Christianity, Climbing, and Commentary...that's enough, right?
Would You Ask Him To Preach?
An elderly gentlemen is passing through your area and he shows up at your church on Sunday. He is perhaps the most well-known preacher in modern times. His name is Billy Graham. Would you ask him to preach?
I did ask a YES/NO question....feel free to elaborate if you would like. Since I'm not pastoring right now, I really can't answer :) (well, maybe I'll try an answer in a few days)
Billy Graham is such an American icon, it is unpopular to say anything negative about him. On top of that he is now elderly and feeble, which in itself makes me feel a certain sympathy. So I just wanted to say "no" and leave it a that! Now you're pressuring for a reason. :-)
I believe Billy Graham may be a nice person, but as a preacher he has been a leader in the field of "easy believism", including using such gimmicks as "decoys" in a crowd to get people moving to the front. I could add that I think he is off on other areas of truth, but that one would be the worst to me.
No. Why would I? Pulpit Affiliation is the easy answer. I'd only ask a doctrinally sound man (who believes the 21) and one who practices them to the best of my knowledge to speak at our church. To my knowledge, Mr. Billy isn't ABA or BMA, nor does he adhere to the 21.
Besides all this, if he "shows up" at your church Sunday morning, there isn't enough time to let the neighborhood know, so it wouldn't even help draw crowds (which is the reason I assume many book him or other popular names). So this is a lose/lose situation (not that I'd do something to draw people or anything, just that even those who do would lose here).
Every time I have listened to Billy Graham, he has preached the gospel clear & true. The assurances I would need would be that he would simply preach the gospel as he always has and not expound on his view of "the church."
You know me well enough (I think) to know that I don't believe in pulpit affiliation. But someone like Billy Graham could be the exception for me if the church was agreeable. Understandably, others might not agree.
I'm assuming that those who would NEVER let anyone outside the ABA "speak" in their church will promptly go and tear out all of the songs we sing which were written by Methodists, Lutherans, Gaithers, etc. in lieu of "singing affiliation":) We would probably be left with only the Heavenly Highway back and front cover.
Brother Adrian, I expect almost everyone would be willing to make some exception to there standard of fulfillment. For some of them it might have to be with the qualifier that no one find out!
I want to clarify that I deliberately didn't use the term "pulpit affiliation" because I don't subscribe to the idea that preaching a Baptist from a different group/association is pulpit affiliation. So I wouldn't consider preaching Billy Graham pulpit affiliation just because he is a Southern Baptist. I just wouldn't want to preach him for the reasons mentioned above.
Not being an avid Graham fan, I haven't listened to him all that much. But I have to agree that when I have heard him, he preached a pretty simple gospel message. My complaint is not so much with the words of his sermons, as his practice in getting people to the front and what they are told when they get there.
Since you are not pastoring anywhere, maybe you could "pulpit affiliate" and preach for us some time.
Even though I am yet unordained, I will say a resounding NO!!! The last time I saw him on T.V. he preached "repentance, faith, and obedience" for salvation. Next is his practice of having ministers of all denominations down at the altar to receive those who come down. Just go on the internet and you will find statements that he has made himself that would make you wonder whether he is even a saved man.
BTW, he has a KJV Bible with him.
ReplyDeleteNo.
ReplyDeleteNO
ReplyDeleteI did ask a YES/NO question....feel free to elaborate if you would like.
ReplyDeleteSince I'm not pastoring right now, I really can't answer :)
(well, maybe I'll try an answer in a few days)
Billy Graham is such an American icon, it is unpopular to say anything negative about him. On top of that he is now elderly and feeble, which in itself makes me feel a certain sympathy. So I just wanted to say "no" and leave it a that! Now you're pressuring for a reason. :-)
ReplyDeleteI believe Billy Graham may be a nice person, but as a preacher he has been a leader in the field of "easy believism", including using such gimmicks as "decoys" in a crowd to get people moving to the front. I could add that I think he is off on other areas of truth, but that one would be the worst to me.
So, could it be that others who read this blog are ....well...sk-e-e-red to answer?
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts could be, "Billy' s a great guy & straight gospel preacher...but wait a minute...inviting him to preach would be pulpit affiliation!"
"Maybe I should check with the deacons first?"
"If I were to allow him to preach, would my instructors at Seminary tar and feather me?"
Calling you out Blog Brothers, Fence Sitters, Silent Sages....
Will you let Billy preach for you??
No!!!
ReplyDeleteUnless there are objections from the deacons or the church, and with a few assurances from Billy...
ReplyDeleteyes!
No. Why would I? Pulpit Affiliation is the easy answer. I'd only ask a doctrinally sound man (who believes the 21) and one who practices them to the best of my knowledge to speak at our church. To my knowledge, Mr. Billy isn't ABA or BMA, nor does he adhere to the 21.
ReplyDeleteBesides all this, if he "shows up" at your church Sunday morning, there isn't enough time to let the neighborhood know, so it wouldn't even help draw crowds (which is the reason I assume many book him or other popular names). So this is a lose/lose situation (not that I'd do something to draw people or anything, just that even those who do would lose here).
Brother Neal, what assurances would you need from Billy Graham?
ReplyDeleteBrother Snyder, were ABA preachers doctrinally sound before the ABA adopted "the 21"?
Bro. Robert,
ReplyDeleteEvery time I have listened to Billy Graham, he has preached the gospel clear & true. The assurances I would need would be that he would simply preach the gospel as he always has and not expound on his view of "the church."
You know me well enough (I think) to know that I don't believe in pulpit affiliation. But someone like Billy Graham could be the exception for me if the church was agreeable. Understandably, others might not agree.
I'm assuming that those who would NEVER let anyone outside the ABA "speak" in their church will promptly go and tear out all of the songs we sing which were written by Methodists, Lutherans, Gaithers, etc. in lieu of "singing affiliation":)
We would probably be left with only the Heavenly Highway back and front cover.
Brother Adrian, I expect almost everyone would be willing to make some exception to there standard of fulfillment. For some of them it might have to be with the qualifier that no one find out!
ReplyDeleteI want to clarify that I deliberately didn't use the term "pulpit affiliation" because I don't subscribe to the idea that preaching a Baptist from a different group/association is pulpit affiliation. So I wouldn't consider preaching Billy Graham pulpit affiliation just because he is a Southern Baptist. I just wouldn't want to preach him for the reasons mentioned above.
Not being an avid Graham fan, I haven't listened to him all that much. But I have to agree that when I have heard him, he preached a pretty simple gospel message. My complaint is not so much with the words of his sermons, as his practice in getting people to the front and what they are told when they get there.
Since you are not pastoring anywhere, maybe you could "pulpit affiliate" and preach for us some time.
That should be, "I expect almost everyone would be willing to make some exception to their standards of pulpit affiliation."
ReplyDelete(not sure what I was thinking or my fingers were typing)
Even though I am yet unordained, I will say a resounding NO!!! The last time I saw him on T.V. he preached "repentance, faith, and obedience" for salvation. Next is his practice of having ministers of all denominations down at the altar to receive those who come down. Just go on the internet and you will find statements that he has made himself that would make you wonder whether he is even a saved man.
ReplyDelete"But someone like Billy Graham could be the exception for me".?
ReplyDeleteSure
ReplyDelete