Despite his international fame and the millions who heard his impassioned preaching, Billy Graham went to bed each night for many years carrying the grief of his son's rebellion. With just a few words in his crusade sermons, thousands would leave their seats and make the trek down to the altar to receive salvation from Jesus Christ.. while one embittered soul would not.

Franklin Graham.

How blessed and grateful the ancient evangelist is today, knowing that the one thing he sought so passionately is now a formidable force for the kingdom, and the gospel he loves.

But truth be told, Billy Graham's ministerial service never brought the nation to widespread Christian holiness. Of those millions who went forward, only a tiny percentage continued on in passion for Christ and His kingdom. Could it be because Billy's gospel message was much more "Come as you are" than "You are a criminal in the sight of God and totally unworthy of His favor?"

Not to discount the souls he did reach, and the great influence he had and has. But this word from Franklin cuts deeper, exposes the deadly curse, and will rile the forces of hell. I believe that millions of those who heard and responded to Billy's gospel were effectively shut down and made of no effect because they entered into a salvation word without ever responding to a repentance word. They are indistinguishable from the people of the world.

I just read in the "quotes" thread a note- Jesus was not crucified for preaching holiness, but for exposing the lies and hypocrisy of the leaders.

Homosexuality and Abortion are the Twins from Hell, the abomination that causes desolation. It is no wonder that those who dare to call them out- or challenge others to call them out will be subject to fierce criticism.

Let us carefully seek God before we criticize our brethren who boldly grasp the horns of this raging bull!

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Tom Cameron

Amen Sidewalk. Spot on observations I believe.

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Oracio

Well I was encoraged by Franklin's call for courage to call sin, Sin.
Thank you to all those who posted in his defense.

Be careful when you judge a brother for speaking against sin in a nation. It is a biblical thing to do. There are plenty of examples.

A few years ago it was common for Christians to stand against immorality. Couples living together outside of marriage were reffered to as 'living in sin'. Nobody tried to accuse you of hate crime for this. But now the two big sins of homosexuality and abortion have become untouchable and no one is allowed to even suggest it is abnormal or sinful, let alone that it is an abomination against a Holy and righteous God who will judge all these things.

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Dave

I wonder what the specific sins of the ancient nations of Rome and Israel and Greece and Turkey were? I know that the sin of idol worship, especially Diana, was one of the most prevalent of sins in many of the regions where the Gospel was being spread by Paul and others. Do we have evidence that Paul spoke out fearlessly against this specific worship which most were taken up with? ...........bro Frank

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Bill

I stand with greg on this we need to define what sin is is in most of our witnessing ,,,,,,,,

you cant faithfull preach the gospel that includes repentence with out defining and naming sin in many cases ,,,thanks to liberal theology and a liberal world view growing ,,,and that is thanks to people watering down the gospel in the beginning so our society's conscious becomes desensitised

And are we sure that by speaking out against national sins we are not fighting the cultural war.

Brethren we are called to one war and one war alone. It is a spiritual war against the evil one that can only be won by the cross of Christ. This spiritual war can only be won by getting sinners to be transferred out of the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light.

No where in the apostolic record do we find Paul speaking out against the national depravity of Rome. And Rome had plenty of depravity. He did call sinners to repent and turn from their sins and turn to God. He called sinners to have faith in Jesus Christ.

This is the crux of the argument. Are we as believers called to speak out against the national sins of the culture we live in? Or are we called to tell people to flee from their sins by repentance and turn to faith in Christ? I believe it is the latter.

One can go to an abortion clinic and hold up a sign that decries the evil of abortion. But if that mother who might be convinced to give her baby up for adoption and not be told of the danger of her immortal soul going to hell and how she can be saved through relationship with Jesus what has been gained?

An abortion doctor may be persuaded on some philosophical moral argument that he should not perform abortions. But if no one speaks to him about his need for Christ what have you gained.

The danger in crying out against national sins us you lose sight of the cross. Evangelicals who become so consumed with crying out against abortion and homosexuality are willing to link arms with the RCC and Mormons because they stand against these issues. Even Moslems stand against these issues.

Even in the last Presidential election there were those believers who were willing to vote for a cultist because he supposedly was against abortion and homosexuality.

Brethren we are not called to speak out against national sins of the culture we live in. Our call is to preach a redemptive message of the cross of Jesus Christ that can save men from their sins. This is our message and should be our only message. Our message is the cross of Jesus Christ.

Blaine Scogin

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Oracio

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Oracio

I could imagine Paul preaching what he wrote in Romans 1:18-32 in the open air with his voice lifted as a trumpet.

"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins."-Isaiah 58:1

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Oracio