The Real Apostasy

Just when you think you have seen it all, the stench of apostasy will get even stronger. First, it was Dr. Billy Graham’s 1957 ecumenical crusade in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Next, it was the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (D.H.L.) degree which he accepted in 1967 at the Roman Catholic Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina. In 1972, he joked between Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon on the Tonight Show. In 1977, Billy spoke at Notre Dame University. Then there was that infamous Las Vegas crusade in 1978, where Johnny Cash testified, “I believe the Lord would love to have a Christian black-jack dealer in Burns’ 80th anniversary in show business special to help “roast” the hell bound star of Oh God. In 1990, Graham became the 1000th “celebrity” to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, promoting a cynical reporter to note that, “he was the first of his profession to be so honored" (i.e., were John the Baptist alive today, they would have put him in the cement). And when Time magazine interviewed Billy in 1993, the former hell fire and brimstone preacher declared, “When it comes to a literal fire, I don’t preach it because I’m not sure about it.” No wonder this ministerial anomaly has been listed in Gallop’s Ten Most Admired Men in the World poll for thirty-three consecutive years, more than anyone else. “If ye were of the world, the world would love its own” John 15:19a.

As to his latest compromise appearing on Larry King’s New Year’s eve special with “his holiness,” the Dahlia Lama was bad enough, especially where America’s premier Christian leader (a Southern Baptist-Presbyterian combo) said he was honored that the Buddhist icon had previously invited him to dinner.

However, on the first Sunday of the new millennium, Billy acknowledged to a nation wide television audience of millions that he did not know where he would spend eternity. When Fox reporter, Tony Snow asked Graham, what he thought the Lord’s first words would be to him in Heaven, he replied that it would be either, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” or “you’re in the wrong place.” As Snow responded with surprise that the born-again preacher had doubt, Billy elaborated, “I’m not a righteous man—I’M NOT A MOTHER THERESA”. When I called his Minneapolis headquarters for an explanation, they assured me that he was only being humble.

What a contrast to the time Billy’s ailing and disoriented, spurned mentor, Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. addressed his last crowd by rambling over and over about his conversion experience and heavenly assurance (I John 5:13). While one man knew where he was but not where he was going, the other knew where he was going but not where he was. While one received the Congressional Gold medal from “fellow Baptist,” Bill Clinton in 1996, the other waits for a heavenly reward.

Brethren, as we face the perilous times predicted in II Timothy 3:1, let us be sure that we are firing at the real enemy. As you only have so much combat adrenaline, save your energy for apostates like Billy Graham and Benny Hinn. May we never be apart on the truism that one Christian army is the only fighting force that shoots its own wounded.

Dr. Bill Grady
Knoxville, Tennessee
(Preaching at Trumpet Banquet Feb. 7th, 2000)