham sermon: “One thing stood out – the man was genuine. He believed what he said.”
When an investigative reporter once tried to dig up dirt to destroy Graham, he came up empty. “He is man without shadows,” the journalist concluded.
From the outset, Graham was determined to sidestep the traps that had discredited some earlier evangelists. He avoided aggressive fund-raising, loose financial accountability, sexual temptations, emotionalism and anti-intellectualism. What’s more, even before the Civil Rights movement, he insisted his rallies be integrated, because racism violates the teachings of Jesus.

Second, he was humble. Graham always saw himself as a servant of God, recognizing that it was the Holy Spirit, not Graham, who was responsible for the evangelistic results.

Third, he had compassion. Graham didn’t tell people about Christ simply because he loved the spotlight of a large stadium, but because he loved God and he loved people.
Even at the height of his career, when he was regularly speaking to packed stadiums, Graham often spent his weekends quietly visiting tiny churches in the back hills of North Carolina, talking about Christ to congregations of ten or twenty families. Why? Because he had compassion for them – and people are drawn to that.

Fourth, he stood firmly for God. In a day of moral relativism, when many politicians govern with one eye on the latest polls, Graham remained solidly anchored to God. He frequently pointed to the Bible on his pulpit and said, “All the world’s answers are right here in this book.”
Let’s face it – standing firm for anything is a big deal these days.

What a bum! Nothing there to admire at all!

[asphaltgambler]

Inspiring to everyone...............

[cairns]

Nothing nice to say about Graham.

That's fine. Millions do. But I doubt there are many who have anything nice to say about you.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

Nothing nice to say about Graham.

Originally Posted by cairns

That's fine. Millions do. But I doubt there are many who have anything nice to say about you.

I do.

I have met Wolfe face-to-face at Porsche club autocrosses. Nice guy, really willing to listen closely to instructors, wants to improve. Definitely not one of those obnoxious know-it-alls.
While we've never discussed politics or religion, and we wouldn't see eye to eye on some subjects, couldn't meet a nicer guy to hang out with at the track.

It's unfortunate that so many televangelists don't live up to what they preach that it gives ammunition for the uninformed to lump all evangelists together as "phony".
I remember an interview several years ago where Billy Graham was asked "What are you afraid of?"
The answer: I am afraid, every day, that I may do something that discredits the gospel of Christ.

He was the real deal. That level of integrity is so rare among today's Christians. Sad.

[silver912e]

Might be time to wish this thread into the PARF cornfield

[72doug2,2S]

RIP Dr Graham. We loved you and the world will miss you. A saint of the modern era, Billy defined evangelical for generations.

It's funny, Dr. Graham was always old to me. Running across these young Graham photos was really interesting.

[72doug2,2S]

[72doug2,2S]

[72doug2,2S]

He was well respected by decades of leaders. What other televangelist can that be said of?

[72doug2,2S]

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by silver912e

Might be time to wish this thread into the PARF cornfield

Something unsettling you? Don't like that a Christian Evangelist that is well respected?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Don't like that a Christian Evangelist that is well respected?

Well respected? That is a profound understatement.

[KFC911]

I don't know how it is where y'all live, but this is big event here...still non-stop local news coverage. The man had a huge impact upon literally millions of lives....iconic is an understatement.

[asphaltgambler]

I never saw him as a 'televangelist'. He was a speaker, a teacher of God's word, the truth. But he understood the power of all media to do that. One of which is television.

[72doug2,2S]

There's none that come close to his passion to spread the gospel of Christ's love in our current era. The big names of today are more teachers and apologists than evangelicals. Not that there's anything wrong with those gifts, but we're truly short a national evangelist with Billy's passing.