Billy Graham,
I want to thank you for your many years of serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You came to Rochester, New York in September of 1988. A friend invited me to the crusade and I went three times that week. On Friday evening the 16th, I surrendered my life to Christ at the Crusade and have been serving Him since. A short time after I was saved, a couple of Jehovah’s Witness ladies came to my door and challenged my new faith. That incident led me to become a missionary to Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. My wife and I founded Evidence Ministries in 1992 and I have been a full-time missionary to these two cults since 1999.
This morning I read an online article which stated that you endorsed Mitt Romney, and then your ministry took down some information from your web site which describes Mormonism as a cult. The article can be read here.
I am writing because I wanted to get your side of the story and make an appeal to you. I understand the hesitancy of Christians to vote for a Mormon and I also understand why Christians would like to see him become the next President of the United States. What I do not understand is why a ministry would take down information which correctly identifies Mormonism as a cult.
I believe it is possible to be a Christian, understand that Mormonism is a cult, yet still in good conscience vote for Mitt Romney. Mr. Graham, I believe this is what you are doing. Please, correct me if I am wrong, but I also believe that the reason the critical information about Mormonism was taken off of your site is because you do not want to dissuade Christians from voting for Romney, even though he is a cult member. This is problematic for a number of reasons.
First and foremost, it sends a message that Christians must focus on perceived threats to their earthly kingdom more so than on threats to the Kingdom of God. Let’s face it. Many Christians believe that a second Obama Presidency could destroy the Constitution of this great nation. I have even had misguided Christians tell me that if we don’t vote for Romney, we will not be able to preach the gospel because it will become illegal. It has never occurred to them that a significant portion of our New Testament was written by a prisoner named Paul who was imprisoned precisely because he refused to stop preaching the gospel.
Some Christians are so fearful of Obama that they have allowed themselves to be fooled into thinking that our votes alone will be responsible for placing the president of their liking into the Whitehouse. They have forgotten that God told us in Romans 13:1-7 that He is the one who establishes governing authorities. I believe that as Christians we have a responsibility to vote for the person who best represents and will protect Godly values, but at the same time, I am not overlooking the fact that God alone is in control of the results of this election.
I can’t help but wonder if you have forgotten that. What other reason would you have for taking down information that is critical of Mormonism right after you endorsed Mitt Romney? Are you afraid that you may sway someone not to vote for Romney because he belongs to a pseudo-Christian cult? I don’t know if this is true of you (thus my purpose for writing), but I do know that many Christians are so fearful of a second term for Obama that they are willing to ignore the spiritual dangers of Mormonism.
A friend of mine visited a Family Christian bookstore after Church this past Sunday. He noticed that all of the books about Mormonism had been removed from the comparative religions section even though books on the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology and Islam were still there. When he asked a clerk about the books on Mormonism, he was informed that they had been removed until the election. My friend asked what was going to happen if Romney is elected. He was told that if Romney won, the books would most likely not be returned to the shelves.
The policy of this book store may seem absurd, but I do not see much difference between what they did and what has been done to your web site. Are Christians now going to give Mormonism legitimacy for the sake of their patriotism? Which dangers should concern Christians more, temporal or spiritual dangers? I can’t help but wonder which is more important to Christians who make policies like this, their country or the souls of men? Given your many years of preaching the gospel, I pray that you are not led astray like these other Christians who have allowed their patriotism to become an idol worshiped in Jesus’ name.
If you believe that God is leading you to endorse Mitt Romney for President, then by all means do so, Just, please do not indirectly endorse Mormonism in the process. I humbly ask that you put the critical information about Mormonism back on your web site. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is very adept at fooling people into thinking that Mormonism is a legitimate expression of Christianity. They do not need your assistance.
Respectfully,
Keith Walker
President, Evidence Ministries
Amen.
AMEN
The Cult word gets over-used,but in some cases it is appropriate.
The Watchtower came into existence as false prophets to ‘announce’ Jesus second coming in 1874 then they switched it to October 6 1914.
They fulfill St. Paul’s warning of those who ‘preach a different Gospel’.(Galatians 1:8)
The definition of a destructive religious cult is like alcoholism-if booze controls you instead of the other way around you are an alcoholic.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are cult-like in their dogmatic tactics.
