The Fruit of Billy Graham

"I have often stated that I was raised by a single parent because ministry took my father away from our family—for weeks and months at a time. Daddy estimated that he was gone from home approximately 60 percent of his children’s growing-up years. " - Anne Lotz on Billy Graham.

This is a violation of Scripture. Ministry is never to trump marriage and parenting. 

Here's more fruit of that violation:

Virginia Leftwich “Gigi” Graham Foreman (b. 1945) married Swiss-Armenian Stephan Tchividjian at the tender age of 17. But life in Switzerland proved intolerable under her father-in-law’s domineering influence. They fled to America and had seven children. Gigi became depressed and began to write on scraps of paper between household tasks. Eventually she completed 10 books and developed an inspirational speaking and writing ministry. After she and Stephan divorced, she married and divorced a private investigator, and in 2012 wedded childhood friend Jim Wilson, son of her father’s constant companion T. W. Wilson. 

Ruth “Bunny” Graham (b. 1950) said that her father gave her grace and she wants to give grace to others. After Bunny discovered her first husband had been unfaithful, she felt suicidal. By the time her third marriage was on the rocks, she founded Ruth Graham and Friends to help wounded Christians stop pretending they have it all together. In 2009, she married a fourth time to a former minister who was being tried for possession of child pornography. The next year, Ruth Graham was ordained as a Baptist minister, and her husband was among those who laid hands on her.

Big sister Anne says Nelson Edman “Ned” Graham (b. 1958) was Ruth Graham’s favorite child. Ned has continued the family focus on Chinese missions as president of East Gates International. East Gates works with existing structures to meet the needs of Chinese Christians. Ned tried to honor his mother’s wishes to be buried near their Montreat home, but Franklin won his father’s approval for her burial at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. Ned has been married twice, spent time in rehab for substance abuse, and says he suffered from demonic oppression. He told Charisma magazine that he experienced deliverance after “inner healing” prayer and that God gave him a new “prayer language.”

~The Christian History Institute

End quote.

Only Anne and Franklin are undivorced. Franklin was rebellious for a number of years but then claims he got saved.

Anne Lotz Thinks Billy Graham Was Like Moses

"Moses was the great liberator," she explained. "He brought millions of people out of bondage to slavery, got them to the edge of the Promised Land and God took him to Heaven. God brought Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land to take them home."

"And my father also is a great liberator," Lotz continued. "He brought millions of people out of bondage to sin and gets us to the edge of Heaven, the edge of the Promised Land and then God has called him home."

"Could it be that God is going to bring Joshua to lead us into the Promised Land, lead us to Heaven and – you know what the New Testament name for Joshua is? It's Jesus. And I believe this is a shot across the bow from Heaven. And I believe God is saying: 'Wake up church! Wake up world! Jesus is coming!" she declared.

~CBN News

There's only one Moses and Graham isn't him.

There's only one Jesus and Joshua wasn't him.

What in the world does "getting them to the edge of Heaven" mean? Almost saved? Near death? 

Decisional regeneration isn't repentance and faith in the biblical Christ. Also many of them were literally led back to the Roman Catholic Church as they had special counselors for them at those crusades. Graham's understanding of the Gospel is problematic since he declared all sorts of unbelievers and false teachers as "saved" like Pope John Paul 2 and Mormon Glenn Beck. He also held to inclusivism (many in false religions are saved and don't even know it and have never heard Jesus' name).

Also there's the narrow road:

Mat 7:13  "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14  "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 

Lotz shows yet again why God has a command against women in the pulpit.

1Ti 2:12  But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13  For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14  And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 

Yet she teaches men. 

She also shares the pulpit with mystic fake rabbis like Jonathan Cahn.

Lotz has promoted pagan mystic prayer circles. 

She's focused on signs and reads them into possible imminent cataclysmic judgement of God. Now, Scripture tells us what will happen in the end, but she's not doing that. We ARE under God's judgment and that judgment but it is with Evangelicalism first, as it claims to be His household of faith, since it is full of spiritual as well as physical harlotry. She for her part, is in sin because of her direct disobedience of women teaching men which 1Tim. 2 clearly prohibits. 

