Written by a disciple who is a Marine veteran, with full respect to the final divine authority of the Word of God (Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Imagine a World without Law and Order
Third world countries are full of anarchy, unbridled crime, and danger. This is due to the lack of proper God-ordained civil government (Romans 13; 1 Peter 2:14-15).
Recently I listened to a video from a preacher who is saying that it’s a sin for a Christian to go into the military. Is that true?
” … work out YOUR OWN salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
May God bless us to work out our own salvation and cease attempting to meddle in the affairs of others, their own God-given liberty, lest He call us a “busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Timothy 5:13)
If a house is broken into, it is the duty of the husband, the father, the man, to defend his family and estate. And, there will be no guilt in the eyes of God for doing so! Read Exodus 22:1-3; Luke 22:36. In fact, what kind of a “man” wouldn’t defend his own family?
If a nation is attacked by another nation, namely on its own homeland, it is the duty of that civil government to protect its people and for the men of that nation to be involved in that defensive effort.
Did you realize that the police are the domestic MILITARY of our nation? They certainly are and what is their God-given purpose as “God’s ministers”? – “the punishment of evildoers.” (Romans 13:6; 1 Peter 2:13-14)
To say that joining the military for mainly foreign purposes is evil, is to say that being a policeman is in sin. Both have the divine purpose of protection of its people by punishing “evildoers” because God’s stated desire for society is that it be “quiet and peaceable” in contrast to anarchy (1 Peter 2:13-14;1 Timothy 2:1-3).
Serving God or mammon is the context of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:19-24, not being in the military. This has nothing to do with being a civilian or being in the military. It applies to all men – military or civilian. So evil minions have used war to make money BUT so have civilian, non-military minions. Think about that in light of this video message.
Keep in mind that there is a proper use of force, of military – for the divinely ordained purpose – “For the punishment of evildoers.”
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF EVILDOERS, and for the praise of them that do well.” 1 Peter 2:13-14
God Himself ordained family, the church, and civil government. Civil government is specifically ordained “for the punishment of evildoers.” (1 Peter 2:13-14; Romans 13). “Evildoers” are to be punished and such a duty is assigned by God to civil authorities. The civil government, as the LORD has ordained it, is “For the punishment of evildoers,” namely within the jurisdiction of an individual country….to protect the citizens from foreign and domestic enemies, “evildoers.”
Didn’t God send His people into foreign lands to destroy, to kill? Yes? Why? It was for His protective purposes because of His love for His beloved people. In this video, the presenter is meddling, talking out of turn, and out of context, instead of letting each individual believer work out HIS OWN salvation with fear and trembling before the LORD (Philippians 2:12-13).
Notice the bookshelf positioning of his (the video presenter’s) stage. Be not deceived: books make no one wise. Only GOD can do that. Having knowledge does not make one wise. Only God can instill wisdom in a man.
To say that a Christian should not be in the military due to ungodliness would mean that no Christian should leave home, definitely not work for a secular company.
Should we not allow GOD to work in the individual lives of HIS people – that He bought with HIS precious blood – and not meddle with non-essentials, with God-given liberties afforded to each individual saint of Christ? (Romans 14) | Liberty in Non-Essentials
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4
Example of the foolishness: In his video, he uses the idea that military men will have to submit to women military leaders and so for that reason no Christian man would ever join the military. Apparently, and sadly, this man doesn’t yet realize that the civil military is not the church. Very novice. Let cross examine: Just as there are women in leadership in the military, so there are even many more times the women in leadership in the secular world. So, should every Christian who has a female boss in the civilian world quit? Are they in sin? No. They just need to have a mature biblical perspective and realize that the whole world – weather civilian or military – is presently under the dominion of Satan and so it doesn’t matter if your boss is male or female (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-3, etc.). The Bible is speaking of THE CHURCH environment when it says to “suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man.” (1 Timothy 2:11-12) That doesn’t apply to the secular work world or a military environment. Rightly divide please. The whole world is a kingdom of sinners and not under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So, being that they are not the body of Christ, they live according to the god of this world (Satan) and we are there to reach them with the Gospel. Salt and light must “GO ye INTO ALLLLL (that includes the military) the world” to “preach the gospel to EVERY creature,” right? (Mark 16:15)
Failure to assimilate and rightly divide the whole of Scripture: Notice that the presenter in this video is saying that the military is full of sinners and under evil leadership. SO is the whole world, the non-military, the civilian people in this fallen world! And what did Paul say of such? He said in order to get away from all the sinners, we would have to leave this world. But we are to be the salt of the earth, the light of Christ to shine to them, to lead them to Jesus. Running and hiding from everything and everyone is cowardly and not Christlike or according to His instructions, His Great Commission mandate.
