Billy Graham Denies Jesus Is The ONLY WAY To The Father

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shackleton

Puritan Board Junior
[video=youtube;axxlXy6bLH0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axxlXy6bLH0[/video]
Starts at about 1:20
If this is true I guess we do not need to evangelize.
 
On Larry King he also pulled the "I don't judge who's going to heaven or hell--I leave it up to God" card. We jump all over Joel Osteen for saying that on Larry King but Graham is often seen as off-limits for criticism. I love the man and praise God for his past ministry, but oh how tragic it is to see him slip so far into the molasses pit of inclusivism.
 
Billy Graham Denies Jesus Is The ONLY WAY To The Father

That is clearly a twisting of what Billy Graham actually said.

Huh?

Did you watch the video?

Sure he didn't say "I deny that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to the Father".

But, what he DID say is equivalent to this. He has CLEARLY denied the exclusivity of Christ, and to my knowledge never backed off this.
 
I agree with Daniel. It is actually not very clear from this short clip if that is what Billy Graham is saying. In general, I am somewhat nervous about some of the things that Rev Graham has said in recent years but this is by no means the worst.

-----Added 6/26/2009 at 04:45:40 EST-----

Billy Graham Denies Jesus Is The ONLY WAY To The Father

That is clearly a twisting of what Billy Graham actually said.

Huh?

Did you watch the video?

Sure he didn't say "I deny that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to the Father".

But, what he DID say is equivalent to this. He has CLEARLY denied the exclusivity of Christ, and to my knowledge never backed off this.

I watched the video and I am not sure it was as clear cut as you suggest. I think he was very political in his answer but still pointed to Christ. There are probably better examples of where Rev Graham's theology is somewhat lacking (some people have provided some links here).
 
Billy Graham Denies Jesus Is The ONLY WAY To The Father

That is clearly a twisting of what Billy Graham actually said.

Huh?

Did you watch the video?

Sure he didn't say "I deny that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to the Father".

But, what he DID say is equivalent to this. He has CLEARLY denied the exclusivity of Christ, and to my knowledge never backed off this.

Yep, watched it twice. He never denied that it is through Jesus that we are saved--he seemed to be talking about people who know they are in need of salvation and do not know the name of Jesus, yet are saved by Jesus' work.

I'm not denying some problems in his theology, though I think his words have been twisted.
 
I agree with Daniel. It is actually not very clear from this short clip if that is what Billy Graham is saying. In general, I am somewhat nervous about some of the things that Rev Graham has said in recent years but this is by no means the worst.

-----Added 6/26/2009 at 04:45:40 EST-----

That is clearly a twisting of what Billy Graham actually said.

Huh?

Did you watch the video?

Sure he didn't say "I deny that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to the Father".

But, what he DID say is equivalent to this. He has CLEARLY denied the exclusivity of Christ, and to my knowledge never backed off this.

I watched the video and I am not sure it was as clear cut as you suggest. I think he was very political in his answer but still pointed to Christ. As I said in my other post, there are probably better examples of where Rev Graham's theology is somewhat lacking (some people have provided some links here).

What he said was that people, not even knowing the name of Christ, but feeling a longing for something, so they turn to the only light they have, and are saved and will be in Heaven with us.

WITHOUT KNOWING Christ.

PERIOD.

IT started out sounding like he was talking about men and women of all backgrounds being called out of those religions (or non-religion) and coming to Christ for salvation... but he never said that. All he said is that they'd be saved by turning to the only light they have, trying to fill the void they feel, and without even knowing the name of Christ, they'll be saved.

That's heresy.

Sorry if you disagree.
 
That is clearly a twisting of what Billy Graham actually said.

Huh?

Did you watch the video?

Sure he didn't say "I deny that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to the Father".

But, what he DID say is equivalent to this. He has CLEARLY denied the exclusivity of Christ, and to my knowledge never backed off this.

Yep, watched it twice. He never denied that it is through Jesus that we are saved--he seemed to be talking about people who know they are in need of salvation and do not know the name of Jesus, yet are saved by Jesus' work.

I'm not denying some problems in his theology, though I think his words have been twisted.

