A friend from seminary sent me today a heads up on the video of Billy Graham denying the biblical gospel that's quoted in Iain Murray's Evangelicalism Divided. The Graham-Schuller conversation actually starts 1:17 into the video.
And for those who still persist in the belief that John MacArthur signed ECT and supports the BGEA, here are some of MacArthur's own words:
10 comments:
I missed the part in the Graham-Schuller video where Graham denies that Jesus is the only way to salvation. Whether Graham has said that at some time or another I don't know, but I did not catch it here.
John, did you not hear Billy Graham say that a person doesn't even need to know the name "Jesus", he just needs to know that he is missing something in his life...and because he knows he's missing something God will bring him to heaven? That would be denial of Jesus...or is that not it?
I've always heard OF this interview, but never actually HEARD it. Thanks for the post.
I think at the end where they discuss the "wideness" of God's mercy is where it is obvious that they have gone awry.
Ed Payne
John,
What are you responding to? Who said that here? I'm not saying Graham isn't denying Jesus is the only way, but what made you raise the subject in the first place?
And for the record, I realize there are folks who argue for a salvation "through Christ" for those who have some sort of faith without specific knowledge of Christ. And I also believe there is a clear biblical refutation for that position.
Ben,
The video starts out by saying "Billy Graham Denies that Jesus is the Only Way." I thought you were saying much the same thing by posting the video. At any rate the video itself accuses him of that, and I thought it an unfair calumny.
If the video had started out "Billy Graham Denies that a person is without hope, who does not explicitly recognize and physically name who Jesus Christ is," then that would have been fair, since that is what Graham says in what follows.
John,
Thanks. I did not intend to associate myself with any of what appears in the intro to the video. It may or may not be true. I just don't know since I didn't read it. I was merely interested in the Graham-Schuller portion. That's largely why I pointed readers toward the point where that portion begins.
So would you argue that personal, conscious faith specifically in Christ is not necessary for salvation?
Ben,
Some Baptist ministers (and others) who believe sinners who die as infants go to heaven apparently WOULD argue that "personal, conscious faith specifically in Christ is not necessary for salvation."
Ben,
I would argue that, though I don't think I could do it very well here, if at all.
Hi Ben
When this statement first came out, I wrote the BGEA for clarification. I have a copy somewhere in my files, I think. Unfortunately I am on the road right now (Nashville area, G'ville tomorrow) so I can't access it.
The gist of the answer was something along the lines of "of course Billy believes in salvation by Jesus alone". But that is about all it said. It did not say anything about the particular matters addressed here, about whether the really 'sincere' seeker who has never heard of Christ could be saved without knowledge of Christ.
So... I'll try to remember to look that up and post the verbatim reply when I get home next week if you are interested.
Regards
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
I found this at: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/graham/334818_billy1102.html
Billy Graham: Why we believe Jesus is the only road to salvation
By DR. BILLY GRAHAM
DEAR DR. GRAHAM: Why do Christians believe Jesus is the only way of salvation? Isn't that being rather narrow-minded and judgmental? The world has a lot of people in it who don't believe in Jesus, but some of them are just as good as the Christians I know (or even better). -- S.W.J.
DEAR S.W.J.: One reason Christians believe Jesus is the only way of salvation is because this is what Jesus claimed about Himself. He declared, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Why did He make such a startling claim? Was it out of pride or ego? Or was He mentally unbalanced, or even deliberately lying to trick people into following Him? No, none of those "reasons" stand up once you carefully examine Jesus' life and teachings. Why, then, did He say He was the only way to the Father? Simply this: He knew that He was the unique Son of God, sent by His Father into the world to save us from our sins.
You see, only one thing separates us from God and keeps us out of heaven -- and that is our sin. This is why our greatest need is to have our sins forgiven and cleansed, for only then can we be reconciled to God and go to be with Him throughout eternity.
But how is this possible? No matter how good we are, we can never erase our own sins. Only God can do this -- and that is what He did by sending Jesus Christ into the world for us. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Don't turn your back on His love, but by a simple prayer of faith commit your life to Christ today.
Contact the Rev. Billy Graham c/o Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201, phone 877-247-2426, or see the Web site billygraham.org.
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