The Watchtower society is not benevolent and won’t let you leave their organization in peace.
If they try to ruin your reputation and break up your family for trying to get out then they are a cult!
Whenever you surrender your logic and reason to anyone who asks you to trust them because they know better and to please donate generously, it’s a cult. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck…
–
”tell the truth don’t be afraid–Danny Haszard FMI dannyhaszard(dot)com
Very well stated.
I wonder whether it is indeed Billy Graham who made that decision. As one site (http://bit.ly/PsRSG2) notes:
“Billy Graham is 93 years old and in frail health. He’s been in and out of hospitals as recently as August.
It is unlikely that Billy Graham actually wrote the statement his organization released in his name.”
Regardless, thanks for your open letter. It is clear and well-stated.
Regardless of whether is was Graham’s decision or an advisors, it is still political correctness and Graham must ultimately bear the responsibility. It is his ministry. Thanks for the compliment Anton.
Absolutely!! I think his son is the one that pushed it. But, Billy must have approved it. Billy was not political in the past. He tried to pray with presidents of both parties. This is so pathetic. I may go to a Family Book Store myself and leave a comment.
Thanks for your thoughtful letter, Keith. I am glad you are correctly pointing people to the real issue.
A good word. When tolerance is our society’s greatest virtue, it is not a stretch to see how could happen, how the church capitulates under it’s pressure, and even adopts it. This is just further evidence of how infected we have become. God has never been politically correct.
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Amen. As a Christian American who happens to be black, I was offended by the Book of Mormon passage 2 Nephi 5:21 and other Mormon instruction about interracial marrying.
Good job, Keith. Well stated, and in an irenic spirit.
Keith ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! I do not fear a Romney presidency, but I also do not fear another Obama presidency because my God is in complete control. Yes we should vote for the person we believe will best govern our country and then we should all return home, put on sack cloth and ashes, get on our knees, and ask God to forgive the sins of our nation. Only godly repentance and God’s favor
can turn our country around.
It is very troubling indeed that Billy and Franklin (in a recent interview with Piers Morgan) Graham are not standing firm on Mormonism. It appears from the Franklin Graham interview that he was unable to say, in effect, “I do not think that Mormonism is Christianity, but I believe that Christians and Mormons can still work together politically.” He wasn’t willing to make that distinction between Mormonism and Christianity. Instead, he made an unsuitable comparison to Catholicism, as if the Mormons were on a par with Catholics, even though Mormons deny the Trinity.
It’s very, very troubling that the remarks about Mormonism were removed from the Billy Graham web site, as this is his own site, where of all places he should have the most liberty to state the truth.
However, I don’t necessarily think that the remarks were removed so that more Christians would vote for Romney; I just think that having the remarks on the site was uncomfortable and embarassing for Graham, in light of the chummy political relationship. Very concerning.
As to Ken Braun’s (chief of staff for the Billy Graham Association) response that the information was removed to avoid a “theological debate about something that has become politicized during this campaign,” since when do Christians avoid theological debate about the Gospel, no matter what the context? Did the Apostle Paul avoid theological debate about the Gospel with the Pharisees, or the pagans, or the political powers of his time?
On the Billy Graham site, I watched the video, “At Any Cost: Franklin Graham’s Passion for the Gospel.” In it, he passionately speaks of “never retreating,” “not compromising,” and that there is “a cost for following Jesus.” He says, “I love people of other faiths, and I want them to know that their sins can be forgiven.”
Will he love Mitt Romney and other Mormons enough to tell them that their sins, too, can be forgiven by the Jesus Christ of the Bible? Will he love all those who would be swayed by the seduction of the LDS “church” enough to preach the Gospel to them, and to expose the truth about Mormonism?
You make an excellent point! Please consider sending this to Billy Graham and posting this to his facebook page. The more people who weigh in, the more likely they are to do the right thing.
Valerie here again. I’d just like to retract my earlier statement that “I just think that having the remarks [about Mormonism’s being a cult] on the [Billy Graham] site was uncomfortable and embarrassing for Graham, in light of the chummy political relationship. Very concerning.”
I should not have speculated on Graham’s motives, as I have no first-hand knowledge of them. However, I still lament the fact that the remarks were removed from the site, for all the reasons I give in my posted Comments. Thanks for this opportunity.
No compromise! Let the truth stand where it may!
