The half-century legacy of Billy Graham

Last week, evangelist Billy Graham announced he was declining an

invitation to speak in London later this year. The decision meant

that last month’s crusade in New York City was the final one in his

career. For nearly 50 years, the North Carolina native has been one

of the most well regarded figures in Christianity, holding crusades

around the world and cultivating friendships with a long line of

American presidents. What is Graham’s greatest legacy?

The reflexive and initial Jewish response to the ministry of Billy

Graham is a product of his utterances as revealed on the Nixon tapes.

In a conversation with the president, Graham echoed ancient

prejudices and uttered unconscionable canards. He identified the

Jewish “stranglehold” on the American media, one that had to be

broken or else our country would “go down the drain.”

When confronted with the statements, Graham quickly apologized and

said, “Throughout my ministry, I have sought to build bridges between

Christians and Jews. I will continue to strongly support all future

efforts to advance understanding and mutual respect between our

communities.” He beseeched forgiveness “on my hands and knees.”

Although this incident must be noted, it ought not overwhelm the

perception we have of this towering religious figure. I prefer to

accept his mea culpa and look beyond those regrettable words.

Graham’s public deeds in the arena of interreligious concord won

numerous accolades from Jewish organizations over the years, and he

repeatedly affirmed that God had a special relationship with the

Jewish people, as taught by Paul in the Book of Romans. His support

for Israel was passionate, his assistance to Soviet Jews was

praiseworthy, and his understanding of Judaism was positive.

He was critical of the missionary excesses of his own denomination

when evangelists singled out Jews as targets for their coercive

efforts and he conducted a lifelong search for common ground.

We cannot know how “America’s Pastor” will be judged by history. I

can only say that his legacy to me is of a man who forthrightly

condemned statements that emerged from his own mouth, who spoke to

the Jewish people of his great pain over ever giving voice to such

lies, who offered sincere repentance, and who begged for mercy. He

would be the first to affirm that there is no one who sins not, a

notion affirmed in Jewish thought.

A life should not be judged by its exceptional moments, but rather

in its constancies. Graham’s steady and consistent affirmations of

human brotherhood, in word and deed, in private and in the pulpit,

shouldn’t be eclipsed by his Oval Office comments.

Here is a man I will always consider to be a champion of concord

and inclusiveness in his relations with people of diverse faiths and

who fought throughout his career for truths long cherished by

Judaism.

When evaluating others, we often and lamentably tend to focus on a

negative that crowds out the blessed and the worthwhile. I often show

my students a white piece of paper on which I have placed a black

dot. I ask them what they see, and they tend to zero in on the speck.

I respond, “Here is all of this whiteness. It dominates the spot

and yet you magnify what is dark. Should you not have responded to

the greater rather than the lesser?”

No life is free of dark spots, but our lives are essentially good

and giving.

So it is with the legacy of Billy Graham: The pages of his book of

life are, as for all of us, blemished by “black dots,” but it is the

light of his life, and the light to which he pointed, that will

ultimately prevail.

RABBI MARK S. MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

Americans are deeply religious, with serious belief in a loving

God who demands responsible commitment to our relationship with him

or her.

Billy Graham’s rise to prominence in the 1950s coincided with our

country’s shift toward a more visible faith, meant to serve as an

antidote to godless communism, according to Robert Wuthnow, director

of the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University.

Graham’s sterling personal attributes, emphasis on personal

conversion and traditional religious authorities, and avoidance of

divisive political issues have endeared him to many across barriers

that separate others in American life. And he has offered the world

images of America that confront negative stereotypes about us.

Graham is God’s person. He has remained humble while achieving

great success, and St. Augustine said that the three attributes

essential for good religion are humility, humility and humility.

Graham has publicly acknowledged his own weakness and sinfulness; for

example, by apologizing for derogatory remarks about Jews made at the

Nixon White House. His reputation has suffered, and he has

undoubtedly endured extreme embarrassment.

I have always admired him, particularly when he has been

vulnerable.

I first saw Graham when I was a longhaired, full-bearded student

at Berkeley. My long and straight blond-haired girlfriend and I got

to the Greek Theater early and had front-row-center seats. We must

have looked like a typical Berkeley couple that would be unlikely to

admire Graham, but we did, and there we were.

My parents telephoned me that evening to say that they had seen

Graham’s witness at Berkeley on television network news, which had

zoomed in on that Beserkeley couple directly in front of him as we

demonstrated our favorable response to his words and presence.

Graham has done his best to help America be “God fearing.” His

greatest legacy would be a God-loving America!