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16
Believers are to judge those within the professing body of Christ – NOT those outside of it – whom GOD will judge.
“For what have I to do to judge them also that are WITHOUT (the unsaved)? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without (the lost) God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:12-13
Did you catch that? Read it again. Paul is saying that Christ’s disciples are not to judge “them … that are without” or outside Christ’s kingdom. Let’s wake up.
When Scripture speaks of coming out from among them, it is speaking mainly of the way we live, not necessary always physically removing oneself. If you are weak, immature in Christ, the LORD is not going to send you on a mission that requires a mature man in Christ. If you are that rare mature man in Christ, He may send you on such missions as require maturity.
Whether in the civilian world or in the military, just because others around us sin, in no way means we are forced to sin just because others are sinning. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9) Those who are weak in the faith will be influenced to sin and so should stay clear – because they are not ready for such a mission.
If the military is evil in and of itself, WHY did Paul use it as an illustration for the life of a disciple of Jesus? – “endure hardness, as A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST.” (2 Timothy 2:3) See also 1 Corinthians 9 “No man that WARRETH….”
“The LORD is a man of WAR.”Exodus 15:3
Can and does God only move and work among civilians and not those in the military?
Thank God for the Christian brother who in Marine Corp boot camp planted the Word of God into my heart, the seed of the Gospel, in word and deed (the way he lived), which led to my being saved. Jesus be praised that this man didn’t have this flimsy, run for the hills, hide in a bunker, “Touch not; taste not; handle not” cop out perspective (Colossians 2:21). Instead, he went boldly into the midst of the military to make Christ know! The LORD used him mightily!
Jesus warns us of the deceivers among us posing as being godly while being devouring wolves who are the most dangerous, not the rank heathen who need to be saved in the military or the secular world. When Jesus walked the earth, Jerusalem and many of the places He ministered were under Roman military occupation and it was the religious Jews (professing believers) who had the greater sin when they delivered Jesus into the hands of the Romans to be killed. – “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath THE GREATER SIN. “ (John 19:11)
Did Jesus ever condemn the military? Not once. In fact, He healed the ear of a military man named Malchus whose ear Peter cut off, right? (Luke 22:50-51; John 18:10-11) What about Cornelius, a military soldier who was of the Italian band? Didn’t Jesus send Peter to get him saved? Yes (Acts 10-11).
If the military is all about money, and much of it has been, SO IS THE REST OF THIS WHOLE FALLEN WORLD. So the point of this video message is a ridiculous conflation.
The unsaved cannot possibly serve God and so until they are saved, they WILL serve mammon. That’s why the body of Christ is here – to bring them to Christ. The reality is that anyone reading these words who works for a company in this world, unless the ownership is truly Christian, is working for a company that is all about money. Let’s be wise in our assessments and not just believe something because someone staged a video about a topic.
In this video, he’s conflating things out of proper context, not taking in the whole of the matter (Proverbs 18:13). Think about it: Just because some in the military do evil, doesn’t mean all military personnel are that way or agree to that evil. If, according to this man, Jesus’ disciples aren’t to go into the military they also shouldn’t go out into this secular, sinful world. Being a civilian is just as evil according to him, because there are even more wicked non-military, civilian personnel. So, since there are many, even more wicked non-military personnel, then do people now need to denounce that they are civilian, stop being a civilian? See the point?
