Franklin Graham attacked Pete Buttigieg, a Christian Presidential candidate, on Twitter the other day for being gay. The controversial minister called for him to repent. Meanwhile Graham continues to blindly defend Donald Trump as news of his affairs with porn stars came out or the news of their cover up has come forward. This blog believes if anyone understands family values and the importance of marriage it is Pete Buttigieg.
“It’s hard to think of a single prominent American Christian who better illustrates the collapsing Evangelical public witness than Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son. His commitment to the Christian character of American public officials seems to depend largely on their partisan political identity.”
David French in the National Review
“Many have quarreled about religion that never practised it.“
Ben Franklin
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[a] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25 ESV
Franklin Graham is in the news again for his comments on the political race. In this situation he is going after Pete Buttigieg for being gay. Below is the Tweets that Franklin Graham sent out yesterday. I will explain the situation down below.
Franklin Graham on Twitter
Background of What Happened…
Pete Buttigreg opened up about his faith in a town hall on CNN on Monday night. For those of you who are not familiar with Buttigreg he is running for President as a Democrat. He is a veteran of Afghanistan and the current mayor of South Bend, Indiana. He is also openly gay and in a committed marriage to his partner. In a CNN town-hall he took a question about his faith and being gay and was asked about how he can unite conservatives, moderates and liberal Christians behind him on his platform. The mayor from South Bend spoke openly about the challenges that exist and also about why church and state should be separated. He spoke about what God meant to him. You can read more about it here.
Franklin Graham could not hold back and went after Pete Buttigreg on Twitter. He said that Buttigreg is correct God doesn’t back a political party. But he also said that God is about laws, commandments and standards. Graham also ripped into him for being gay and said that is is not something to be flaunted, praised, or politicized. He also reminded him that marriage is between a man and a woman. The comments by Graham stirred outrage and were reported by the Washington Post, Daily Beast and ABC News. Charlotte Observer , Franklin’s hometown newspaper in an editorial called out Graham and said that his behavior is out of line and that he is becoming more and more irrelevant. That belief was also complimented by an article in the National Review by David French. French writes that no other person illustrates the collapse of evangelical Christianity in the United States better than Franklin Graham. He compares and contrasts his behavior in challenging Bill Clinton with his adultery in 1998 while defending Donald Trump with his adultery today.
Franklin Graham’s Hypocrisy is Embarrassing
Franklin Graham’s behavior is part of the reason young people are abandoning the evangelical church. Graham is willing to go after someone and attack them while defending someone who has engaged in adultery. Buttigreg has remained in a relationship with one person and his been faithful to his marriage. To my knowledge Buttigreg hasn’t tried to silence affairs with porn stars like Donald Trump has done. In contrast Trump is regularly and routinely defended by Franklin Graham. I have written about this a few times already, but here are some examples. Late in 2018 when news was coming out, broken by The Wall Street Journal, that Trump had several affairs with porn stars and that it was covered up, Graham replied that it was none of the media’s business if Trump had affairs and defended him. You can read that in, “Franklin Graham is Upset that Walmart Sold “Impeach 45” T-Shirts. Plus Graham Believes that Trump’s Affairs with Porn Stars is Nobody’s Business.” Toward the end of the year Graham again spoke out and stated that Donald Trump is a strong defender of the Christian faith. You can read about that in, “Franklin Graham Says Donald Trump is a “Defender of the Christian Faith.” Plus Newsweek on Young Evangelicals Abandoning Faith Because of Politics.”