Graham's Funeral: an unholy alliance

Luk 6:26  "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. 

Joh 15:19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

Jas 4:4  You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

That no one was offended by a biblical gospel to the point of being convicted of their sin & spiritual whoring should be enough to indicate it wasn't the Spirit that was at Graham's funeral. It was an UNholy alliance steeped in the kingdom of darkness praising it's own. I believe this is a mere taste of what we'll see as the Great Deception takes over and "Christians" and non-Christians alike will follow the Lawless One (2Thes 2).

As Charisma News reported:

Those who walked into the memorial service tent would see leading lights like Ed Young, Joel Osteen, Paul Crouch, David Jeremiah, Dick Eastman, John Hagee, Max Lucado, James Dobson, Peter Lowe, James Merritt, Ronnie Floyd, Andy Stanley, Leonard Sweet, Kenneth Ulmer, Elmer Towns and more. Yet, everyone arrived the same way and left the same way. It epitomizes the truth that all of us came into this world the same way and all of us will leave the same way.

There was a spirit of honor and reverence throughout the entire audience. The repeated phrase I heard was this: "I was just honored to be invited by the Graham family." We felt the Holy Spirit's power throughout the celebration service, especially during the presentations of Anne Graham Lotz and Franklin Graham.

You could especially sense the Holy Speaking when Ms. Lotz spoke of the providential time of her father's passing for the United States and the world. When Franklin Graham presented the gospel, the Holy Spirit confirmed in the heart of the listeners that "this was from the Lord." This was powerfully pungent when Franklin ask the question, "If this was your funeral, would you be in heaven?"  The audience groaned at this personal question.

End quote.

Besides Disgraced charlton Jim Bakker, Emergent Charismatic Steven Furtick,  attending, the Charlotte Observer also listed others in attendence:

"The pope’s representative in the United States, Papal Nuncio Christophe Pierre, had a front-row seat for the funeral, next to Gov. Roy Cooper, the Trumps and Pences. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, who leads the second largest Catholic diocese in the United States, was also scheduled to attend."

They weren't honoring Jesus Christ, that's for sure. Had that been true they'd obey the biblical Gospel and would've walked out of there. A true Christian would've not even gone. Why? Because they were elevating a dead false teacher above Christ Jesus the King and HIS Word of separating from such spiritual whores and children of the devil who are great deceivers, mockers, and blasphemers of Christ Himself. That's why.

Steve Lawson Endorses Billy Graham As A Christian And Mentor: ignore that little "five minute" heresy he proclaimed with Schuller

2Jn 1:10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11  for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 

Such a man who greets, not to mention shares the pulpit with, or calls "brother" a false teacher now becomes guilty of the false teacher's wickedness. It's spiritual whoring, as Scripture labels it.

Steve Lawson, a professor of The Master's Seminary, head of One Passion Ministries, and roving elder, wrote a tribute to Billy Graham last week. I  chose some concerning excerpts and put his quotes below in italics and my response is in non-italics. My concerns and issues about Billy Graham I've dealt with here including his quotes of calling Rome's pope a born again Christian and evangelist and his inclusivism of those outside of Christ as if they are inside Christ. For the sake of immediacy I'll post the video I have in that article over here:

Also this helpful 15 minute broadcast where the host  David DiCani plays an interview with Bob Jones III  about his grandfather's warnings to Graham and the necessity to separate from Graham as the result of Graham's refusal to heed sound warnings. Additionally we hear his interview with Robert Schuller the great Universalist:

https://vimeo.com/257116552

It's important to bring it to mind now that he's dead because the biblical Christian cannot think this man was of Christ and therefore praise him. Rather they should mourn his death because he was a false teacher. Verses to keep in mind that repudiate his false views (I share more verses in the article I linked to above):

Rom 10:13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

Act 4:11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 

Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Co 15:1  Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2  by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4  and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5  and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 

Eph 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

In 1989 I was pastoring The Bible Church of Little Rock when our city hosted a week-long Billy Graham crusade. The call went out for local pastors to participate as volunteers, and I was asked to be the chairman of counseling and follow-up. In this role I oversaw the training of 3,000 counselors, and then was responsible for the follow-up after the crusade for those who committed their lives to Jesus Christ.

