Why We Do Not Support the Billy Graham Crusade

Why We Do Not Support the
Billy Graham Crusade
By Harold Hazelip

Editor's Note:
[Last November, Billy Graham conducted what was referred to as, "most likely his final West Coast Crusade" at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. Of this event, Mr. Graham said, "So many of us have been praying that God would move mightily in this time and that it would be the beginning of a spiritual awakening." This was his seventh evangelistic campaign in the Los Angeles area, including his historic 1949 crusade - in the Canvas Cathedral at the corner of Washington and Hill streets - that brought him and his ministry to national attention. Throughout the years during which he has preached, people have often asked why we do not support Mr. Graham’s crusades. The following article printed in 1956 clearly shows the reasons, which have not changed over the years. We urge you to compare Mr. Graham's teaching with the Bible. (KMG)]

To Conform or Not to Conform It is customary, as the saying goes, for those who live in Rome to do as Rome does; nonconformists are usually unpopular. Our American heritage, however, permits us to disagree; the Scriptures advise us to "prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) The Bible demands investigation of religious claims; "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1) We have investigated; we have heard Mr. Graham personally and via the media; we have read his writings extensively. We conclude, with proof forthcoming, that he does not preach the Gospel that Christ commanded the apostles to preach.

Is It Right to Oppose? Through perversion of Jesus' teaching concerning judging, some have concluded that opposition to any doctrine is wrong. Jesus said, "Judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24), and taught that we can know false teachers by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20). Any thinking person exercises judgment, and anyone with conviction voices it. In his book, Peace With God, Mr. Graham opposed many doctrines, more than once calling the names of those who expound error.

Why Oppose? Our opposition to the Graham crusades is not through preference, but from conviction. We shall not reflect upon any person, but we shall expose false doctrine. We distinguish between tenets and the men who promote them. We simply urge you to compare Mr. Graham's teachings with Bible teaching. Our quotations are from his book, Peace With God; his newspaper column, My Answer; and the text of the sermons preached during his Nashville Crusade (1954), and printed in The Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tenn.

Mr. Graham Versus the Bible

Concerning Conversion Mr. Graham: “Conversion can take many different forms. The way it is accomplished depends largely upon the individual—his temperament, his emotional balance, his environment, and his previous conditioning and way of life.” (Peace With God, p.110)

The Bible: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." (1Corinthians 12:13)

Mr. Graham: "Being born again is altogether a work of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing that you can do to obtain this new birth ... In other words, there is nothing you can do about it ... The new birth is wholly foreign to our will." (Peace With God, p.146)

The Bible: "Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, 1 say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.’" (John 3:5) "Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit ... Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God." (1 Peter 1:22-23)

Mr. Graham: “...the moment we repent of sin and turn by faith to Jesus Christ we are born again." (Peace With God, p.147)

The Bible: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Jesus, Mark 16:16)

Mr. Graham: "It is true that thousands of Christians do not know the exact day or hour that they came to know Christ. Their faith and their life testify that unconsciously they have been converted to Christ." (Peace With God, p.155)

The Bible: "And they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:38-39)

On Conditions of Salvation Mr. Graham: "You say, 'But Billy, what shall I do?' "Repent, believe, surrender, you can do it tonight before you leave this stadium ... and you will be reconciled to God." (Nashville Sermons, p.31)

The Bible: "Now when they head this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, ‘Men, and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.’" (Acts 2: 37-38)

Mr. Graham: “Those who surrender their lives to Him and receive Him into their hearts. It is this act that makes you a Christian." (My Answer, 9/15/1955)

The Bible: "Not everyone that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

Mr. Graham: “Paul says that a man is justified before God by faith alone.” (My Answer, 9/14/1956)

The Bible: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Paul, Galatians 3:26-27) "... Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Paul, Philippians 2:12)

Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit Mr. Graham: "Actually, repentance cannot take place unless first there is a movement of the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind." (Peace With God, p.123)

The Bible: "I tell you, ‘Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.’" (Luke 13:3) (Note: Whose fault is it if a man does not receive the direct operation of the Holy Spirit, and is lost?)

Mr. Graham: "No man can ever be saved unless the Holy Spirit, in supernatural, penetrating, power comes and works upon his heart." "You can't come to Christ any time you want to, you can only come when the Spirit of God is drawing and pulling and wooing." (Nashville Sermons, p.18,20)

The Bible: "And the Spirit and the bride say ‘Come.’ And let him that heareth say, ‘Come.’ And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17) (Note: Coming to God is conditioned only on man's will. God is always willing.)

Our Appeal This list could be lengthened immeasurably; indeed, we could print a "Graham Vs. Bible" column, without garbling quotations. Our plea is for you to "try the spirits whether they be of God.” Burying our heads in the sand will not erase error that is being taught and believed. The very principles underlying such man-centered publicity, or such aloofness from controversial issues that involve men's souls, are foreign to New-Testament Christianity. We desire open discussion of religious differences. We realize that Mr. Graham has a crowded schedule; but in view of eternal consequences, we respectfully invite an open discussion of his doctrines any time he can arrange such—be it 5, 10, or 20 years from now. Years pass by quickly—eternity more slowly. In the interest of souls—“Cone now, and let us reason together.” (Isaiah 1:18)

This edited article was published in Truth Magazines in November 1956. Though it has been 52 years since brother Hazelip penned these thoughts, his words still ring true. Due to poor health, Mr. Graham, himself, is no longer preaching. But his son, Franklin, is still preaching the same doctrine, deceiving millions of souls. Billy Graham refused to discuss our differences then, and Franklin Graham continues to turn down offers from preachers to openly discuss or debate these doctrinal differences today. Yet, millions have answered the call at one of their crusades, thinking they are saved and in a relationship with God!

Why do people allow themselves to be deceived by these so-called giants of faith? The reason remains the same as it’s always been--they do not open their Bibles, rightfully divide the truth, and personally compare what their leaders teach with what God’s book says. Scores of people are content to let others do their religious thinking for them. Instead of examining what the Bible says (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21), they blindly follow false teachers down whatever paths they choose to lead them.

On television, you can watch these “men of great faith”—Benny Hinn, Rod Parsley, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Paul and Jan Krause, T.J Jakes, Joel Osteen, Oral Roberts, Pat Roberston, Franklin Graham, Reverend Dollar, maybe even Jimmy Swaggart! They all have one thing in common; they’re using God to extort money from their followers, line their pockets, and build financial wealth! We’re reminded of our Lord’s words: “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” (Matthew 6:5) They’d better enjoy it now—they’re paying for it with your souls! (KMG)

Go Back to Knollwood Church of Christ Index Page