Billy Graham: God, Freedom, America

 

 

"If God doesn't punish America, He'll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah."

Wow.

 

 

It takes a special kinda special to equate "financial collapse, Civil War and the Final Shredding of the Constitution" with God's judgement. I seem to remember something about leaving to Caesar that which is Caesar's - somehow, I don't think Matthew had the 2nd Amendment in mind with talk about turning the other cheek.

 

This, to me, is the ultimate irony.  Chuck Norris tells us that we must fear "socialism or something worse" should Obama, the democratically elected President of the United States, win a second term.  Implied somewhere in his calmly delivered rant is that a vote for Democrats is a vote against freedom.  He suggests, as have other GOP voices, that the moral fabric of the United States of America is eroding.  Unless you vote Republican, not only will America as they know it collapse but you will apparently be hastening Armageddon.  Norris' wife, Gina, points out that 30 million Evangelical Christians stayed home in 2008, with the implication being that these good Christians would have automatically voted against Obama if they'd cast their vote.

 

 

It's a bit of a syllogism, that; Democrats are freedom-hating socialists and if you vote for them, you must stand against freedom and true American values.  If you believe in godly, Christian values, the American Way and freedom, you have only one choice - vote Republican.  Let's say that again; if you want to be free, you only have one option available to you. 

 

 

This has been the Republican theme for the past four years; President Obama's agenda is dangerous and any progress on his initiatives must be stopped, for the good of the country.  Obama clearly isn't American - in his values, that is.  You can only have freedom and protect America by working against the Democrats; American values must not be left at the tender mercy of a democratically elected President.

 

 

Among the ungodly voices offering apples to the American people is Bill Clinton, twice-elected US President.  In his recent offering at the pagan alter of the DNC, he had this to say:

 

 

We Democrats think the country works better with a strong middle class, real opportunities for poor people to work their way into it and a relentless focus on the future, with business and government working together to promote growth and broadly shared prosperity. We think “we’re all in this together” is a better philosophy than “you’re on your own.”

 

 

Nothing about Republicans destroying the moral fabric of the nation; nothing about it being a sin to work with those on the other side. Clinton makes a simple case that we can accomplish more when we all commit to working together.  In fact, he talks about the great opportunities he has had to work with Republicans ranging from Reagan to Bushes 41 and 43. Partisanship, he tells us, must not get in the way of achievement. "I work with Democrats, Republicans and Independents who are focused on solving problems and seizing opportunities, not fighting each other."   He goes on to make the case as to why a vote for the Democrats isn't a vote for economic collapse:

 

 

Who’s right? Well since 1961, the Republicans have held the White House 28 years, the Democrats 24. In those 52 years, our economy produced 66 million private sector jobs. What’s the jobs score? Republicans 24 million, Democrats 42 million!

 

 

Again; Clinton doesn't suggest that Republican rule will spell the end of America or implode the economy.  He simply points to the record and makes an evidence-based case that Democratic Governments have a history of creating nearly double the number of jobs that Republicans do.  Clinton's lays out his facts told with tantric vigour and makes it clear that he's speaking from his own perspective, not from a position of divine morality.  Nowhere in his speech does he imply that the only path to freedom and prosperity lies through emulating his choices, nor does he suggest fire and brimstone await if America ignores his advice.  He opens the door; he doesn't try to force his audience through it.

 

 

Bill Clinton loves Billy Graham - an affection that stems from Graham's refusal to segregate his congregations at a time of racial tension in American history.  This unwavering commitment to a belief that we are all God's children had a profound impact on a young Bill Clinton; ‘This guy has got to be real," Clinton thought, "because he did this when he didn’t have to.’ ” Graham, for his part, loves Bill Clinton back.  There is no suggestion in this that Graham ignores the sins that many of Clinton's detractors focus on; instead, Graham seems to embody the concept of "What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job?"  A man of God, Graham is a gardener; he understands that positive growth comes from nurturing the good, not through brush fire.

 

 

Now, Graham is calling for repentance of the "American lifestyle" and asking Christians to register as Mathews for his upcoming "My hope with Billy Graham" outreach in 2013.  Much of Graham's mission seems to embrace "let he who is without sin cast the first stone," which comes from John.  So, why Mathew?  The Gospel of Matthew establishes Emmanuel (literally meaning, "God is with us") as one of Jesus' titles. One theme in the Gospel of Matthew is that faith is not the purview of a select group of faithful alone, but that the Word should be made available to everyone.  Another theme is that the mission presented by God was not tasked solely to one party, but to every disciple.

 

 

The question, then, becomes this - what is the "American lifestyle" to which is Graham referring?  The answer might not be what the flock expects.