My mission was to ensure that everyone who responded to the sermon by Mr. Graham and came forward was personally contacted by a local pastor the very next day. 

Did Lawson help steer some of them to the Roman Catholic Church? That is a fact of what they did at his crusades.

So began my partnership with the Billy Graham organization. At their next American crusade in New York, they asked if I would do there what I did in Little Rock. They flew me there to speak to 800 pastors and church leaders, and help them understand the critical components of evangelism in the local church. I trained them on how to earnestly share the gospel, how to answer objections, and how to urge a person to follow Christ....God was using me to help prepare and motivate many hundreds of people to share the gospel. 

Pride in numbers as if that's any indication of one's validity of ministry or of Truth is of the flesh. 

I was often privileged to sit on the platform behind Dr. Graham as he would preach. When he would step out of the pulpit after the invitation, I would step into the pulpit and oversee the response to the altar call. 

This is nothing more than celebrity Evangelicalism. And this isn't of Christ. Alter calls don't exist in Scripture. There's no temple and thus no alter. There's no "alter call" or "invitation" done in Scripture either. The declaration of the Gospel and call to repent was given, but no walking down the aisle, begging for people to make a "decision for Christ" or anything else.  Just the guilt of sin laid at the feet of the people and the biblical Gospel given, with the command to repent of their sins and turn to Christ Jesus.

Eventually, I did my doctoral dissertation at Reformed Theological Seminary on the evangelistic counseling and follow-up models of the Billy Graham crusades. What many people don’t realize is that the efforts start a year before the crusade itself as local pastors and volunteers go through twelve months of training and preparation. 

Attaching one's self to celebrity Christians is a sure way to commit the sin of partiality because Lawson excuses Graham's spiritual harlotry as shown below. I find that these crusades, if it took as much work as he says it did, was distracting the elders from caring for their sheep in order to have a stage with a celebrity. 

I eventually left my work with the Graham organization—partially as a response to the interview he gave with Robert Schuler, where he seemed to indicate it was possible for someone to be saved apart from hearing about Christ. But let me be clear—the Billy Graham I knew did not believe that. For all his years of ministry, a banner hung behind the pulpit that said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).” He preached the gospel, and he called others to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s possible that interview can be blamed on his declining health, or that he was beginning a mental decline. Either way, his entire life and body of work should not be measured (or negated) by those five minutes.

Actually, Graham was a compromiser from the 1950's onward. That's what Bob Jones and Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones warned Graham about but he dismissed them, so they separated from him (this also reveals pride, arrogance, a love for popularity, and pragmatism.)Lawson's evaluation and stamp of approval on the man is superficial and not based on facts but emotions and personal investment. In other words, he's committing the sin of partiality.  

He's also judging Graham on personal connections and advancement not according to Scripture and facts.  This is what James White did with his imam Yasir Qadhi. Just because Qadhi didn't personally call James White a blasphemer or filthy, that doesn't mean that Qadhi doesn't hold that non-Muslims, particularly Jews and Christians are filthy and blasphemers. It's like saying "I didn't hear Benny Hinn deny the biblical Trinity" even though he did (he said each person in the Trinity has a trinity). It's what Graham himself did with John Paul 2. Just because "you" didn't hear it (whether it was directed at "you" or not) doesn't mean that your pope/teacher/imam/celebrity evangelical didn't say it or doesn't believe it. Personal experience doesn't determine the reality of a false teacher; Scripture bearing upon what the man or woman has indeed taught, does, whether you like it or not, whether you heard it or not.