This speaker speaks as though we presently have wars being waged for money. Not so. God threw a monkey wrench into history named Donald Trump. So, this speaker fails to mention that under trump the military is in better hands than the previous puppet presidents who perpetuated endless wars for money and other evil NWO dealings. Since the beginning of his term, Trump has begun to bring home the military and continues to do so by the tens of thousands. Unlike the previous luciferian presidents, namely the last 4-5, Trump has started not 1 war nor been engaged in any conflict or war.
Much of modern war has been about money but that’s sin to the handlers, not the individual military men (Individual accountability: Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18).
Being in the military doesn’t equal loving mammon. Keep in mind that military pay is minimal, very low. It would seem that most people can earn more money outside of the military.
Also keep in mind that there is a proper use of force, of military action, including killing someone if needed…. Romans 13; 1 Peter 2:13-14…. to punish evil doers, namely within the jurisdiction of an individual country….to protect the citizens from foreign and domestic enemies, “evildoers”. This is the stated divine purpose of civil governments (1 Peter 2:13-14).
Under trump the military is in better hands, is being pulled out of foreign wars, etc. The previous NWO (both Bush’s, Clinton, Obama, etc.) luciferian puppet presidents perpetuated endless wars for money and other evil NWO dealings. They were all satanists. Trump is not. I didn’t say he’s saved. I simply said he’s not an avowed satanist and seeks to do the right thing for this nation.
Just because someone stands up and preaches a message, does not mean that you have to believe it, to buy it without thoroughly comparing his points to the whole of Holy Scripture (Acts 17:10-11). It’s the mind of Christ on the matter that matters and such can only be apprehended by way of thoroughly studying, knowing, and understanding the whole of Scripture. Only then can we rightly divide the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17).
Many times, wrong assessments like this one addressed in this post come out of our own self-righteousness, namely that of novices (1 Timothy 3:6).
Jesus Calling Devotional Exposed: 10 Things You Might Not Know
“I know so many who are so deceived by this book!! The author is a woman and she makes Jesus sound like your boyfriend who is so in love with you he can’t bare a minute without you! It is sickening! Plus she says the Bible was not enough for her. She needed more. This author died and if she did repent of her blasphemy against a holy God she is burning in hell as we speak.” Karen Cochran
BEWARE of the Jesus Calling devotional book which is written by a full blown heretic, Sarah Young. This book continually assures things to lost souls (catholics, etc.) reserved only for the true Christian. It promises salvation, assurance, grace, mercy, the glory of God, etc to lost hell bound idolatrous sinners. Like antichrist Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life book, Jesus Calling never calls sinners to repent which is a Gospel essential and without which God will never save any soul from sin and hell (Luke 13:3, 5). You will never hear Jesus’ born again commanded or command to repent in this heretical devotional book title Jesus Calling. This monstrosity simply confirms sinners in their sin, sealing their doom in the lake of fire (Jeremiah 23:17; Lamentations 2:14, etc.).
Sarah Young is just another self-willed false prophet who does “ministry” her way, not God’s, in order to sell books and to mislead eternal souls into eternal damnation.
The blessings of God in Christ’s salvation are reserved only for those born again “in Christ,” and never for hell bound religious idolaters (John 15:7; 2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Peter 1:1-4, etc.).
Stacy Strother writes:
“Her subtly, deceptive, doctrinally corrupt fairy tale version of what she calls bible studies for all the different ages of people, including children’s bible studies, teen and other, are found in the book stores—shelves filled full.
She is deceived, a false witness, False bible teacher, and has not heard from our Jesus—the Christ, Son of the living God, of which, is the very Word of God.
She hears from demons. Period! She needs to REPENT, and be born again! Please Lord Jesus, help her see her own demise!”
About That Jesus Calling – 10 Things You Might Not Know
ARE you seeking to experience God OR to KNOW HIM? (John 17:3)
“People want a word from God instead of the Word OF God.” Warren Smith
by Lighthouse Trails Editors
1. Did you know that Sarah Young says she had been inspired by the “Jesus” of a book called God Calling?
2. Did you know that Christian publisher Harvest House’s book TheEncyclopedia of New Age Beliefs says that God Calling is an example of a channeled New Age book “replete with denials of biblical teaching”?1
3. Did you know that the “Jesus” of God Calling teaches that God is “in” everyone?
4. Did you know that the “Jesus” of Jesus Calling contradicts the Jesus of the Bible?
5. Did you know that the “Jesus” of Jesus Calling rejects the Jesus of the Bible’s warnings about the future and tells us to “laugh” at the future?