Thanks for ‘representing’ us by this very well written letter. I pray that those who manage the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will reconsider their decision.
I called my local Family Christian in Southern California and was thankful to learn that they have not removed the books on Mormonism from their comparative religion section.
Thank you, Keith! I think you articulated the issues at stake very well. I’ve been engaged in some similar discussions with friends recently. It has been disheartening to see how many Christians are beginning to embrace Mormonism in an attempt to justify Romney’s political viability. The section you included on the Family Christian Bookstore was particularly disturbing.
Thank you for calling for accountability and truth! I think you are speaking with humility, graciousness, and conviction.
Amen Keith! I would encourage the Graham Association put the correct information about Mormonism back up, but only after eliminating the word “cult” from their statements. That word covers such a broad spectrum of definitions that it is confusing at best. They, and all Christians, should define Mormonism, unambiguously, as a counterfeit of Christianity, a false religion, or an anti-Christian organization. — Tom Jones
I both agree and disagree with you Tom. I agree that the description needs to go back up, but I disagree that they should remove the word “Cult.” That would still send the wrong message. I propose that they use the word cult and then explain what they mean by it. Mormonism is a counterfeit of Christianity, but in my opinion nothing sends that message better than the word “cult.”
All I can say is I have been speaking this message regarding Christians and fear and this election. GOD will accomplish His purpose and we have to SEEK His discernment on what to do about the election because HE has a plan and He is orchestrating it. IT may not be anything we anticipate.. I too came to a relationship with my Jesus through Billy Graham’s ministry. I too do NOT want to back away from stating truth. Thank you so much for your letter. I am not in amazement with what is going on in the Church in the US as Fear is prevalent and people are trying to find a savior in a current day man………Just as the word of God indicated……..Blessings to you. May we PRAY before we vote and ask for an “outside of this time and space” perspective from the God of everything so we can carryout what His plan is through the Body.
This link http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6udew9axmdM connects to a video of some of the weird things this CULT believes and the associated rituals. Quite enlightening.
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I used to go to the Mormon Church. It is a cult, no doubt about it!! If you believe that the Devil and Jesus are brothers, then you must be a Mormon!
Let’s just get Mitt into office …then the liberal media will blast mormonism for the whitewashed cult that it is! With everything from no DNA links to Israel to no archilogical (sp) evidence…
Wise words. I think we overuse the word “cult” but it clearly applies to the Mormon church and I was disturbed by the removal of the word from Billy Graham’s website. I think electing someone as active as Mitt Romney has been in the Mormon church would have given Mormonism a level of credibility it has never had before, and many people would have been fooled into believing that it is a legitimate branch of Christianity. Mormon leaders are very adept at deception and I cannot see handing them a platform that would help them to lead more souls astray. The Gospel trumps everything else.
I don’t really understand other Christians’ views on this. To an atheist, I could understand if they would view all religions as cults. But to other Christians? Why use the term cult to describe Mormonism, other than to attack their faith, since the term cult is used with a negative connotation. Is it because their beliefs are different? But all sects of Christianity have different beliefs on some level. I would think that a belief in Christ as the Savior of the world would draw all sects together to some degree, especially as it seems that it is becoming less popular in the world to be religious. Sure, we may have differences, and we may discuss those differences with each other, since likely each individual honestly believes in his faith, but why the negativism? For my part, I hope it is due more to misunderstanding and rumors than anything else, but it sometimes doesn’t seem like that.
Sorry, Mike. Your post got buried. I approved it as soon as I saw it. What do you mean by “other Christians?” According to the Mormon Church, they are the only true ones. According to them, we are apostate “so-called Christians.” I really do not see a big difference between them calling us apostates and us calling them a cult.
I purposefully use the word “cult” to describe Mormonism precisely because it has a negative connotation. There is nothing positive about a counterfeit of Christianity leading people to hell. People need to be warned about the eternal dangers of Mormonism.
That being said, I do not like to use the word cult when speaking with a Mormon because it can be counter-productive. If they ask me if I believe Mormonism is a cult, I will not lie, but I am not going to use the term with license.
As for discussing differences, I’m all for that. It is the differences that define us, not our commonalities. Mormonism is not even close to Christianity in its world view and doctrine and that is why most Christians believe Mormonism is a cult.
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