THE TRUTH IN PRINT
February 2005, Vol. 11: Issue 1
A Publication of the Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 539-7089
By Bob W. Lovelace
Dear reader, beware of the appeal of a
cute religious story, poem or prose. People love to be told they are the
greatest, receive unwarranted sympathy, hear they have a surprise coming, etc.,
and thus be made to feel secure in spite of their ungodliness. Possibly most of
us know that there is indeed a great volume of such purposely distributed each
day. With the click of a button an emotionally charged email can be passed on
via one’s mailing list with some kind of careless note attached such as,
“Enjoy!”
Consider this following example which upon
first glance one might think it is really cute because it makes us all think of
the pictures, etc. that we post on our refrigerators.
“IF
GOD HAD A REFRIGERATOR
If God had a refrigerator, your
picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo
would be in it.
He sends you flowers every
spring.
He sends you a sunrise every
morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He
listens.
He can live anywhere in the
universe, but ... He chose your heart.
Face it; He's crazy about
you!
God didn't promise days without
pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain. But He did promise strength for the day,
comfort for the tears, and light for the way.”
Question: Having read the above would you
want to send it to one who is not yet a Christian? Well, it just so happens
that this was sent to some who were not Christians. Question: What do you
suppose the non-christians thought when they read it and were told that God
chose their heart to dwell in? While reading that God was crazy about them did
they possibly think that He was indeed pleased with them although they had not
obeyed the Gospel? Please consider Mk. 16:15-16 in light of 2 Thess. 1:8-9. Dear reader, study the Bible
through and realize that God is not crazy about the ungodly although they often
think so! (Cf. Ps. 5:4-6; Prov. 6:16-19) Not withstanding the fact that God’s
providence is for all men everywhere, if God chooses a heart to dwell in it is
a heart that is obedient and belongs to Christ’s church (Jo. 14:23-24; Mk.
16:15-16; Acts 2:38, 41, 47; Eph. 1:22-2:3, 3:17, 4:14-32). Also, in the Bible
we learn that many who did not want to repent desired greatly to talk to God
but He said that He would not listen! (Cf. Prov. 1:24-33, 21:13, 28:9; Zech. 7:11-13)
Now, do you suppose that the non-Christians upon reading this had possibly
assured themselves, at least for the moment, that they were chosen by God for
His present indwelling and He was providing them strength and light for their
day? Christians must do better than such as this! (Cf. Acts 20:20, 26-27; Eph.
6:19; Gal. 1:9-10; Phil. 1:14).
Corresponding to the theme of this
newsletter here is another e-mail story that I’m certain played on the emotions
of some while utterly disgusting others. I’m giving it to you just as I
received it. I did bold face one point that says Billy Graham draws men to the
Lord with his one point message.
“BILLY GRAHAM AND
OPRAH
Last year I watched Billy Graham
being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on television. Oprah told him that in her
childhood home, she use to watch him preach on a little black and white TV
while sitting on a linoleum floor.
She went on to the tell viewers that
in his lifetime Billy has preached to twenty-million people around the world,
not to mention the countless numbers who have heard him whenever his crusades
are broadcast. When she asked if he got nervous before facing a crowd, Billy
replied humbly, "No, I don't get nervous before crowds, but I did today
before I was going to meet with you."
Oprah's show is broadcast to
twenty-million people every day. She is comfortable with famous stars and
celebrities but seemed in awe of Dr. Billy Graham.
When the interview ended, she told the
audience, "You don't often see this on my show, but we're going to pray." Then she asked Billy to close
in prayer. The camera panned the studio audience as they bowed their heads and
closed their eyes just like in one of his crusades.
Oprah sang the first line from the
song that is his hallmark "Just as I am, without a plea," misreading
the line and singing off'-key, but her voice was full of emotion and almost
cracked.
When Billy stood up after the show,
instead of hugging her guest, Oprah's usual custom, she went over and just
nestled against him. Billy wrapped his arm around her and pulled her under his
shoulder. She stood in his fatherly embrace with a look of sheer contentment.
I once read the book "Nestle,
Don't Wrestle" by Corrie Ten Boom. The power of nestling was evident on
the TV screen that day. Billy Graham was not the least bit condemning, distant,
or hesitant to embrace a public personality who may not fit the evangelistic
mold. His grace and courage are sometimes stunning.