To say that one is saved by Jesus' work, even if he does not know the name of Christ, is blasphemy. It's not just a "problem", it's blasphemy.
 
Todd,

Do you think there is any difference in suggesting that someone can be justified apart from Christ and suggesting that someone can be justified by Christ without actually knowing the name of Christ?

I think they are both flawed, yet different. It's one thing to suggest there is more than one way to salvation. It's another thing to suggest that salvation by Christ can come to those who may not know the name of Christ.
 
I don't think it's a twisting of Grahams words and I quote: “Whether they are conscious of knowing Christ or not are part of the Body of Christ.” So he clearly said that some people and he reference Muslims, can know Christ without being conscious of it. Well if they are not conscience of it then they cannot accept the work of the atonement. And if they cannot willingly accept then I'm afraid they have not embraced Christ or His Gospel and this is clearly another gospel that Graham and Schueller are preaching. They need much prayer to be delivered from this heresy that is found in Universalism.

So if you read between the lines everyone is in the Body of Christ potentially as even the person who only knows Christ subconsciously is not aware of this knowledge and then what is the point of preaching? What was the atonement for? Why call anyone to repentance? Can you repent subconsciously as well? Perhaps this is where the Arminian gospel takes you.
 
Yes, and if Graham cannot speak clearly and without ambiguity about this after all those years of ministry, there is something wrong.
 
Iain Murray covers this in detail in the book Evangelicalism Divided. It is shocking how off the narrow path Graham was. Murray has many well documented sources. It is horrifying.
 
Todd,

Do you think there is any difference in suggesting that someone can be justified apart from Christ and suggesting that someone can be justified by Christ without actually knowing the name of Christ?

I think they are both flawed, yet different. It's one thing to suggest there is more than one way to salvation. It's another thing to suggest that salvation by Christ can come to those who may not know the name of Christ.

The way to salvation that Scripture presents CANNOT (no uncertain terms) be phrased that involves not even knowing who Christ is. PERIOD. This is a non-negotiable. To posit that someone can be "saved by Christ" apart from explicit faith in Christ is beyond horrific. It is another gospel, and a false one at that.
 
To say that one is saved by Jesus' work, even if he does not know the name of Christ, is blasphemy. It's not just a "problem", it's blasphemy.

I'd say that is bad theology, not blasphemy.

I'm probably being loose with the term, though I do believe the suggestion that someone can be saved apart from knowledge of and explicit faith put in Christ, the Son of God is indeed blasphemous.
 
This actually doesn't surprise me at all...Graham has always been very ambiguous when it comes to the gospel.
 
Todd,

Do you think there is any difference in suggesting that someone can be justified apart from Christ and suggesting that someone can be justified by Christ without actually knowing the name of Christ?

I think they are both flawed, yet different. It's one thing to suggest there is more than one way to salvation. It's another thing to suggest that salvation by Christ can come to those who may not know the name of Christ.

If you say "can salvation come to one who doesn't know Christ by name", I will say Yes, surely... that is to say, there is no restriction on point of origin for someone who comes to faith in Christ (which is the ONLY path to salvation according to the Word of God). Salvation can come to them - though they will not go to their grave not knowing Christ by name. Salvation comes to all sorts of people, but it is by faith (and not simply some implicit "faith in God", but faith in Jesus Christ our Lord) that one is saved.
 
To posit that someone can be "saved by Christ" apart from explicit faith in Christ is beyond horrific. It is another gospel, and a false one at that.

So you don't think it is a twisting of his words to say that Graham believes Christ is not the only way to salvation?

I'm all for a thread that talks about the errors in his theology. But how about we stick to quoting the man directly, rather than attributing statements he did not make???
 
To posit that someone can be "saved by Christ" apart from explicit faith in Christ is beyond horrific. It is another gospel, and a false one at that.

So you don't think it is a twisting of his words to say that Graham believes Christ is not the only way to salvation?

I'm all for a thread that talks about the errors in his theology. But how about we stick to quoting the man directly, rather than attributing statements he did not make???

