The Rev. Franklin Graham, best known as the son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, offered to point Americans looking for real change and straight talk in the right direction.
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In this file photo, evangelist Franklin Graham speaks at a April 25-27, 2008, festival in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“America does need change. We also need some straight talk,” Graham wrote in a column posted in the Washington Post's and Newsweek's “On Faith” Web page on Friday.
But instead of pointing to a particular presidential candidate, as the campaign mottos he referenced would suggest, Graham called on American preachers to give some straight talk based on the Bible, which he assures will result in real change.
“I’d like to propose that the change we need is a change of the human heart – a moral and spiritual change. And we need some straight talk from the greatest manual on life ever written – God’s Word, the Holy Bible,” the evangelist said.
Americans are hungry for change, Graham recognized, citing economic turmoil and terrorist threats as reasons for the high level of anxiety in the nation.
During these hard times, it is easy to blame Wall Street executives, Washington lobbyist, Capitol Hill legislators or the White House for all of American problems, he wrote. But God has always diagnosed the root of all human problems with one word – sin, Graham stated.
“Sin is simply falling short of God’s standard and the Bible teaches that we have all have sinned,” the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said, “and that the penalty for sin is death.”
He continued, “How long do we think we can selectively take life, marry within our sex and have random sex apart from marriage, take what doesn’t belong to us, neglect our neighbor and the responsibility to care for His creation, and worship our money rather than the one who endowed us with the ability to make money without serious repercussions?”
American citizens are “crying out for leadership” as their trust in politicians and financial institutions wanes, the minister observes. This is a good time, he urged, for America’s pastors to “step forward” and “call a nation back” to God.
Graham pointed to the Old Testament when God gave advice to King Solomon saying, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
“So here's the kind of change I'm proposing this election season: Let's return to the God of our fathers and put our real hope in the One who made us in His image and blessed our nation far beyond anything we deserve,” said Graham, who is also the president/CEO of the Christian international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse.
The Christian minister has met privately with both presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain, but has not made any political endorsements.
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Franklin Graham is now on message. Four years ago, he was not. Four years ago he was sending out recorded messages that everyone should vote for Bush which diluted the gospel. I hope he stays on message - we don't need Republican change or Democratic change. We need God's change.
Where was this message when Pastor Wright was sounding off?
Where was this message when the election season first started?
Will this message still be proclaimed when the election season is finally over?
PRESIDENT.....WE are presiding.
SIN affects our environnememt.Hos4v3
Sin affects ...ANIMALS,BIRDS, EVEN FISH.
The new generation knows that they are playing the role of the <BELOVED >AND <PRESIDENT>.
SIN, is HARMING ourselves and our likes.
WE are outlets....LET the sweet-smelling perfume invade our planet EARTH.2Co2v15.
Presidents ,the President of presidents is coming. let us plant a tree.
THE spirit gives life.....we are outlets to spread life.2CO3v6
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.â€Â
the pastors / televangelist and the leaders of this country are people too.
Prov 17:23 a wicked man accepts bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice
Prov 29:4 by justice a KING give a country stability
but on who is GREEDY FOR BRIBE TEARS IT DOWN
Prove 29:12 - if a RULER LISTENS TO LIES, ALL HIS OFFICIALS BECOME WICKED.
if the leader of a nation is arrogant & greedy then the nation suffers. this verse is impartial. pastors point to the people ( the ordinary people ) but the president bush, televangelist like pat robertson are people too. they should be the one setting the example in humbling themselves. the ordinary people are told by authority to follow & obey. but if the leader / authority lies to the people, the the whole nation suffers.