This also leads to the notion of a little leaven is acceptable (part of the doctrinal triage mentality--also known as reductionism which is what the Pharisees were condemned for by Jesus in Matt. 5,15, and 23. Billy Graham repeatedly embraced not only liberals (as Bob Jones and Martin Lloy-Jones attested to), but regularly embraced the Roman Catholic Church. Not only did he find a kindred spirit in Pope John Paul 2, but also in Cardinal Roger Mahoney (see the photo above). At his funeral, there were Vatican representatives sitting in the front. 

Even if the Billy Graham of 1997 when he gave that interview with Robert Schuller, was a different one than from the one ten years prior that Lawson allegedly knew, we're talking 21 years ago. 21 years to have repented just as publicly as he made that statement (and it was a full statement). 21 years to write a book about his repentance from the damnable doctrine of inclusivism and go on King's show etc to speak about his repentance. There was nothing wrong with Graham's mind. This was a spiritual issue and Lawson missed it, even  while others saw it for decades before and since then.  Even with his seminary degrees and hobnobbing with celebrity teachers and writing books and going on speaking tours and teaching at seminaries and churches. He missed it. And he missed warning his sheep of the actual danger of Graham. I might bring to mind also that Billy Graham told Mormon political commentator talk show host Glenn Beck that he was a Christian. God doesn't divide a man from his sin or his doctrine. Neither can we. A false teacher isn't a "good" person or has "some truth" we can learn from. We can't be friends with them. We must judge, reject, and separate from such a person (Rom. 16:17-18; Titus 3:9).

To reduce the wicked doctrine of inclusivism down to just an issue of timing-- "five minutes"-- is to have a low view of God's holy standard. That's akin to saying a 5 minute sexual encounter outside of an elder's marriage shouldn't have any bearing on the man, his character, or his qualification to lead. That's actually saying a little leaven IS in fact, ok; that it doesn't affect others.  But Jesus repeatedly taught, as did His apostle Paul, that a "little" leaven leavens the whole loaf. They also taught that a true biblical teacher is held to a stricter judgement and prove fidelity to the sound doctrines of Scripture. 

Jas 3:1  Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 

Once again we have another man who seems to have a low view of Scripture and God's standard in order to preserve the empire and reputation of a man that gave his career a huge boost. Personal attachment and loyalty trumps biblical judgment of a false teacher. 

Calling  an apostate (at best), a false teacher, a false leader, like Billy Graham as a brother in Christ is to also include his repeated inclusivism which necessarily means his dismissal of several sound doctrines (Rome cannot be reconciled with the Bible on any level--that's Christianity 101). It's to not shield the vulnerable sheep from accepting what that leader accepts. It's infidelity to Christ, His word, and His children. It is dereliction of duty.

And if nothing else, that the world literally applauds and loves Billy Graham, that should prove he is not of Christ:

Luk 6:26  "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. 

Joh 15:19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

Jas 4:4  You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

A true godly person will face persecution, and Graham did not.  That's another indication he was not of Christ.

Let us not commit the sin of favoritism. Let us not be seduced by celebrity Evangelicals. Let not our attachments cause us to be disloyal to the King of kings.

1Ti 4:16  Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 

1Ti 1:3  As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4  nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5  But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 

Russia Funneled Money to US Environmental Groups & Used Social Media to Agitate

So about that global warming thing, turns out Russia operatives were pushing the narrative and why I don't get my news from Facebook or any social media....

Breitbart reports, quote:

“The committee began investigating Russian attempts to influence U.S. energy markets in the summer of 2017 when Chairman [Lamar] Smith wrote [to] the Secretary of Treasury regarding Russia’s intricate money-laundering scheme. Russian-sponsored agents funneled money to U.S. environmental organizations in an attempt to portray energy companies in a negative way and disrupt domestic energy markets,” the report states.

“Upon discovering that Russia may have exploited American social media platforms to accomplish its disruptive objectives, the committee broadened the scope of its investigation,” the report outlines. “On September 26, 2017, the Committee requested data from Facebook and Twitter as part of this expanded investigation.”

The documents social media companies provided to the committee confirm Russia’s influence peddling, according to the report.

End quote.

