Pastor Billy Graham, one of the most respected and influential Christian evangelists of the last 60 years, said that God gave us “moral laws” about sex “that are absolute and unchangeable,” and for those who engage in sexual immorality, God’s “wrath” will fall on them and “upon those who encourage others to indulge in immoral practices.”
“From the very beginning, God has given us moral laws governing the subject of sex that are absolute and unchangeable,” said Pastor Billy Graham in a radio broadcast that was re-published in the September issue of Decision magazine. “Nowhere does the Bible teach that sex in itself is a sin. But from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible condemns the wrong use of sex.”
“According to the Bible, morals are not relative. They are absolute,” said Pastor Graham. “There is noting in the Bible that would lead us to believe that God has ever lowered His standards. The seventh commandment says, ‘You shall not commit adultery’ (Exodus 20:14.”
“This commandment has never been revoked or changed in the slightest degree,” said the reverend. “Jesus went further and said, ‘You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28).”
AD FEEDBACK
Pastor Graham continued, “God has not changed. What was wrong from the beginning is still wrong today in God’s sight. … He is absolute.”
“And I warn you that His wrath is going to explode upon those who are immoral and upon those who encourage others to indulge in immoral practices,” said Pastor Graham.
Commenting on some of the commercial aspects of American culture in terms of sexuality, Billy Graham said, “We allow our magazine shelves to be filled with obscene literature. Our young people have very little restraint placed on them. In many universities religion is frowned on and sexual freedom is idolized.”
Speaking further about adultery, the reverend said, “Jesus hated this sin so much that He said it is the only thing that can break a sacred marriage contract.”
“The Bible teaches that this sin leads to hell,” said Pastor Graham. “In 1 Corinthians 6, the Bible says that no immoral person can inherit the kingdom of God. There are hundreds of passages that indicate the wrath of God is being stored up against those who commit such sins.”
In conclusion, Billy Graham stressed that legislation cannot cure or fix “moral degradation.”
“The truth that is often overlooked is that while we become deeply concerned and rightly take steps to curb the evil, legislation cannot work a cure in these things,” said Graham. “Many people are confident that legislation will solve our problem.”
“Our problem is deeper than that,” he said. “It is the constant problem of the individual sinner before God.”
Pastor Graham made those remarks in a 1953 radio broadcast that was published this month by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) because its topic, theme, and warning are clearly relevant to the current culture of America. In addition, as the BGEA says, “The unchanging truth of God’s Word speaks to hearts in every generation. Let it change yours.”
Billy Graham, 96, has been preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ for the last 60 years in the United States and around the world. Over the decades, his message reached an estimated 2.2 billion people through 400 preaching crusades in 185 countries on six continents. He is retired and spends most of his time at his home in Montreat, N.C.
Credit to CNS / Michael W. Chapman
No comments:
Post a Comment