So now we have a situation that Franklin Graham is attacking another person while refusing to speak out and condemn another person’s adultery. I did some research on Stormy Daniels while writing this post. What I am about to say next is not a cheap shot at her but I want to share some of the titles from some of her movies. Some of titles include the following: Blow by Blow, Horny Co-Worker, Band Camp, Eager Beaver, I Know What You Did Last Night, and Breast Side Story. Donald Trump chose to have an affair with a porn star while his wife was recovering from giving birth if I recall correctly. In all that has transpired Graham has not once called him out. Instead he defends, defends, and defends at all costs. So let me state this, I think its safe to state that if anyone has family values it is Pete Buttigieg and not Donald Trump. David French is right in his National Review article. Graham has become a symbol of how corrupt evangelical Christianity can become. And the fact that many churches still use Graham’s programs and stay silent on this issue appalls me. In many ways I am learning much about evangelicalism and how corrupt it is in observing and watching Franklin Graham. I had a lot of respect for Billy Graham and admired him but I really have none when it comes to Franklin Graham.
Wondering Eagle 
Wow…I agree with Frankie boy. Gay and Christian don’t mix. Either one, or the other, but can’t have your cake and eat it too.
So you want Graham to condemn adultery? Do Christians sin? Of course they do. We are not sinless!
But here is the difference between Trump and Buttlicker. Adultery is between Trump and his wife, not the American people. It’s NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS what Trump may, or may not have done with a porn star.
ON that same note, it’s NONE OF OUR BUSINESS about the SEX LIFE of gay people, either.
However…
Homosexuality is being FLAUNTED as if it’s a good thing, giving rise that this is morally right, and that Jesus ACCEPTS this behavior as a GOOD THING.
Huge difference between Trump and BUTTLICKER. Adultery is a sin, and we all know that. But there is forgiveness for sins.
Homosexuality is also a sin…Buttlicker doesn’t seem to think so. Calling a flaunting homo a Chiristian does not COMPUTE. There is NO SUCH THING.
Ed Chapman
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“Buttlicker”?
Really?
I know “Buttagieg” is a silly-looking name, but what grade-school playground did you come from? (You should have heard what they called me because of my only-vaguely-silly family name. And the ER surgeon who saved my life 12 years ago had a fairly obvious one — “Mule”, pronounced French-style as “moo-lay”.)
Or is this the Holy Spirit speaking through you in the voice of a second-grade schoolyard?
(Oh, and the word is “Cocksucker”, not “Buttlicker”.)
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HUG,
It’s not grade school anything. It’s what we used to call “STAND UP COMIC” stuff…you know, the stuff that USED to be allowed before political correctness, that people used to legally be able to laugh at, before different classes of people began being offended? I used to love going to the Seattle Comedy Underground in the late 80’s, early 90’s. I used to go to the famous comedy clubs in San Francisco when my ship would pull into Treasure Island. Gay jokes were actually funny back then…especially in San Francisco.
However, ya, your last sentence is ALSO correct, as well.
Ed Chapman
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Wondering states:
“This blog believes if anyone understands family values and the importance of marriage it is Pete Buttigieg. ”
My response:
Family, huh? Can you tell me how sperm can fertilize a turd, and out pops a FAMILY?
Ben Franklin once wrote:
“Industry and constant Employment are great Preservatives of the Morals and Virtue of a Nation. Hence bad Examples to Youth are more rare in America, which must be a comfortable Consideration to Parents. To this may be truly added, that serious Religion under its various Denominations, is not only tolerated but respected and practised. Atheism is unknown there, Infidelity rare & secret, so that Persons may live to a great Age in that Country without having their Piety shock’d by meeting with either an Atheist or an Infidel. And the Divine Being seems to have manifested his Approbation of the mutual Forbearance and Kindness with which the different Sects treat each other, by the remarkable Prosperity with which he has been pleased to favour the whole Country.”
The above shows that INFIDELITY is SECRET, so that NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT.
Why do we have to know the sexual orientation of ANYONE? We need to build more closets!
Ed Chapman
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Romans 1:27-28 King James Version (KJV)
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
NOTE: The word “NATURAL”, “UNSEEMLY”, “ERROR”, “MEN WITH MEN”, “REPROBATE”.
I know Christians that have committed adultery. They are generally SORRY for doing that. They know it’s wrong. But, for a gay guy to tell people that it is right?
I will take the position of Franklin Graham, so as to tell Christians that gay people don’t make it to heaven.
