Billy Graham's Faith: A Question Of Devotion

In the summer of 1949, evangelist Billy Graham's faith was tested by a fellow evangelist who tried to convince him that the Bible was flawed. Despite this, Graham decided to accept the Bible as God's word, and his ministry exploded. Over the next 69 years, millions around the world were saved, and many more continue to be touched by his legacy. However, Graham's movement has since endured fissures, with some arguing that it has become primarily political rather than spiritual. Despite this, Graham remained steadfast in his faith until his death at the age of 99 in 2018.

Billy Graham's early life and career

Born on November 7, 1918, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Billy Graham was raised on a dairy farm. He was the eldest of four children born to Morrow and William Franklin Graham Sr., a dairy farmer. Graham attended Sharon Grammar School and was an avid reader from a young age. At 15, he was turned down for membership in a local youth group for being "too worldly." This prompted Albert McMakin, a worker on the Graham farm, to encourage him to see the evangelist Mordecai Ham. At 16, Graham converted to Christianity during a series of revival meetings led by Ham in Charlotte in 1934.

After graduating from Sharon High School in May 1936, Graham briefly attended Bob Jones College before transferring to the Florida Bible Institute in Temple Terrace, Florida, where he received a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1940. While still a student, Graham preached his first sermon at Bostwick Baptist Church near Palatka, Florida. He was ordained by a group of Southern Baptist clergy in 1939 and, in 1943, graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois with a degree in anthropology.

Graham's first role as a pastor was at the Village Church of Western Springs in Western Springs, Illinois, before joining Youth for Christ, an organisation focused on youth and military personnel, in 1945. In 1947, he became president of Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a position he held for four years.

Graham's career as an evangelist took off in 1949 with the Los Angeles Crusade, which brought him into the public eye. Originally scheduled for three weeks, the meetings were extended to eight weeks, with overflow crowds filling a tent that became known as the Canvas Cathedral. The event garnered national media attention, and Graham became a household name.

Graham went on to hold numerous preaching crusades in the United States and around the world, including in London, New York, India, Africa, Australia, South America, the Middle East, and Europe. He was a pioneer in using new technologies, such as radio and television, to spread the Gospel. In 1950, he founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) to further his mission of spreading the message of Christ.

Graham's career spanned over six decades, and he rose to prominence as an evangelical Christian figure in the United States and abroad. He is known for filling stadiums and massive venues worldwide, with live sermons that were often broadcast via radio and television.

His relationship with politics and politicians

Billy Graham's Relationship with Politics and Politicians

Billy Graham's relationship with politics and politicians was a significant aspect of his life and ministry. Graham's influence extended beyond the realm of religion, and he became closely associated with several US presidents and political figures.

Graham's political leanings were often a subject of interest and scrutiny. While he was a lifelong registered member of the Democratic Party, he did not always align himself with the party's candidates or policies. For example, in the 1960 presidential election, Graham opposed John F. Kennedy due to concerns about the influence of the Pope on a Catholic president. He worked behind the scenes to encourage Protestant ministers to speak out against Kennedy. However, after Kennedy's election, Graham acknowledged it as an opportunity for Catholics and Protestants to come closer together.

Graham's relationship with Richard Nixon is particularly well-known. He supported Nixon in the 1960 election and became a close adviser to the president, regularly visiting the White House and leading private worship services. However, their friendship became strained after the Watergate scandal, with Graham rebuking Nixon for his behaviour and the profanity captured on the Watergate tapes. They eventually reconciled after Nixon's resignation.

Graham also had a close relationship with Lyndon B. Johnson, who frequently sought spiritual counselling from him. Johnson considered making Graham a member of his cabinet and even his successor, but Graham insisted he had no political ambitions.

In addition to these three presidents, Graham had personal audiences with every sitting US president from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama—a total of 12 consecutive presidents. He was known for keeping his conversations with presidents confidential, but he did share some of his views and advice with them. For example, he told Truman that he should counter communism in North Korea, and he urged Eisenhower to intervene in the case of the Little Rock Nine to support the integration of black students into public schools.

Graham's relationship with politicians extended beyond the United States. He had a friendly relationship with Queen Elizabeth II and was frequently invited to special events by the Royal Family. He also corresponded with imprisoned South African leader Nelson Mandela during his 27-year imprisonment.

While Graham engaged with politicians and held political views, he tried to avoid explicit partisanship, particularly later in his life. He declined to join Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority in 1979, stating that "evangelists cannot be closely identified with any particular party or person". He also expressed regret for some of his earlier political involvement, saying that he wished he had spent less time on conferences and politics, and more time with his family.

Despite his efforts to remain above the political fray, Graham's name and image have continued to be invoked by political groups, even after his death. In the 2024 presidential race, a group called "Evangelicals for Harris" used clips from one of Graham's sermons to contrast the behaviour of former President Donald Trump with Christian values. This prompted a backlash from Graham's son, Franklin Graham, who supported Trump and took issue with the use of his father's footage.

In summary, Billy Graham's relationship with politics and politicians was complex and multifaceted. He influenced and was influenced by political leaders, but ultimately, he saw himself as a preacher first and foremost, committed to spreading the Christian message rather than promoting a particular political agenda.

His views on race and civil rights

Billy Graham's Views on Race and Civil Rights

Billy Graham was a complex figure whose views on race and civil rights evolved over time. While he is known for integrating his revivals and crusades, his stance on the Civil Rights Movement and relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. is more ambiguous. Here is an exploration of his views on race and civil rights:

Integration and Racial Equality

Graham is known for integrating his revivals and crusades, insisting on racial integration for all his events as early as 1953. During a 1953 rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee, he tore down the ropes that organizers had erected to segregate the audience into racial sections. He also preached a gospel of racial tolerance, stating that "there is no scriptural basis for segregation" and that "the ground at the foot of the cross is level". In 1957, he allowed Black ministers Thomas Kilgore and Gardner C. Taylor to serve on his New York Crusade's executive committee.

