The unofficial Billy Graham blog, exploring the life of the world's greatest evangelist.
Billy Graham on Jesus Christ:"I'm counting totally and completely on the Lord Jesus Christ, and not on Billy Graham. I'm not going to heaven because I've read the Bible, nor because I've preached to a lot of people. I'm going to heaven because of what Christ did."
Why People Think Christians Are Weird
Pocket Guide to the Bible author Jason Boyett points to the recent Billy Graham Christmas Special and wonders about how they share the gospel:
“Surely somebody on Graham’s team saw the unintentional hilarity and/or ridiculousness and/or cheapening of the gospel that comes from putting this phrase on the television screen:
For a relationship with Jesus Christ: 1-800-631-7141″
He pokes fun at the wording and then finishes with the admission that Billy Graham and evangelical Christians have done good things, “but TV graphics like this one help explain why people think we’re weird.”
I think Boyett is taking it a bit far, but he does have a point.
I like Billy Graham because of the basic work he does—telling people about Jesus. That’s important, hugely important, but often some of the goofiness of Christianese slips in and it’s like they’re speaking a foreign language.
By the very nature of what the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association does there’s a tendency to focus on that single decision (Decision magazine, Hour of Decision, Decision Today, etc.), but they do talk about the rest of the Christian walk. Making that phone call is a first step. You talk with trained spiritual counselors who explain what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and how to do it. They explain the basic Christian doctrine of salvation and give you a chance to pray. They’ll offer to send you some resources to help you get started on the Christian journey.
Boyett’s criticism does have merit. It’s not like you’re suddenly going to have a relationship with Jesus from a single phone call. You might be introduced to Jesus if you’re ready for that, but you’re not long lost college buds. But that single phone call can start a relationship with Jesus, and that’s something.
Boyett also wonders about Franklin Graham’s suspicious hair, but we’ll save that for another day.
I’ll admit that I do take the criticism too far for the sake of humor, simply by taking the graphic literally. Because putting a number on the TV screen to call “for a relationship with Jesus Christ” IS kinda weird based on the simple wording of the statement. Obviously that’s not the intent of the BGEA — to reduce the Gospel to a phone number — but someone seeing it for the first time could get that impression.
I love Billy Graham, respect Franklin Graham, and appreciate that a lot of important things happen beginning with that phone call. But it sure is a funny thing to put on a TV screen.
I just found your blog through Steve Knight. It’s awesome to see all the links and news you’ve found. Keep it up!
Jason Boyett’s article is very funny. Here’s the deal, though: Suppose someone actually did take it literally, they call the number and ask for the relationship with Jesus Christ (“how much is it?”, “can you send it to my home address?” “is Jesus going to visit me on my birthday?”) So the person on the other end explains what salvation is all about and the caller makes a choice whether to accept or reject it. They’ve heard the Gospel and that’s the whole point. No problem.
The problem is when Christians are so worried about the cynics finding fuel to add to their fire that they water down truth and second-guess themselves. Too many times I find myself going down the cynical path as well. It’s easy. There’s a lot of hypocrisy, lunacy, and just plain weirdness in the Christian world that in no way represents the heart of Christ. When I focus on pointing it out, it’s always a sure sign that I’ve lost focus. Pride and self righteousness are knocking at my door again. I can’t even count how many times I’ve turned to Psalm 1 to realign myself with God’s heart. There’s nothing new under the sun.
It took quite awhile to understand what the author was talking about. I finally got it, but there’s a beautiful reason why I failed to “get it” in the first place. I don’t watch TV. I pulled the plug on cable/satellite many years ago. I’m wholly unfamiliar with any and all shows, serials, commercials, celebs, etc. So merely looking at the screen cap… it didn’t register with me. Furthermore, I do not listen to the radio. Not ever. Not for over a decade. I do not read the paper, local or otherwise, at least no out of hand. I sift and glean my info carefully, cross-referencing what I read, often spending many hours seeking for the truth of things. So you have to realize that a few of us are completely lost when it comes to silly observations such as this “800″ number thing. Just another example of how mixed up GOD has become with the world of man. It’s one of the dangers of yoking ourselves with unbelievers and their pagan ways, their foolish gadgetry and their tools of instant gratification. Hey, I ain’t knocking anybody, but Christians really need to step back away from the world. If the world finds us “weird” or unsightly, so be it. There are still plenty of souls ready and willing to be led to salvation. We should focus on them and care less about the selfish and self-seeking world at large. Christians should never worry about their self-image! Their self-image should wane as the presence of Christ waxes from within. Let the world see Jesus among us. If they wish to scoff and mock – let them.