Posted: 08/09/06

Billy Graham Will Not Say
 If A Good Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or Secular Person Will Make It Into Heaven

By Ingrid Schlueter

The August 14, 2006  issue of Newsweek online features a long article on Billy Graham and his ministry. Toward the end of the article, Dr. Graham's "new thinking" on the Bible is discussed. Apparently, Dr. Graham's  ''new thoughts'' have to do with nothing less than salvation. Here's a quote from the article.

"A unifying theme of Graham's new thinking is humility. He is sure and certain of his faith in Jesus as the way to salvation. When asked whether he believes heaven will be closed to good Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or secular people, though, Graham says: "Those are decisions only the Lord will make. It would be foolish for me to speculate on who will be there and who won't ... I don't want to speculate about all that. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the whole world, and I think he loves everybody regardless of what label they have." Such an ecumenical spirit may upset some Christian hard-liners, but in Graham's view, only God knows who is going to be saved: "As an evangelist for more than six decades, Mr. Graham has faithfully proclaimed the Bible's Gospel message that Jesus is the only way to Heaven," says Graham spokesman A. Larry Ross. "However, salvation is the work of Almighty God, and only he knows what is in each human heart."

               ("Pilgrim's Progress", Newsweek, August 14 issue)

So why was it that Billy Graham couldn't give a biblical response when asked whether he believes that heaven will be closed to those of other religions? He says he doesn't "want to speculate about all that..." Why speculate, Dr. Graham, when you have the whole counsel of God in your hands and can declare the answer with authority? Has the man become a universalist? Based on his comments on Dr. Schuller's program several years ago, I am inclined to say yes. If we can't know whether those from other religions will be in heaven, than why travel the globe preaching about Christ alone as the way to salvation? Why preach at all? Why spend your life trying to get people to make "decisions" for Christ if heaven may be open to the Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Wiccans and everyone else? At one point in the article, Dr. Graham laments the fact that he never went to seminary. You don't need to go to seminary to believe what the Lord Jesus Christ said when he stated, "Narrow is the way, and few there be that find it." or "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." For years, the Graham Association, when contacted about the unscriptural statements of its founder, has made excuses due to his age and his infirmity. If Dr. Graham's physical condition is such that he can no longer rightly divide the Word of truth, his handlers need to send the media away and refuse interviews for the sake of the Gospel. Graham's apparent spiritual confusion is doing no service to the Kingdom of God. Note how Graham spokesman, A. Larry Ross, was contacted after the reporter heard Graham's quote about other religions entering heaven. It surprised even the reporter. Mr. Ross knows perfectly well the implications of what Dr. Graham said in the interview. Dr. Graham was referring to those of other religions who, as he put it on Schuller's Hour of Power in 1997, are operating according to the light they have and are thus, saved. But Mr. Ross's job is to re-interpret Dr. Graham for the donating public so that those who aren't paying attention won't notice that Mr. Graham believes that good Hindus may be in heaven to worship the Lamb. Read this transcript from the interview between Dr. Graham and Robert Schuller on the Hour of Power, back on May 31, 1997.

This is taken from a television interview of Billy Graham by Robert Schuller, on May 31, 1997. The following segment is an exact transcript of an excerpt close to the end of the broadcast. (Reported by The Christian News, October 20, 1997, page 15.)

"SCHULLER: Tell me, what do you think is the future of Christianity?

GRAHAM: Well, Christianity and being a true believer -- you know, I think there's the Body of Christ. This comes from all the Christian groups around the world, outside the Christian groups. I think everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ ...I think James answered that, the Apostle James in the first council in Jerusalem, when he said that God's purpose for this age is to call out a people for His name. And that's what God is doing today, He's calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ, because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven."

"SCHULLER: What, what I hear you saying, that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into human hearts and soul and life, even if they've been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you're saying?

GRAHAM: Yes, it is, because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, and never heard of Jesus, but they've believed in their hearts that there was a God, and they've tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived."

"SCHULLER: (R.S. trips over his tongue for a moment, his face beaming, then says) I'm so thrilled to hear you say this. There's a wideness in God's mercy.

GRAHAM: There is. There definitely is.''

(Emphasis added.)

Compare Graham's comments with the Word of God.

When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; then he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

Why does Dr. Graham not believe these verses? What about this passage from Romans Chapter 10?

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Contrast Dr. Graham's statement to Newsweek Magazine, read by millions of people, with these words by the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon.

Do not forget that we are in danger of a consuming fire--a danger which kills without remedy. It is not a fire which merely singes and scorches, but a fire which burns to ashes. As yonder ship must be burned up, and every passenger who cannot leave its burning deck must. be consumed, so you, O unconverted men, are in danger of utter destruction from the presence of the Lord. ''For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.'' I would I could speak upon this dreadful subject in a proper manner. Whitfield had tones and emotions which were fitting for such a subject. He would cry out, ''Oh, the wrath to come! The wrath to come! The wrath to come!'' He would cry, I say, until all his hearers responded. with, ''What must we do to be saved?'' And good Baxter, trembling lest be should he guilty of men's blood, while he delivered the message, as a dying man to dying men--knew the terrors of the law, and right earnestly he persuaded men to escape for their lives. O sirs, if I saw you. in a burning house, there were not half so much need of earnestness as when I see you in the midst of a mass of sin and corruption which must be consumed by God's anger, and you with it. Sinner, why wilt. thou die? What can ail thee? What besots thee that thou dost not perceive anything dreadful in the wrath of him who made thee? He can dash whole worlds to pieces--what can he not do with thee? Hast thou. learned to be callous when thou hearest of eternity? Hast thine ear grown cold to that dreadful word, ''Condemnation?'' Canst thou read the story of those to whom he said, ''Depart, ye cursed,'' and not tremble? Canst thou know that thou art this day in danger of the judgment, and not be afraid? When the sword is sharp, and furbished, and taken out of its sheath, canst thou play about its edge? Canst thou yet make mirth? Then is there indeed, need for me to cry to thee, and for all God's faithful ministers to cry with louder voice than mine--''Escape! escape! escape for thy life.''

Does this message not need to be heard clearly by every man and woman on earth today? How dare we give the impression to those in false religions who worship false gods, that we can't know whether they'll be in heaven or not? God's Word has already stated that only those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ  will be saved. The need of the hour is for Christian pastors and leaders who truly believe what God's Word says and who will not change their message to gain favor with the elite of this world. As believers, our resounding message must be, ''Escape! Escape for thy soul's sake to Jesus Christ. He alone is our salvation!''

By Ingrid Schlueter Email: vcyproducer@aol.com Click here for bio and archived articles