Breitbart goes on to say:

Quote:

Climate change is also an issue the Russians are exploiting on social media, according to the report.

Numerous Russian posts focused on the ongoing debate about climate change by linking catastrophic weather events to climate change and divisively labeling one viewpoint as right and one as left,” the report states. “One post characterizes Americans as ignoring major events that are allegedly signs of climate change.

Additionally, these posts frame the conservative viewpoint regarding climate change as a ‘liberal hoax, all in an effort to generate further domestic controversy surrounding the issue of climate change.

End quote.

For info on the climagegate email scandal go here.

Remedies to the Devices Satan Uses Toward Us Regarding Sin

Ah! says Satan, it is but a little pride, a little worldliness, a little uncleanness, a little drunkenness, etc. As Lot said of Zoar, "It is but a little one, and my soul shall live" (Gen. 19:20). Alas! says Satan, it is but a very little sin that you stick so at. You may commit it without any danger to your soul. It is but a little one; you may commit it, and yet your soul shall live.

Remedy (1). First, Solemnly consider, that those sins which we are apt to account small, have brought upon men the greatest wrath of God, as the eating of an apple, gathering a few sticks on the Sabbath day, and touching of the ark. Oh! the dreadful wrath that these sins brought down upon the heads and hearts of men! The least sin is contrary to the law of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the glory of God; and therefore it is often punished severely by God; and do not we see daily the vengeance of the Almighty falling upon the bodies, names, states, families, and souls of men—for those sins that are but little ones in their eyes? Surely if we are not utterly forsaken by God, and blinded by Satan—we cannot but see it! Oh! therefore, when Satan says it is but a little one—you must say, Oh! but those sins which you call little, are such as will cause God to rain hell out of heaven upon sinners as he did upon the Sodomites!

Remedy (2). Seriously to consider, That the giving way to a less sin makes way for the committing of a greater sin. He who, to avoid a greater sin, will yield to a lesser, ten thousand to one but God in justice will leave that soul to fall into a greater. If we commit one sin to avoid another, it is just we should avoid neither, we having not law nor power in our own hands to keep off sin as we please; and we, by yielding to the lesser, do tempt the tempter to tempt us to the greater. Sin is of an encroaching nature; it creeps on the soul by degrees, step by step, until it has the soul to the very height of sin. David gives way to his wandering eye, and this led him to those foul sins that caused God to break his bones, and to turn his day into night, and to leave his soul in great darkness. Jacob and Peter, and other saints, have found this true by woeful experience, that the yielding to a lesser sin has been the ushering in of a greater. The little thief will open the door, and make way for the greater; and the little wedge knocked in, will make way for the greater.

Satan will first draw you to sit with the drunkard, and then to sip with the drunkard, and then at last to be drunk with the drunkard. He will first draw you to be unclean in your thoughts, and then to be unclean in your looks, and then to be unclean in your words, and at last to be unclean in your practices. He will first draw you to look upon the golden wedge, and then to desire the golden wedge, and then to handle the golden wedge, and then at last by wicked ways to take the golden wedge, though you run the hazard of losing God and your soul forever; as you may see in Gehazi, Achan, and Judas, and many in these our days. Sin is never at a stand-still (Psalm 1:1), first ungodly, then sinners, then scorners. Here they go on from sin to sin, until they come to the top of sin, that is, to sit in the seat of scorners...

And oh! the horrid impieties and wickedness that Satan has drawn men to sin—by moving them to sit and associate themselves with vain people.

Remedy (1). The first remedy against this device of Satan is, To dwell, until your hearts are affected, upon those commands of God which expressly require us to shun the society of the wicked (Eph. 5:11): 'And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness—but rather reprove them'; (Prov. 5:14-16): 'Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.' 1 Cor. 5:9-11, 2 Thess. 3:6, Prov. 1:10-15. Turn to these Scriptures, and let your souls dwell upon them, until a holy indignation be raised in your souls against fellowship with vain men. 'God will not take the wicked by the hand,' as Job speaks (34:20; 30:24). Why then should you? God's commands are not like those who are easily reversed—but they are like those of the Medes, they cannot be changed. If these commands be not now observed by you, they will at last be witnesses against you, and millstones to sink you, in that day that Christ shall judge you. The commands of God must outweigh all authority and example of men. (Jerome).

