| Friday, August 11, 2006 |
| An Aside |
Today, I'm putting Free Prose FridayTM on hold to address an issue that you'll hear around the water cooler -- or see on the 'Net.
Tomorrow's news (Remember, Joe is at the tip of the spear) will be "Billy Graham's apostasy." The August 14 issue of Newsweek profiles the aging evangelist and shares some of his wisdom. Unfortunately, Jon Meacham's article entitled "Pilgrim's Progress" paints the 87-year old Rev. Graham as a watered-down moderate.
Today, on the Hallerin Hilton Hill Show on NewsTalk 100, one of the topics was Billy Graham's "newfound" religious moderation as reported in Newsweek. He asked callers to call in and weigh in on what they thought. Most of the calls were all over the map, but many knowledgeable, Bible-believing listeners were disturbed. And in an article (Link) at WorldNetDaily.com written by Tom Flannery, Graham is bashed for his alleged universalistic beliefs.
Mr. Flannery's and the callers' dismay and assault are unfair reactions to misinformation and sneaky journalism.
Carefully read through Mr. Meacham's Newsweek article (Link) and you will not at any time disagree with Rev. Graham. His quotes are what we have come to expect from him. They are insightful, faith-based answers. But Mr. Meacham, with flowery language and an agenda, leads the reader to believe that, in his old age, Graham sees religion as mysterious.
This is the same tactic that journalists use when they describe a conservative politician as "growing into the position" or "maturing" when the conservative has moved left toward liberalism. The mushy, nuanced approach of the article would have fallen apart if we had been given unedited direct-quote answers from Rev. Graham about salvation through Christ Jesus alone, the Resurrection and sex outside of marriage.
The real Rev. Billy Graham is a doctrinal absolutist. He has never embraced a milqetoast religion of mystery and universalism. Shame on Mr. Meacham.
Sidebar: Read through the Newsweek article and tell me it's not a low blow directed at Franklin Graham. |
posted by Joe Napalm @ 9:19 AM   |
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