(THE VERY REV’D CANON) PETER D. HAYNES

Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar

I have never seen Billy Graham speak on TV, attended one of his

events or read his books.

Two things impressed me when I Googled his name. First, he has

probably preached to more people during his lifetime than any other

individual in the world, perhaps because of his long ministry, the

success of his public events and his use of media. Secondly, he has

appeared in the Gallup “most admired” list more times than anyone

else (43 times from 1948 to 2000).

About his mission, he has said, “My one purpose in life is to help

people find a personal relationship with God, which I believe comes

through knowing Christ.”

He has been able to speak to Christians beyond denominational

divisions, and has earned wide appeal and credibility.

Though Graham is considered America’s Protestant chaplain, there

have been several Protestants who have been influential in my life. I

like Robert Schuller’s creativity in presenting the Christian message

and his integration of psychology. His autobiography, “My Journey,”

is an inspiring story of faith, hard work and perseverance. Dorothee

Soelle is a Lutheran theologian, whose classic work, “Beyond Mere

Obedience,” examines the role religious organizations may play in

teaching blind obedience to authority rather than development of

conscience.

Paul Tillich’s “Dynamics of Faith” was a groundbreaking book,

which identified faith as a universal aspect within every human

being, because each person has some “ultimate concern” that he or she

is expressing through action. Tillich was ordained in the Evangelical

Church of Prussia, and taught at Union Theological Seminary and

Harvard after World War II.

Schuller is a preacher, but Soelle was also a university and

seminary teacher.

The Buddha’s first teaching was to five fellow-seekers in Deer

Park in Paranasi, India. He taught for 45 more years and died at the

age of 80. Although it is hard to imagine him at a crusade or

festival, he did travel around teaching those who were interested.

Modern Buddhist teachers, such as Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama,

do attract large audiences for their lectures, and they publish

extensively.

Though I have not found the evangelical preachers and revivalists

attractive, people seem to benefit from events that allow them to

sample the teachings of a spiritual leader and tradition, whether

Graham or someone else. What is important is the follow-up after the

mega-event (Graham calls them crusades, but his son, Franklin, calls

them festivals).

For most people, ongoing involvement with their local faith

community provides the best resource.

REV. DR. DEBORAH

BARRETT

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa

As I think through the long list of accomplishments of Billy

Graham, I have personally been affected by one issue ... his

character.

Through the years of his very public ministry, many naysayers and

enemies have burrowed deep into his private life, trying to discover

some sin that would topple the popular preacher. Graham has made many

mistakes, but a mistake is far different from a character flaw.

A reporter once asked Graham’s wife whether she had ever thought

of divorcing her husband. Her response was quick, “Divorce, never.

Murder, several times.”

Her humorous answer reminds us that no one ever claimed he hasn’t

made mistakes. We all make mistakes, but a character flaw is

something that is ingrained in your personality.

Historically, the word “integrity” comes from the process of

making ceramics. After a piece of ceramic was baked, it was inspected

for cracks. If it had none, it was found to have integrity.

It is obvious that as an individual and as the leader of a global

organization, he exemplifies integrity. No cracks have yet to be

revealed in his efforts to walk a life of credibility as a follower

of Jesus.

As a Bible school student, I found out that, as a common practice,

he always had an associate walk into hotel rooms before he enters, so

that he could not be set up by enemies. He realized that even our

best efforts could be ruined by others.

Graham believes his Bible when it says that we not only wage an

internal battle for integrity, but an external one as well.

As I began to speak and travel, I decided that for accountability,

I would always travel with a friend or family member. It’s not always

convenient, and it is always more expensive, but character is worth

the price.

As so many others have so publicly exploded in the testing lights

of fame, Graham has lived as an example to all of us. Anyone can live

a life of integrity, even under such amazing scrutiny and with so

much temptation at your fingertips.

Thank you, Billy Graham.

SENIOR ASSOCIATE PASTOR RIC OLSEN

Harbor Trinity

Costa Mesa

Billy Graham is an American icon blessed with great communication

skills and the ability to make his ideas clear and easy to

understand. It’s obvious that he believes in what he says and that

his message has influenced millions of followers. His legacy is

symbolized by the great respect of the many leaders he has prayed

with and counseled.

While I do not share his theology, I do share is love of humanity

and admire how gracious he is in responding to the need to love and

care for all. His presence has uplifted and helped many to forgive

and redirect their lives in a positive way. His style of preaching is

emblematic of a unique approach that can truly be called American.

SENIOR PASTOR JAMES TURRELL

Center for Spiritual Discovery

Costa Mesa