Remedy (2). The second remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That their company is very infectious and dangerous, as is clear from the scripture above mentioned. Ah, how many have lost their names, and lost their estates, and strength, and God, and heaven, and souls—by society with wicked men! As you shun a stinking carcass; as the seaman shuns sands and rocks, and shoals; as you shun those who have the plague-sores running upon them, so should you shun the society of wicked men. As weeds endanger the corn, as bad infections endanger the body, or as an infected house the neighborhood—so does wicked company the soul. (Prov. 13:20).

Eusebius reports of John the Evangelist, that he would not allow Cerinthus, the heretic, in the same bath with him, lest some judgment should abide them both. A man who keeps ill company is like him that walks in the sun—tanned insensibly.

Bias, a heathen man, being at sea in a great storm, and perceiving many wicked men in the ship calling upon the gods: 'Oh,' said he, 'refrain prayer, hold your tongues; I would not have your gods take notice that you are here; they sure will drown us all if they could.' Ah, sirs, could a heathen see so much danger in the society of wicked men, and can you see none?

Remedy (3). The third remedy against this device of Satan is, To look always upon wicked men, under those names and notions which the Scripture describes them. The Scripture calls them lions for their fierceness, and bears for their cruelty, and dragons for their hideousness, and dogs for their filthiness, and wolves for their subtleness. The Scripture styles them scorpions, vipers, thorns, briars, thistles, brambles, stubble, dirt, chaff, dust, dross, smoke, scum. (2 Tim. 4:17, Is. 11:7, Ezek. 3:10, Matt. 7:6, Rev. 22:15, Luke 13:32, Is. 10:17, Ezek. 2:6, Judges 9:14, Job 21:18, Psalm 83:13, Psalm 18:42, Ezek. 22:18, 19, Is. 65:5, Ezek. 24:6.)

It is not safe to look upon wicked men under those names and notions which they set out themselves by, or which flatterers set them out by; this may delude the soul—but the looking upon them under those names and notions that the Scripture sets them out by, may preserve the soul from frequenting their company and delighting in their society. Do not tell me what this man calls them, or how such and such count them; but tell me how does the Scripture call them, how does the Scripture count them? As Nabal's name was, so was his nature (1 Sam. 25:25), and, as wicked men's names are, so are their natures. You may know well enough what is within them, by the apt names that the Holy Spirit has given them. Such monsters are wicked men—which should render their company to all who have tasted of the sweetness of divine love, a burden and not a delight.

~Thomas Brooks

The "Gospel-Centered" Everything?

Many talk about having a "gospel-centered" life, ministry, church.  But is that biblical?

Heb 5:11  Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 
Heb 5:13  For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
Heb 5:14  But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 

Heb 6:2  of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 

Heb 6:3  And this we will do, if God permits. 

It seems Scripture says that we are to move on from the "milk", "elementary teachings" and "elementary principles" about the Gospel and grow up into maturity by way of the meat of the Word.

The elementary teachings of:

repentance from dead works

faith toward God

instruction about baptism ("washings")

laying on of hands 

resurrection of the dead

eternal judgment

And in context as well:

Jesus as Messiah, high priest, God, Creator, Mediator, Savior, Sanctifier, Sacrifice for atonement; worship and glory of Christ the King, Victor over His enemies.

They had already heard these teachings, the foundation already having been laid:

Heb 4:2  For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 

Heb 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 

Heb 6:2  of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 

Milk and elementary teachings does not promote maturity, meat and deeper doctrines do (word of righteousness). Milk doesn't guard against deception nor promotes discernment between good and evil, but meat does. Those that "need" to stay in the milk and elementary, foundational teachings are showing themselves to be dull of hearing and in danger of being cursed because it appears they not only aren't growing in the faith, but haven't joined the teaching with faith.

