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As the old saying goes, some things never change.
Included in that category would have to be the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association. Billy may no longer hold the reins of that
ministry, but they are still firmly in the hands of a consummate
neo-evangelical, his son Franklin. I assume most who read this article are
familiar with Billy Graham's corrupted gospel and his spiritual
fornication with Rome. To say the least, son Franklin is no improvement in
that regard. Take, for instance, the upcoming "Rock the River"
campaign Graham and his organization have planned for this July-August.
This series of events will be held in four Mississippi River cities,
beginning in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and finishing up in St.
Paul, Minnesota. The long and the short of the story is that these events
are six-hour-plus rock concerts, with "Christian" bands of
course. Naturally there will also be a little man-centered
"gospel" preaching by Graham thrown in. Lest we forget, this
is all about reaching young people for Christ.
Organizers are reassuring the public "the music
is the message" and urging those of the older set who may not like
blaring music to bring ear plugs! But, to get to the ecumenical part of
this spiritually sordid tale, Rock the River will be quintessential Graham
corruption. Roman Catholics are deeply involved in this "evangelistic"
outreach to youth. In complete contempt for the church's Rock, Jesus
Christ, Franklin Graham's staff is working hand in hand with Roman
Catholic Church officials in each of the "Rock the River" towns
to make certain the tour is a big success--which means, simply put, that
huge crowds attend the concerts, large numbers of young people are wooed
into making false professions of faith, the cause of ecumenism is
advanced, and Franklin Graham is given good press by the very media
people who hate the Christ Graham claims to serve.
An
April 23, 2009 article in the official
newspaper of the St. Paul/Minneapolis Archdiocese confirms that Franklin
is sticking with his father's ecumenical modus operandi. Writing
in the Catholic Spirit, Archbishop John C. Nienstedt begins by
stating, "I have been contacted by representatives of the Billy
Graham Evangelistic Association, who inform me that they are sponsoring
four events this summer in cities along the Mississippi River, called Rock
the River Tour." He then goes on to give details of the events,
including that they are "aimed at junior and senior high school
students." Next, the archbishop gives an appeal for Roman
Catholics to volunteer "to counsel the youth who will be present
toward a deeper conversion of faith," i.e., the counterfeit faith of
popery.
This appeal comes with the reassurance Priest
Nienstedt was given from Franklin and Co.: "I have been
assured that there will be no attempt to proselytize young people into an
evangelical church. Each person will be encouraged to make contact
with his or her church affiliation, whether current or lapsed. . . . They
state they are not coming to take from our religious communities, but to
invest in our youth." I suppose Franklin Graham is quite proud of the
confidence Archbishop Nienstedt has vested in him. But any faithful
minister of Christ would rather die than to have a faithful son of
Rome--an archbishop no less--make such a truthful boast of him. And
remember, not only has Graham promised not to "proselytize"
Roman Catholic youth, but also he is actually incorporating Roman Catholic
counselors into these events!
In his Catholic Spirit exhortation,
the archbishop reminds his flock of the benefits of ecumenism, and of
course, he is right. Such ecumenical events are very beneficial to
Antichrist, even as they are at the same time an offense to the Lord and a
very great danger to the souls of sinners. Unlike the Apostle Paul,
Franklin Graham is anything but "pure from the blood of all men"
(Acts 20:26). Quite the contrary, he is one of those "grievous
wolves" of which the Apostle warned. He is an enemy of Christ and His
glorious gospel. He is a false teacher in league with Antichrist
in the beguiling of lost souls. There will be Christians who will now take
issue with me for being too hard on Franklin Graham. Well,
to them I say, Where is your compassion for the lost, including Roman
Catholics? And even more importantly, where is your love for Christ and
zeal for His blood-bought church? The following quote,
taken from the Internet blog of a Roman Catholic "youth
minister," really says all a true follower of Christ needs to know to
judge righteous judgment on this matter.
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"I've been meeting
and networking with some great people and ministries in the
evangelical world and it's been great. I get excited when we can
all stand behind a common vision and heart for Jesus Christ and
for teens. . . . I got an email from a Catholic youth guy who
works for the Archdiocese of St. Louis and about the Rock the
River tour the Billy Graham Association is putting on in St. Louis
in August. . . . Seems that just yesterday at their staff meeting
they got the word that Bishop Hermann was behind Rock the River
and wants the Catholic Youth Apostolate to get involved!! Praise
the Lord! . . . Pretty exciting stuff. Just goes to show you that
the Spirit is blessing a heart for unity among Christians! It's
the intention of the Spirit to bring Christians together to build
His Kingdom. Keep praying for Christian unity - God is moving in
our area and I'm sure across the country and around the
world." |
The true evangelical church ought to be up in
spiritual arms against Franklin Graham and his Rock the River Tour. However,
if things go as usual, Christian radio will promote it, local evangelical
pastors will enthusiastically embrace it, and many to whom our Lord is "a
stumblingstone and rock of offence" will express their wish that
there were more "Christians" like Franklin Graham. Meanwhile, at
best, only a tiny handful of Christians will be on hand at one or two of
the Rock the River events to protest it in the true Protestant sense and
present the true gospel of Christ. We must pray that the Lord will stir up
and strengthen those whose faith truly rests on, and in, the Rock to
take their stand for Him in this critical hour.
--Pastor Ralph Ovadal, Pilgrims Covenant
Church, Monroe, Wisconsin, www.pccmonroe.org
Sources:
Christian
music event to reach out to youth By
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, Thursday, 23 April 2009
Rock
the River Tour - evangelistic youth concert,
Tuesday, 03 March 2009
Hey
Music Fans!!! Make plans to attend Rock the River, REAP, a
division of the Catholic Youth Apostolate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis,
Spring 2009 Newsletter
Protestants
are cool., Adventures of Mighty Sheep, Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Related article: Franklin Graham: Minister of Christ or Priest of Baal?
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