[The following material is from O Timothy magazine, Volume 12, Issue 10, 1995. David W. Cloud, Editor. This material cannot be stored on BBS or Internet sites without permission from the author. Any articles which are redistributed by e-mail or print must be left intact and nothing must be removed or changed, including these informational headers. All rights are reserved. O Timothy is a monthly magazine. Annual subscription is US$20 FOR THE UNITED STATES. Send to Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org. FOR CANADA the subscription is $20 Canadian. Bethel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 9075, London, Ontario N6E 1V0. The Way of Life web site is http://www.wayoflife.org/]

FALWELL PRAISES GRAHAM AND DESIRES SUCCESSOR

By David W. Cloud

The October 1995 issue of the National Liberty Journal dedicated an entire page to the subject of "Passing the Torch," dealing with a possible successor to Evangelist Billy Graham. Jerry Falwell's "In My Humble Opinion" column was devoted to this subject. Incredibly, Falwell, who still claims to be an independent Fundamental Baptist in spite of the fact that he long ago departed from biblical, militant Fundamentalism, praised New Evangelical Billy Graham and called upon his readers to "pray that God will give Dr. Graham the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in passing his mantle on to God's choice." Falwell said that Graham's son Franklin, head of the ecumenical Samaritan's Purse, has the "same spiritual anointing as his father."

Falwell said:

"If Dr. Graham does declare his heart and reaches out to Franklin, every leader in the body of Christ should sound the trumpet in loud agreement. All the spiritual and financial resources that God has gathered through and because of the long and faithful ministry of Dr. Graham should eventually be channeled toward world evangelization under the ministry of God's new Elijah. The world in the 21st century desperately needs another Giant."

Does Falwell really believe that Billy Graham's ministry has been faithful to the Word of God? Apparently so. What spiritual blindness! Former BBF leaders John Rawlins and Jim Combs, who have recently joined Falwell, can no longer deny that Falwell is a New Evangelical.

Billy Graham, who accepts degrees from Catholic colleges and says the Catholic gospel is the same as his own. Billy Graham, who has turned thousands of converts over to apostate churches. Billy Graham, who thinks the Pope is a great evangelist. Billy Graham, who thinks there is special power in infant baptism. Billy Graham, who does not believe Hell is a place of literal fiery torment. Billy Graham, who invites Catholic bishops onto his platform to bless those who come forward at his invitations. Billy Graham, who praises Christ-denying Modernists. Billy Graham, who has promoted practically every perverted Bible version to appear in the last five decades. Billy Graham has had a faithful ministry? This is incredible blindness.

What silliness to compare this compromising evangelist to the bold, faithful prophet Elijah.

Interestingly, Falwell also noted in his article that Graham's grandson, William Franklin Graham IV, is a student at Liberty University.