Many years ago, I attended one of Billy Graham's (revival) Crusades, it was spiritually nourishing. I am still alert to television re-runs of those Crusades and make a point to watch. Billy Graham was an ordained Southern Baptist minister who did not preach 'a' religion but instead, The Gospel of Jesus Christ. His message resonated internationally because it was a message of love for others and for your own salvation. It does not get any more direct than that. Billy Graham rejected the ethnocentric notion that one group is superior over other groups...we are all God's people.
Ethnocentrism means: My group, race, ethnicity, religion, customs and traditions are the BEST. Therefore, if mine is the best your identify is inferior. Keeping you and your group inferior guarantees my higher status and consequently entitles me to point out your lesser traits and questionable customs, beliefs and behaviors. Therein lies the foundation of America's culture of developing a condescending attitude towards those 'outside' my group. Unfortunately, my fellow Christians have allowed themselves to become a pawn in this game as it plays out in our political debates. We Christians no longer embrace with the love of Christ as our message centerpiece but we now harshly and publicly judge and condemn those 'sinful' people we perceive 'outside' our group. This has become our societal conundrum. Thus, I am 'right' you are 'wrong.'
Just recently, the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Billy chastised 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg saying, "He needs to repent for his gay life-style." Here we have a Christian voice that seemingly has the mystical and spiritual gift if not God's permission to judge some life-styles but not others. Obviously, Franklin rejects his father's warning, "The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it." And as the young Graham continues on his condemnation and judgmental message towards gays instead of his father's message of love, then it is that kind of pride that will cause many to "stumble into hell," said Billy Graham.
It would appear that Franklin didn't learn much from his Daddy maybe Gospel Granny can help the boy.
(Touch)
Gospel Granny
No comments:
Post a Comment