Eph 4:13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 

Eph 4:14  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 

Heb 5:13  For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 

Heb 5:14  But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. 

God Is Not A Reductionist

Mat 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';

Mat 5:28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Mat 5:29 "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Mat 5:30 "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
Sin is in the heart and mind first before it becomes an action. If it were merely physical, as the Pharisees taught and practiced, then it would be a matter of cutting off an arm or gouging out an eye and not sin. Since it's the HEART and THOUGHTS that are the problem, we need to get rid of the OLD HEART and have a NEW ONE. That means we need regeneration in order to see our sin as GOD sees it and seek His forgiveness and salvation. And that can ONLY be done by God Himself.
Eze 36:22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

Eze 36:23 "I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the Lord GOD, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

Eze 36:24 "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.

Eze 36:25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

Eze 36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Eze 36:27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
Tit 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Tit 3:6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Tit 3:7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
So whether you're talking about shooters, pornography watchers, or Islam's burkas for women (because it's "their fault" the men lust), God is NOT a God of reductionism. Rather He is one of precision:
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Heb 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

God & Scripture Judge Thoughts And Intentions, Not Just Actions

The precision of Scripture to judge all things: and yes, God judges not merely actions but thoughts and intentions of the heart. Scripture and it's Author are precise. The sermon on the mount talks about thoughts and intentions of the heart, not merely outward actions. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for defining sin as ONLY what one physically does. Today's evangelicals better listen up!
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Mat 5:17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Mat 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Mat 5:19 "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:20 "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:21 "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.'

Mat 5:22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
Consider how Jesus equates anger with murder and He says the accountability of derision (borne of anger) is not just the court, but the supreme court and God Himself.
Mat 5:48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Mat 15:18 "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

Mat 15:19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. Mat 15:20 "These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man."

Billy Graham

The world loves Billy Graham. He's "counseled" several presidents and has met several popes.  He's known as "America's pastor".  Of course, now that he's dead (interestingly people didn't miss him the last several years even though he's been out of commission), everyone will rave about what a great man Billy Graham was. In fact he's going to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. But Scripture states:

Luk 6:26  "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. 

Joh 15:19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

Jas 4:4  You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

A true godly person will face persecution, and Graham did not.  That's another indication he was not of Christ.

2Ti 3:12  Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 

Mat 5:10  "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 5:11  "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 

Mat 5:12  "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Below is information I've shared over the last ten years regarding Billy Graham. It's important to bring it to mind now that he's dead because the biblical Christian cannot think this man was of Christ and therefore praise him. Rather they should mourn his death because he was a false teacher.

Here you can see Rome's praise of Billy Graham and his crusades:

In 2015 I wrote about the separation between Martin Lloy-Jones and Billy Graham:

"To prove the point we remember the way in which Dr Lloyd-Jones refused to work with Billy Graham, and this is a significant example of secondary separation. In 1963 the evangelist asked Dr Lloyd-Jones to chair the first World Congress on Evangelism (eventually held in Berlin in 1966; predecessor to Lausanne). Dr Lloyd-Jones told Billy Graham that if he would stop having liberals and Roman Catholics on his platform and drop the invitation system he would support and chair the Congress…."

"Billy Graham would not change his views, and Dr Lloyd-Jones declined to endorse or commend or work with him. No doubt the meeting between them was courteously conducted (it lasted three hours) but the outcome was a firm application of secondary separation. Dr Lloyd-Jones adopted the same attitude to Billy Graham's London crusades. He took the view, and stated it publicly, that to have visible unity with those who are opposed to essential matters of salvation was sinful. (He also believed the invitation system was a source of mass-delusion and harm to churches.)"

In 2008 I wrote about Graham's inclusivism of Rome :

Billy Graham's inclusion of RCC...this is especially condemning of Graham because he holds John Paul 2 up as a believer, all the while Paul 2 blasphemed the very sacrifice of Christ through the damnable eucharist in Mass, taught the dogmas of the RCC which went directly against grace alone in Christ alone apart from any works. John Paul 2 was deceiving millions world-wide: 

Dr. Graham told Larry King he had the privilege of seeing the Pope on several occasions at the Vatican. 