6. Did you know that the “Jesus” of Jesus Calling frequently flatters his followers, which contrasts the way Jesus Christ spoke to people?
7. Did you know that Sarah Young’s “Jesus” revises the night that Jesus Christ was born and calls it a “dark night” in a “filthy stable” in “appalling conditions” even though the Bible says the shepherds rejoiced in all that they had seen that night? 2
8. Did you know that the “Jesus” of Jesus Calling revises the accounts of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph of the Bible?
9. Did you know that the “Jesus” of Jesus Calling encourages his followers to practice contemplative “listening” prayer and to have a “buffer zone of silence” with no warning about seducing spirits?3
10. Did you know that the “Jesus” of Jesus Calling emphasizes New Age terms and concepts throughout the book?
The 10 points above have been taken from Warren B. Smith’s new book, “Another Jesus” Calling. This book provides valuable information that can help you warn your family and friends how the “Jesus” of Jesus Calling contradicts the biblical Jesus.
Notes:
1. John Ankerberg & John Weldon, Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1996), p. 103.
2. Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, p. 376.
3. Jesus Calling, June 15th entry
FEEDBACK:
“Solid Biblical refutation of the “New Age ” nonsense passing itself off as the latest thing God is doing. In our area a number of Churches have embraced this and other similar material with no discernment to the un-biblical nature of this drivel. Thank God for Warren B. Smith and others who provide an inestimable service to the Body of Christ as “watchmen on the wall.” Pastor Tom, West Harrison NY”
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:4 Chapter 1-16 Chapter 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience […]
How We Know the Bible is the only Holy Book on Planet Earth [podcast]
Only God knows the future. Law of probability and the fulfillment of Bible prophecies: Odds of the 332 prophecies of the prophets concerning the coming Messiah, given hundreds of years prior to His arrival coming true are: 8,749,002,899,132,046,697,490,008,908,470,485,461,412,622,723,572,849,745,… 703,082,425,425,639,811,996,797,503,692,894,052,708,092,215,296 to 1 Fact: Only the Almighty could know the future and forthtell it in specific detail, long before it ever happened. THIS is how we know that the Bible is truly the Word of the one true God and that all other so-called “holy books” are frauds. “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Mark […]
Jesus vs The Pope, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, and Ellen White [podcast]
*CORRECTION: Ellen White was the false prophet of the SDA (Seventh Day Adventists) and not the JW (Jehovah’s Witness) cult. Both the Seventh-day Adventists and the Jehovah’s Witnesses grew out of the Adventist movement of the 19th century, the Seventh-day Adventists specifically through the Millerites. Both still cults. Jesus Christ founded the Christian faith. The kingdom of Christ is revealed in the Bible which is the only divinely inspired holy Book on the planet and we know that because only God could know “the end from the beginning” which is something He declares and demonstrates in His Word (Isaiah 46:9-10). […]
What should be our view of and responsibility to God-ordained civil authorities?
In light of these truths, it seems wise to remove oneself and family from the country, state, or local jurisdiction that is not punishing evildoers as God has ordained.
CRUSHING AND SEPARATING EVIL DOERS FROM THE GOOD PEOPLE IS GOD’S ORDAINED DUTY AND WILL FOR CIVIL AUTHORITIES TO CARRY OUT.
“A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.” Proverbs 20:26
A king or civil servant, ruler will destroy the wicked, he will truck them, he will crush them! Read the above verse again.
“The phrase ‘bringeth the wheel over them’ comes from Proverbs 20:26. It refers to the act of a wise king punishing or dealing with the wicked, particularly through the process of threshing (separating the good from the bad). The ‘wheel’ imagery suggests a thorough and often harsh application of this punishment.”