In an interview with Hugh Downs, on
the 20/20 program, the subject turned to homosexuality. Hugh looked directly at
Billy and said, "If you had a homosexual child, would you love him?"
Billy didn't miss a beat. He replied with sincerity and gentleness, "Why,
I would love that one even more."
The title of Billy's autobiography,
"Just As I Am," says it all. His life goes before him speaking as
eloquently as that charming southern drawl for which he is known.
If, when I am eighty years old, my
autobiography were to be titled "Just As I Am," I wonder how I would
live now? Do I have the courage to be me? I'll never be a Billy Graham, the
elegant man who draws people to the Lord
through a simple one-point message, but I hope to be a person who is real and compassionate
and who might draw people to nestle within God's embrace.
Do you make it a point to speak to a
visitor or person who shows up alone at church, buy a hamburger for a homeless
man, call your mother on Sunday afternoons, pick daisies with a little girl, or
take a fatherless boy to a baseball game?
Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful
you look when you're looking for what's beautiful in someone else?
Billy complimented Oprah when asked
what he was most thankful for; he said, "Salvation given to us in Jesus
Christ" then added, "and the way you have made people all over this
country aware of the power of being grateful."
When asked his secret of love, being
married fifty-four years to the same person, he said, "Ruth and I are
happily incompatible."
How unexpected. We would all live more
comfortably with everybody around us if we would find the strength in being
grateful and happily incompatible.
Let's take the things that set us
apart, that make us different, that cause us to disagree, and make them an
occasion to compliment each other and be thankful for each other. Let us be big
enough to be smaller than our neighbor, spouse, friends, and strangers.
Every day, may we Nestle, not Wrestle!
Please pass this on for others to enjoy. “
Question: How in the world could a Christian
be expected to enjoy such garbage? Enjoy, I did not! I returned the following
to the chrisitan who sent it to me and carbon copied to all recipients:
Hi ________,
I hope you are having a
good day today.
I received the
below "forwarded" email about Billy Graham and thought I would
respond back with some comments. _______, Billy Graham's well known advice of
"Join the church of your choice and glorify God" is totally contrary
to what the scriptures teach. He is well known for his own system of religion
rather than Christ’s simple New Testament pattern for His church. His mega
corporation and promotional techniques allowed him to be everybody's man,
so to speak, and to amass untold wealth. When asked by Larry King, "What
do you think of Mormonism, Catholicism, other faiths within the Christian
concept?” he replied, "Well I think I am in wonder fellowship with all of
them." To the contrary the New Testament teaches “one faith” and “one
baptism” as necessary for one to become a child of God (Eph. 4:4-6; Mk.
16:15-16). When one becomes a Christian they have been taught and obey in
baptism for the remission of their sins (Acts 18:8, 22:16). Since we as
Christians are taught to contend earnestly for that one faith the necessity of
being able to understand the basic truths is self evident (read Jude 3; Eph.
3:1-6). Should one desire they can understand the basic truths necessary for
salvation and what the church is (Cf. Jo. 8:32; Acts 17:11-12). Mr. Graham was
praised as one who “draws people to the Lord,” but Mr. Graham does “not” teach
what Jesus said was necessary for one to become a Christian. The post was full
of empty emotionalism and praise of men. The New Testament teaches that one
must hear the Gospel and obey in baptism for the remission of their sins (Mk.
16:15-16; Rom. 10:17; Acts 2:38; the conversion of the eunuch - Acts 8:32-39;
etc.). Although many follow Mr. Graham, praise him as in this post, and take
his errant advice to join a church of their choosing the Christian is commanded
not to “bid God speed” to errorists (2 John 9-11).
Your brother in Christ,
Bob Lovelace
Here are two contrasting
responses I received back from fellow recipients of Billy Graham And
Oprah:
1. “Thank you for standing firm against the
error taught by Mr. Graham. He has mistakenly led many to
misunderstand God’s WHOLE truth.”
2.
“Please no religious e-mails.... they are not something I want to recieve, no
offence but the state of religion can offend because of poor knowledge
regarding the subject.... in other words (sic) has an answer to it and
yet nobody ever has proven it... even now so let's get off the subject.”
Note: It appears that the first
whom I’m assuming is truly a Christian understood the danger. The other, sadly,
does not have taste for the right kind of religious email!