There is no such thing as a gay Christian. There is, however, people who are Christians that STRUGGLE with sin, and do sin, such as Trump, and me, and you, but we KNOW that adultery is a sin. This Buttlicker dude doesn’t think that it is a sin to PRACTICE homosexuality.
Huge difference between Trump, and Buttlicker. YUGE.
Family values? YOU ARE FUNNY, WONDERING. Where do we get our FAMILY VALUES from? A gay guy? I’ll take the adulterer any day of the week, and twice on Sunday, cuz he’s produced RESULTS, a sinner, SAVED BY GRACE, than a sinner who dictates to God that God has to accept him for WHO HE IS, telling people that God made him that way.
Ed Chapman
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HOMOSEXUALITY(TM).
Along with Abortion and Evolution, the New Trinity of Christless preaching.
HOMOSEXUALITY(TM).
Ever wonder if Fred Phelps’ REAL sin was being too open & direct instead of using Proper Code Words?
HOMOSEXUALITY(TM).
Just the word disconnects every neuron above the Christianese brainstem and waves a bright red murder flag in front of what’s left.
“Even the mention of the word is sufficient to induce…PANIC.”
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Yup HUG!!
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For me, the key issue here with Graham is one of inconsistency which ultimately serves to reveal his true values, what he believes is truly important.
Graham holds to a particular set of convictions concerning sexual immorality based upon his understanding of the Bible. He is not alone in this, and he is well within his rights to do so. He is one of many who say these are clear-cut black-and-white issues. Again, he is well within his rights to do so and to make that argument. But then what happens is that he (and others) selectively applies this set of convictions based entirely upon the political (or personal) affiliation of who he is evaluating. If it is someone on his “team,” then he claims issues of what he has characterized elsewhere as immorality are no big deal, just a private matter between the person and their family, certainly not a factor to take into consideration when resolving to politically or personally support the individual. He totally excuses the behavior and continues to exalt and praise the individual. If, however, it is someone on the other “team,” then he claims issues of what he has characterized as immorality are essential and of utmost importance and automatically disqualifying in nature, and say they render the person unfit for office or service. His level of condemnation and outrage is entirely dependent on who he happens to be talking about at the moment, and whether that person is an ally or an opponent.
Ultimately what he is saying is that he holds these strong convictions, forged in steel from his understanding of the Bible, but he will selectively apply them based on an individual’s political affiliation or his own relationship with that individual, and how much that individual will benefit him. In doing so, he undermines the entire force of his own arguments. He is selective in the application of his “strong convictions,” which ultimately reveals that rather than clear-cut black-and-white convictions, they are instead subservient to his own personal desires in advancing those with whom he is allied, and condemning those with whom he has disagreement. People with open eyes can see this. It is clear inconsistency which validates the charge of hypocrisy.
In that way, it is just another instance of pastors or leaders who have one set of non-negotiable rules for everyone else, but a whole host of loopholes and exceptions for themselves and their allies.
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Wise words Dave. I read John Fea posted on David French’s article as well. Graham’s response to these issues are harder and harder to ignore. Maybe we’re watching the death spiril of evangelicalism today.
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Yes, I had previously read David French’s article, and also saw John Fea’s recent post highlighting it. French is both staunchly conservative and a Biblical traditionalist; he fully agrees with Graham’s understanding on morality, but he aptly points out that Graham is being inconsistent in when and where he chooses to take stands on it or not take stands on it. A quote from his piece: “Evangelicals can never take a purely transactional approach to politics. We are never divorced from our transcendent purpose, which always trumps political expediency.” From within evangelicalism, he calls out Graham’s “double standard” of excusing or condemning immorality based on the political affiliation of the individual in question.