"And tonight, I have a very strange feeling of loss. I almost feel as though one of my family members has gone. I loved him very much and had the opportunity of discussing so many things with him. And we wrote each other several times during the years," Dr. Graham said. 

KING: You said that he was an Evangelist. 

GRAHAM: He was, indeed. He traveled throughout the world to bring his Christian message to the world. And we see tonight the outpouring from the world that he touched. And I think he touched almost everybody in the whole world. 

KING: There is no question in your mind that he is with God now? 

GRAHAM: Oh, no. There may be a question about my own, but I don't think Cardinal Wojtyla, or the Pope -- I think he's with the Lord, because he believed. He believed in the Cross. That was his focus throughout his ministry, the Cross, no matter if you were talking to him from personal issue or an ethical problem, he felt that there was the answer to all of our problems, the cross and the resurrection. And he was a strong believer. 

Additionally I wrote this article: C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, and the Roman Catholic Church: No need to hear of the Gospel Jesus to be saved

 

Deny Jesus is the only way of salvation, deny the preaching of the Gospel necessary to be saved, deny justification by faith, deny the ONLY name under heaven by which we must be saved, and hey, you can still be a Christian...and quoted as such from the pulpits!

"There are people in other religions who are being led by God’s secret influence to concentrate on those parts of their religion which are in agreement with Christianity and who thus belong to Christ without knowing it. For example, a Buddhist of good will may be led to concentrate more and more on the Buddhist teaching about mercy and to leave in the background (although he might still say he believed) the Buddhist teaching on certain other points. Many of the good Pagans long before Christ’s birth may have been in this position…Consequently it is not much use trying to make judgments about Christians and non-Christians in the mass’." On page 173 of ‘Mere Christianity’ C S Lewis.

"Well, Christianity and being a true believer--you know, I think there's the Body of Christ. This comes from all the Christian groups around the world, outside the Christian groups. I think everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ. And I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival, that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time. I think James answered that, the Apostle James in the first council in Jerusalem, when he said that God's purpose for this age is to call out a people for His name. And that's what God is doing today, He's calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think that they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven....I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, and never heard of Jesus, but they've believed in their hearts that there was a God, and they've tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived." - Television interview of Billy Graham by Robert Schuller. May 31, 1997.Transcript of Billy Graham on Robert Schuller's show

But the RCC is a false church.

Roman Catholic Catechism #847 "Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation."

Scripture says the above is condemned!

Rom 10:13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

1Co 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

1Co 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Act 4:11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

I believe Graham got this universalism from C.S. Lewis:

"There are people in other religions who are being led by God’s secret influence to concentrate on those parts of their religion which are in agreement with Christianity and who thus belong to Christ without knowing it. For example, a Buddhist of good will may be led to concentrate more and more on the Buddhist teaching about mercy and to leave in the background (although he might still say he believed) the Buddhist teaching on certain other points. Many of the good Pagans long before Christ’s birth may have been in this position…Consequently it is not much use trying to make judgments about Christians and non-Christians in the mass’." On page 173 of ‘Mere Christianity’ C S Lewis.

However God says otherwise: 

Act 4:11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 

Php 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Fatheer. 

Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lordand believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Lousanne Congress Founder--an ecumenical globalist coalition:

http://surphside.blogspot.com/2010/04/john-piper-to-speak-at-lausanne.html

 Graham also stated in an interview with David Frost (see the video) that "Muhammad had a great respect for Jesus" and that "we're closer to Islam than we really think we are". Of course, Muhammad hated the biblical Christ for he insulted Him by denying Jesus Christ is the risen Lord, Creator of all creation, and God very God. Islam insults the King of kings by elevating Muhammad above Him. Muhammad was a child of the devil and had zero respect for the biblical Jesus. Muhammad went against every major doctrine of Scripture, showing his hatred for God and His Word.