Relationship with Martin Luther King Jr.

Graham's relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. is a subject of debate. On the one hand, some sources claim that Graham and King were friends and collaborators. King accepted Graham's invitation to deliver an opening prayer at a 1957 crusade in New York, and Graham invited King to preach jointly with him at this revival. King also wrote a letter to Graham in 1957, thanking him for his "courageous" stand on race relations.

However, their relationship was not without tension. In 1958, King wrote to Graham, expressing his disappointment that Graham had invited Texas's segregationist governor, Price Daniel, to speak at a crusade in San Antonio. King felt that this could be interpreted as an endorsement of racial segregation and discrimination. Graham's advisor, Grady Wilson, replied to King, stating that Graham loved the governor despite their differences.

Criticism of Civil Rights Protests

While Graham occasionally preached racial tolerance, he was critical of the civil disobedience tactics employed by civil rights activists during the Civil Rights Movement. He believed that racism was "a heart problem" that could be solved by converting people to Christianity, rather than through changing laws and institutions. He condemned the civil disobedience tactics used during the 1965 campaign in Selma, Alabama, and stated that he would not march or demonstrate if it were illegal.

Dismissal of King's "I Have a Dream" Speech

After King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963, in which he envisioned a "Beloved Community" where children of all races would join hands, Graham dismissed this dream as utopian. He stated, "Only when Christ comes again will the little white children of Alabama walk hand in hand with little black children." This response raises questions about Graham's commitment to racial equality and his legacy regarding civil rights.

Impact and Legacy

Graham's impact on race relations is debated. Some argue that he contributed to the theological defeat of segregation and reached an audience that civil rights activists could not. He made a point of linking his evangelistic message with racial tolerance. However, others claim that he accepted segregation at some of his crusades, criticized marches and sit-ins, and did not risk his popularity by confronting segregation more directly.

Overall, Graham's views on race and civil rights were shaped by his theology and his belief that individuals alone can achieve salvation, rather than governments or federal policies. While he took a stand against segregation and preached racial tolerance, his criticism of civil rights protests and complex relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. have led to a nuanced interpretation of his legacy regarding civil rights.

His death and legacy

William Franklin Graham Jr., better known as Billy Graham, passed away on February 21, 2018, at the age of 99. He died of natural causes at his home in Montreat, North Carolina. Graham's funeral service was held privately on March 2, 2018, and he was buried beside his wife, Ruth, at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Graham's legacy is that of a powerful evangelist who turned evangelicalism into a worldwide phenomenon, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He is considered among the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century, reaching live audiences of over 210 million people in more than 185 countries. Graham was nicknamed "Pastor to Presidents," reflecting his close relationships with many U.S. presidents, from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama. He was also a civil rights advocate, repudiating racial segregation and insisting on integration for his revivals and crusades. In 1957, he invited Martin Luther King Jr. to preach jointly with him in New York City.

In addition to his religious influence, Graham played a role in politics, both domestically and in foreign policy. He was a registered Democrat but later leaned toward the Republicans during Richard Nixon's presidency. Graham was outspoken against communism and supported the Vietnam War and the American Cold War policy. However, he tried to avoid explicit partisanship and declined to join the Moral Majority, stating that "evangelists cannot be closely identified with any particular party or person."

Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in 1950, which continues his work of sharing the Gospel worldwide. The Billy Graham Library, which opened in 2007, serves as an extension of his ministry and has welcomed over 1.5 million guests. Graham has also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a bronze statue in the U.S. Capitol. He received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was consistently ranked among the most admired persons in the world.

In his book "Nearing Home", Graham reflected on his legacy, stating that the greatest legacy one can pass on is not material possessions but rather the legacy of character and faith.

His family life

Billy Graham was born on November 7, 1918, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and died on February 21, 2018, at the age of 99. He was the eldest of four children born to Morrow (née Coffey) and dairy farmer William Franklin Graham Sr. Graham was raised on the family dairy farm with his two younger sisters, Catherine Morrow and Jean, and younger brother, Melvin Thomas. Graham was turned down for membership in a local youth group for being "too worldly". At the age of 16, he was converted during a series of revival meetings led by evangelist Mordecai Ham in Charlotte in 1934.

On August 13, 1943, Graham married Ruth McCue Bell, a fellow student at Wheaton College in Illinois. Ruth was the daughter of a missionary surgeon and spent the first 17 years of her life in China. The couple had five children together: Virginia (Gigi) Leftwich Graham Tchividjian, Anne Graham Lotz, Ruth Graham, Franklin Graham, and Nelson Edman (Ned) Graham. At the time of his death, Graham was survived by his five children, 19 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.

Graham's children have all faced their own struggles, including divorces, a runaway grandchild, drug abuse, and general misbehavior in their younger years. Despite this, they have all gone on to be involved in Christian ministry. Ned, the youngest, runs East Gates Ministries International, which distributes Christian literature in China. Franklin is president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, a faith-based international relief organization. Anne leads AnGeL Ministries, a Christian ministry organization. Ruth founded Ruth Graham Ministries, which is based in Waynesboro, Virginia. Gigi is an inspirational speaker and author.

Graham's family life was not without challenges. In his autobiography, he wrote about the difficulty of being away from his growing family due to his work commitments. He also acknowledged that he left most of the parenting of his five children to his wife, Ruth, who was a homemaker and mother. Despite this, Graham's children have fond memories of their father and speak of the solid foundation he and Ruth laid for their spiritual lives.

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