I do not think that evangelicalism is in a death spiral, but I do believe that inconsistencies/hypocrisies such as these, which seem inevitable when the church changes its focus from the gospel to partisan politics, are severely damaging the witness of the church and will do lasting damage for years to come. And I believe that judgment will rightfully come upon the church because of it. The gospel is (to repeat French’s term) a transcendent purpose and message, and politics is an inherently earthly enterprise. When the church immerses itself in this enterprise and embeds itself within partisan politics, it is no longer salt and light to the world. Rather, it has simply become the world.
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I think that the death of evangelicalism is what you earnestly pray for. You are not a fan of the Christian God.
1 John 3:4 … sin is the transgression of the law.
Romans 3:20 … the law is the knowledge of sin.
I’m not understanding your education that states that there is such a thing as an actively practicing homosexual Christian, adding that this is the kind of person that can teach moral family values. How is that possible? Does not compute.
Still on that Trump hating bandwagon, huh?
Ed Chapman
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Ed I just look at the problems. Why is being gay an issue and sinful and having multiple affairs and bribing a porn star into silence okay.
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Wondering,
I think I already covered why being gay is an issue, as well as being sinful.
I think I already covered the multiple affairs thing.
Are you saying that you have NEVER MET a CHRISTIAN that is DIVORCED and REMARRIED thru THEIR OWN FAULT OF PLAYING HANKY PANKY WITH SOMEONE ELSE? You’ve live a pretty sheltered life if you haven’t.
But let’s also ADMIT that we REALLY DON’T KNOW if Trump had sex with a porn star or not. It’s all speculation, rumors, and gossip. And, the bible has something to say about busybodies sticking their noses in other people’s business, too. In other words, IT’S NONE OF YOURS AND MINES BUSINESS.
Many people have FALSELY accused Trump of many things…RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA.
And no, Trump never admitted to grabbing anyone’s P either. He told a fish story, that’s all. But you guys all FALSELY CLAIM that he admitted to ASSAULTING women. Grow Up, man. Serious.
I’m just kinda wondering why you are OH SO CONCERNED about the sex life of Trump. You must be jealous of him, or something. He must be getting more P than you are. MAYBE YOU NEED TO GET A PORN STAR! Or at least go to a strip club!
The difference between Trump and Buttlicker is that God does NOT forgive the sins of an unrepentant sinner, especially one who tells God that his laws are outdated, such as Buttlicker.
Do you really think that God is all about flaunting sin, OR do you think that God wants people to REPENT?
I’m not getting you, in that you basically ask, “What’s the big deal?”. Well, let me tell you what the big deal is…BUTTLICKER DOES NOT THINK THAT WHAT HE IS DOING IS A SIN. He calls himself a Christian.
And all we know about Trump is that he’s ACCUSED of things, which are not necessarily true. But, people LOVE GOSSIP! Russia, Russia, Russia!
I don’t believe for a minute that Trump had an affair with a porn star. But, if that’s what YOU want to believe…
Ed Chapman
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“Remember Internet Monk’s ‘The Coming Evangelical Collapse’?
Well, this is it.”
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Because Trump is LOOOOOORD! and a GOD Can Do No Wrong!
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The Bible is an expansive book which covers a lot of ground and a lot of subject matter. I often find it revealing which particular subject matter individual Christians choose to focus on. I will simply observe that many people choose to focus on only those particular portions which allow them to point the fingers at other people. If we come away from reading the Bible with the attitude of the Pharisee in Jesus’ story, who self-righteously prayed saying, “God, I thank You that I am not like other people,” then we have really missed the big picture. I’m certainly not arguing for whitewashing what is said in the Bible. Rather, I’m arguing for looking at the totality of it and allowing that to form the basis for properly seeing and evaluating not only others, but ourselves first and foremost.
And allowing politics to serve as the lens through which we filter and view everything is especially counterproductive to that end. Politics divides everything into teams/tribes of Us and Them, and makes Us out to be the good guys and Them to be the bad guys. The idolization of those on “Our” side and the demonization of those on “Their” side takes us so far away from the gospel message. Just a glance around the world makes it clear that the fruits of this mindset are self-righteous pride and hatred.
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