“Proverbs 20:26: Bringeth the wheel over them – He threshes them in his anger, as the wheel does the grain on the threshing-floor. Every one knows that grain was separated from its husks, in Palestine, by the feet of the oxen trampling among the sheaves, or bringing a rough-shod wheel over them. Asiatic kings often threshed their people, to bring out their property; but this is not what is intended here.” Adam Clarke
God ordained civil authorities to punish EVIL DOERS and not the good people! Any civil authority, whether an individual or the whole governmental system that punishes the good people, that weaponizes the system to destroy lawful, law abiding citizens, should be replaced. The framers of our Constitution actually set that in place.
God bless our Constitutionally abiding law enforcement which God ordains in order to punish evil doers. “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF EVILDOERS, and for the praise of them that do well.” (1 Peter 2:13-14)
“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.” Proverbs 17:15
Read Romans 13 and notice…. Civil Rulers, including the Police, are ordained of God to punish those who do evil. They are His “ministers.” A few bad cops doesn’t change this fact. Oh, and notice how criminals all go to hell—“damnation.”
Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2:12-14 …. whenever government isn’t punishing evil doers, and instead, turns and punishes well doers, that government is the antitheses, the opposite of what God ordained civil government for and should be abolished.
Submission to the Authorities
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Fulfilling the Law Through Love 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Romans 13
Truth: This priesthood of fake pastors bowed to Satan long ago. They are antichrists who bought into and even defend Satan’s fake “bibles” and teach heresies such as eternal security, etc.
Submission to civil authority has its limits and is contingent upon those authorities who are punishing evil doers and not having become the evil doers who then turn and punish the righteous.
Submission to Authority
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” 1 Peter 2:13-14
Jesus died. He shed His precious blood to redeem His people “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” Revelation 5:9
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8
Let’s Grow Together! Sign up here to begin receiving the Moments with Our Master email devotional that is sure to help you grow in His grace and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:2; 3:18). It’s sent out for the edification of the body of Christ. Sign Up HERE.
The Purpose, Limits, and Blessing of Civil Government
WHO ELSE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DAY? “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 There […]
The Golden Rule Life: What's that Really Mean? [podcast]
Thinking, Knowing, Applying, and Doing the Golden Rule of Jesus Golden Rule living is the only way to live in glorification of our Maker. Spread this word. God calls you, yes you – to love Him supremely and to love your neighbor as you wish to be loved, treated (Matthew 7:12; 22:37-40; Philippians 2:3-5). We must teach ourselves, our children and those around us the Golden Rule. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus is coming. “Golden Rule, […]
Billy Graham Promoted and Sent People to Go Join the Catholic Church
“One of the most troubling problems within the church today is the unwavering loyalty to a ‘christian’ personality rather than to Christ and His Word. The unwillingness to test every man’s teaching with God’s Word, coupled with a stubborn lack of discernment, produces fertile ground for deception to flourish.” Evangeline DiChristi
from Chick Publications
Billy Graham Still Sending Converts Back to the Pope
Billy Graham. We know that his messages are solid gospel. Few in or out of the Christian World have not heard of him. Since 1949 he has held the spotlight as the most prominent evangelist in Christendom. He has just finished his 416th crusade in Pasadena, California that drew over 300,000 people in four days. 13,000+ responded to his altar calls. Graham is now 86 years old and has one more crusade scheduled in New York City next year, health permitting.
The Pasadena crusade was on the anniversary of his first Los Angeles revival 55 years ago. It was after that meeting that Graham was “kissed by William Randolph Hearst” according to Dr Cathy Burns in her book, Billy Graham and His Friends. This meant that Hearst had decided to promote Graham’s ministry in his nationwide chain of newspapers.
Immediately, reporters and photographers were crawling all over the Graham meetings. Front page articles began to appear in the leading local papers wherever Graham held meetings. One reporter was assigned full time to travel with Graham’s team.
In 1991, Graham claimed that this sudden attention remained a mystery. Burns describes a more complex scenario. Regardless, the publicity propelled Graham into the national, if not international, limelight.
Jesus warned, “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you.” Over the years, Graham became the friend of presidents and kings, a beloved “America’s Pastor.”