I do not think it is a twisting of his words. It captures what his words mean, which is that people can be saved apart from knowing Christ as Lord and Savior. You might not like the way the video was titled, and I wouldn't probably have titled it that way.... but Graham DOES in those words posit the concept that people can be saved without ever actually knowing Jesus Christ. THAT indicates that he believes (or at LEAST was saying) that Christ is not the only way to salvation.

I really don't understand what the objection is. The title to the thread did NOT lie - it did not say "Billy Graham said, 'Jesus Christ is not the only way to salvation.'" What it said was a summary of what that video showed quite clearly. Tactful? not so much.
 
I do not think it is a twisting of his words.

We'll just have to disagree on that. I found the title of the video extremely misleading. I expected someone to ask Graham if Christ is the only way and for him to answer "No".

... but Graham DOES in those words posit the concept that people can be saved without ever actually knowing Jesus Christ. THAT indicates that he believes (or at LEAST was saying) that Christ is not the only way to salvation.

If we were to ask Billy Graham right now, or better yet, if at the end of the video clip he was asked in clarification if Christ is the only means to salvation, what do you think his answer would have been?
 
I do not think it is a twisting of his words.

We'll just have to disagree on that. I found the title of the video extremely misleading. I expected someone to ask Graham if Christ is the only way and for him to answer "No".

... but Graham DOES in those words posit the concept that people can be saved without ever actually knowing Jesus Christ. THAT indicates that he believes (or at LEAST was saying) that Christ is not the only way to salvation.

If we were to ask Billy Graham right now, or better yet, if at the end of the video clip he was asked in clarification if Christ is the only means to salvation, what do you think his answer would have been?

I don't discount the possibility (remote, though i think it is) that we are wrong in the assessment. He is a master communicator, and I don't see how his words could have been clearer. If asked, I think he might argue as was suggested earlier, that people who are saved are ALL saved by Christ's Cross - EVEN IF THEY DO NOT KNOW HIM BY NAME.

So I think what he said accurately reflects what he believes - that some who do not know Christ are saved by His Cross.

So he would argue that Christ is the only means... but his statements about salvation are in DIRECT contradiction to that explicit statement, should he have said this.

Todd
 
Daniel, If I might interject here -- we need to remember that words are not static, but carry with them the intention of the speaker. Of course, if you asked Billy Graham, "Yes or no -- Is Jesus Christ the only way to salvation?" he would surely say, "Yes!"; but, as I noted in another thread the other day, the Pope could also recently say, "We are justified by faith alone." This is meaningless, however, as he intends something wholly different than we do by the words. When we say "Christ is the only way to salvation," we mean "faith in Christ receiving and resting upon his redemptive work" is the only way to salvation; this is not what Graham would mean by the words. Therefore, in the sense that we intend, it seems only honest to conclude that Graham would deny the proposition.

Either way, it probably shouldn't matter too much to us one way or the other. Graham for many other reasons is already well outside the pale of orthodoxy, and I doubt many here would be referring friends and family to Graham's teachings as a sound guide. I can see how the information might be useful, however, if someone ever asks for reasons why we wouldn't refer them to Graham.
 
I really don't understand what the objection is. The title to the thread did NOT lie - it did not say "Billy Graham said, 'Jesus Christ is not the only way to salvation.'" What it said was a summary of what that video showed quite clearly. Tactful? not so much.

I honestly did not mean to make a big deal out of this, but I thought it was appropriate to point out that the title of the video is not an accurate description of what is actually said.
We are all fully aware that Billy Graham is no theologian. I realize he has been wrong about many things. But I don't for one second believe that Graham is blasphemous or is preaching that there is another way to salvation.

Maybe I'm just overly sensitive on this issue--Like thousands of others, Billy Graham was influential in my family. My grandfather professed faith in Christ over 50 years ago because Graham was preaching Christ and him crucified. The Lord then used my grandfather to lead my great-grandfather, my grandmother, and my father to Christ.

Yes, Graham's theology was/is flawed. But what good are we doing by dragging up old video clips and passing them around with misleading titles? (And I realize the person who posted this did not create the title). Like I said before, it's fine to discuss where Graham was wrong, but let's stick to what he actually said.
 
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