America has had its great share of renowned preachers,
missionaries and evangelists but none can hold a candle to the
Reverend Billy Graham. His influence is worldwide but for
Americans his life and ministry have been both influential and a
matter of pride. That is, we are proud of him, our native son,
our pastor at large, our voice of hope in the turbulent and
changing American landscape.
He has preached the message that is heralded by every believer
across all denominational lines. That message is the gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ. One is bound to ponder why if it is the
same message that all our churches put forward how has Billy
Graham succeeded in its promulgation more than any of the
churches? The answer is no secret. Graham stayed on course for
over six decades; he stuck to the simple but profound message of
the gospel. He did not swerve to take part in the new twists and
emphasis that we all seem so hungry for, like the prosperity
gospel, the dominion teachings, or any other new kid on the
block kind of movement. His steadiness is not only his success
but it is perhaps one of the greatest lessons America will ever
be taught. From Hula Hoops to Elvis to hippies to cabbage patch
dolls, beanie babies,MTV, and God knows what is next, Graham has
held the course. Americans have a reputation throughout the
world for their short attention spans. And we have earned it.
But when we are in real trouble, facing attack or threats from
without, we don?t seek advice from the guy leisurely standing in
the party with a dry martini in his hand. We always turn our
ears to the steadiest voice we can find. Few Americans would
disagree that Graham has been one of the voices.
Rick Warren wrote The Purpose Driven Life, but Graham gave us an
up front example of it for over a half century. Joel Osteen gave
us Your Best Life Now, as Graham showed us his best life
continuously for a generation. Tim LaHaye warned us not to be
Left Behind, while Graham gave us the details of the evacuation
route year by year by year. Hal Lindsey gave us the Late Great
Planet Earth, as Billy Graham preached of the doorway out of the
coming calamities.
We have been blessed with Edwards, Whitefield and Billy Sunday
just to name a few, but who will replace Billy Graham after he
is gone? Sadly, at this moment in our history the answer is
probably, no one. Even sadder is the thought that we may be left
to the cotton candy gospel, the prosperity preachers and the pop
Christianity proponents that now seem so woefully pervasive on
the media. What is touted as Christian diversity provides only
more confusion to the lost soul who is looking for a sure word
of salvation. Perhaps the best prayer is now truly, God help us.
As this era of Grahams ministry comes to its inevitable close it
may be hard to know what to expect next. Two things are known
and must not be overlooked. One is that we can carry the lesson
of Graham?s persistence and steadiness on in our own lives. The
other is that we must salute Billy Graham with the respect and
honor due a true soldier of the cross.
About the author:
Rev Bresciani is from New Orleans La and the author of?Hook line
and Sinker or What Has Your Church Been Teaching You,
PublishAmerica 2005 and?An American Prophet and His Message,
Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ, Xulon
Press 2005. His website is http://americanprophet.org
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