But the fame came with a price. In his book, Smokescreens, written in 1983, Jack Chick describes how Roman Catholic leaders viewed and used Graham as a key player in their ecumenical plans. As early as 1965, he was a guest speaker at Catholic Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina where he received an honorary doctor’s degree. A college official’s letter describes Graham’s address as “theologically sound” as may have been given by “any other Catholic preacher.” The letter further states, “I would state that he could bring Catholics and Protestants together in a healthy ecumenic spirit.” Graham was also speaking at several other Catholic colleges at that time.
This prediction was fully realized. In Smokescreens, Chick shows various illustrations. In 1971 Graham is shown meeting with Oakland, California, Catholic Bishop Floyd Begin who lauded Graham’s ministry. In 1972 he received a Franciscan Friars’ award for true ecumenism. In 1979 Graham praised the pope as a “moral and spiritual leader that believes in something.”
In 1981 he was closeted for almost two hours with Pope John Paul II. After the 1982 New England crusade, thousands of those who went forward for salvation were turned over to Catholic clergy for follow-up.
And this hasn’t changed. Before the Pasadena crusade this year, The Tidings, official newspaper for the Los Angeles diocese, reported that Cardinal Mahony had written to parish priests to encourage their members to attend the crusade.
Crusade officials bragged that they had “a marvelous agreement” with Graham to give all registration cards to the diocese, of the inquirers who identified themselves as Catholic. The object was to “reincorporate Catholic Crusade participants back into full sacramental life in the Catholic Church.” “This is ecumenicity at it finest,” said Alexei Smith, Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer for the archdiocese.
There is no doubt that hundreds of thousands have been swept into the kingdom during the Graham crusades. But how tragic that so many who responded to Graham’s call to salvation were then sent back to the spiritual bondage and pagan rituals of the pope’s prostitute church?
Jack Chick concludes the Smokescreens chapter: “Yes, beloved. Billy Graham, as much as I love him and hate to say it, I believe was cleverly used as a smokescreen and as a pied piper for the whore of Revelation.”
In Graham’s 1952 Pittsburgh crusade, the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph reported that Graham said:
“Many of the people who reach a decision for Christ at our meetings have joined the Catholic Church and we have received commendations from Catholic publications for the revived interest in their Church following our campaigns. This happened both in Boston and Washington. After all, one of our prime purposes is to help the churches in a community. If after we move on, the local (sic) churches do not feel the efforts of these meetings in increased membership and attendance, then our crusade would have to be considered a failure.” [Emphasis in the original.]
Did you notice that Graham was only interested in a church’s increased membership-but nothing was said about a person receiving Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior. This is what is important-not church membership! Church membership could increase a 1000-fold but if people are not being saved, then all is in vain.
Graham also gave a boost to the Catholic Church (in 1952) when he added that he “hoped to hear Bishop Fulton J. Sheen at one of the masses at St. Paul’s Cathedral tomorrow. ” [Emphasis in the original.]
“In 1968, Graham was in a meeting in San Antonio, Texas. He said that the Roman Church had given ‘tremendous cooperation’ in areas where he had held crusades. He added, ‘A great part of our support today comes from Catholics. We never hold a crusade without priests and nuns being much in evidence in the audience.”
By 1973 nuns were singing in the choir at Graham’s crusades.
Continuing on with Graham’s ecumenical outlook, the June 10, 1966 issue of Time said that volunteers “will tactfully receive those stepping forward to make a decision for Christ, [and] steer them to the nearest church of their chosen denomination….”
In Poland in 1978, “Graham taught nuns and priests how to evangelize. A picture taken at the famous Polish Shrine of the Black Madonna shows Graham welcoming pilgrims to the worship of their Virgin.”
Historical List of Atrocities of the Popes [video]
Peter was not the first so-called “pope” because there’s no such thing in Christ’s kingdom. Not one mention in the Bible and such would actually blaspheme the only Head of HIS truth believers, the nail scarred risen Savior Him, “the blessed and only Potentate (Supreme Ruler), the King of kings, and Lord of lords;” (1 Timothy 6:15) Therefore we rightly conclude that the pope is the head of a false church. 1 Timothy 2:5 Historical List of Atrocities of the Popes Speaking of things not found in God’s Word ….. Can anyone please show us where there is a novena […]
Paul Washer Exposed: Pope Connection Exposed! [video]
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