DR. BILLY GRAHAM

DR. BILLY GRAHAM

(CIRCA 1970)

Miles J. Stanford

A Southern Baptist minister, Billy Graham is best known for his tremendous evangelistic Crusades held throughout the free world. He is most criticized [during the early 20th century] for his fraternization with liberal churchmen. A World Council of Churches leader has said, "We are using him to build up our churches."

Dr. Graham's policy of cooperation with modernists has gone far to cut the protective biblical lines of separation between conservatives and liberals. His attitude toward sound, independent Christians and their churches is expressed by his oft' quoted remark: "It is interesting to note that Jesus spent more time rebuking the Pharisees, who were the 'fundamentalists' of His day than He did the Sadducees, who were the 'modernists."' The fruit of his folly includes his leadership in the middle-ground movement known as Neo-evangelicalism. Intellectual respectability before the world and worldly churchmen is the motive of this movement. It is another doctrinally gray field into which many sound believers have drifted. Christianity Today is the Neo-evangelical official publication.

There is an even more critical, but less noticed area, in which Dr. Graham has been systematically removing protective separational lines. In 1966 he personally invited Dr. Oral Roberts to the World Congress on Evangelism in Berlin.

During a conversation while there Billy said, "Oral, I hope you understand that we love you, and that your ministry is accepted by us. And by the way, when are you going to ask me to speak at your university?" In reply Oral asked, "What would you think of dedicating the university?" Billy said, "I know of no greater honor that could be mine than to participate in the dedication of Oral Roberts University!"

Thus, charismatic cooperation is added to all the rest of the "oneness." In the top echelon of the Graham Evangelistic Team there is a FAW (Faith-At-Works) enthusiast, and at least one long-time charismatic. And the Hour of Decision program consistently features a number of tongues stars. Beware of the mixed multitude!

MJStanford

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(Materials by Miles J. Stanford are republished here under exclusive permission from the author.)