Billy Graham does an "ABOUT FACE"
Billy Graham has done an 'about face' on the aids question.
According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle of October
12, 1993, Billy Graham completely reversed himself concerning a
recent statement he made about his belief that aids is a judgment
of God. We quote: "Graham Sets Record Straight --
Evangelist Billy Graham has apologized for preaching in Columbus.
Ohio, two weeks ago that he thought AIDS was a judgment of God.
'ls AIDS a judgment of God?' he had said, 'l could not be sure,
but I think so.' Later, Graham told the Cleveland Plain Dealer,
'l don't believe that and I don't know why I said it. I remember
saying it, and I immediately regretted it and almost went back
and clarified the statement. 'He said he believes 'that God
stands in judgment of all sins, but AIDS is a disease that
affects people and is not part of that judgment. To say that God
has judged people with AIDS would be very wrong and cruel. I
would like to say that I am very sorry for what I said." Why
would Graham contradict himself on such an important issue? Why
would he publicly apologize for speaking the truth about AIDS? It
cannot be denied that the beginning of the aids epidemic and the
vast majority of those who have since contracted this terrible
disease have done so by a willful disregard for the consequences
of sinful conduct. While it is true that many
innocent victims have also fallen prey to this terminal
infection, attempting to disassociate the evil of the sin which
predominates among the primary carriers of the virus from God's
judgment upon such conduct amounts to glossing over Biblical
reality. It would appear that Graham's over-riding determination
not to offend anyone once more, as has been the case so often in
the past, led him to follow the path of compromise rather than
absolute fidelity to the Truth.
Billy Graham's collaboration with apostate ecumenical leaders;
his refusal to expose the unscriptural
position upon which their search for "Christian unity"
is based; and his willingness to cooperate with
apostate religious leaders, was demonstrated once again in his
reported cordial visit with Konrad Raiser, General Secretary of
the World Council of Churches. The EPS report said, "Raiser
reported that he and Graham had a friendly, informal and
wide-ranging conversation. Graham recalled his attendance at the
earlier WCC general assemblies and talked about many of his
current activities, Raiser said. Raiser said he told Graham that
the WCC had been unsuccessful in a number of efforts to develop
ties with evangelicals, and asked for any thoughts he might have
about how that might be done more effectively. But he said Graham
offered no suggestions, and appeared to have little involvement
in the internal political affairs of evangelical organizations,
and remained focused rather on his own campaigns and projects. An
assistant to Graham later expressed hope that WCC efforts to
develop ties with Graham and other evangelicals would continue,
Raised said, and reported that he had invited Graham to visit WCC
headquarters in Geneva whenever he could do so." Once again,
we see that Billy Graham's determination to avoid controversy led
him to give no specific answer to Raiser's queries when Graham
could have and should have used this
opportunity to explain scripturally why Bible believers can have
no fellowship with Bible doubters and especially with WCC leaders
and members who openly advocate fellowship with leaders of
heathen religions and others who deny the fundamentals of the
Christian faith.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has just announced its
projected North American
Conference for Itinerant Evangelists to be held in Louisvi11e,
Kentucky June 28-July 1, 1994. It will include the participation
of more than forty denominations and organizations and Graham
predicts that 'A New Generation of Evangelists is on the
Horizon." If this conference follows the pattern of previous
conferences, it will give a great boost to WCC-NCC denominations,
the charismatic movement and the Roman Catholic Church. In the
waning years of his ministry, Graham is giving great emphasis to
training the future generation of evangelists to disobey God's
Word when it comes to working with those who preach a false
gospel. We must once again sound a strong word of warning.