Wednesday, June 15, 2016

A letter to Franklin Graham: Saying hard stuff...with love

Dear Franklin,
Tomorrow June 16, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. we plan to join you at:
Decision America Tour 2016
Capitol Lower Mall,
75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155


I appreciate your recent facebook post to the president that went something like this:

"Mr. President, I read in the The New York Times today where you reportedly blasted Donald J. Trump for wanting to tighten the borders and accused him of painting a whole religion as violent.
A Muslim can murder 49 innocent people in a gay club, and you still defend the religion of Islam.
But a Christian who refuses to bake a homosexual’s wedding cake endures prosecution, financial ruin, and nation-wide shaming because of their faith, and you stay silent!
What Omar Mateen did was following the teachings of the Koran.
It is incomprehensible that you will not acknowledge the dangers of Islam’s teachings in order to protect the American people under your watch."
---~---
Thank you for your frankness, Frank. Sorry…frankly, I couldn't help myself. 
Okay, seriously, thank you for not hiding behind political correctness or fearing the critic’s slander. 
When it comes to speaking the Truth and doing right, considering consequences causes confusion.
You speak the Truth in love. Period. For that, thank you.
Trouble is: he doesn't have any ears—as in Jesus' words "to him who has ears let him hear." He's as deaf as you'd be if the KKK started burning crosses on the white house lawn and you were told to denounce Christianity because of it.
He and muslims are deceived and ignorant about what their religion stands for—like Ali trying to box his way into heaven—like the multitude that calls themselves Christians but live any old way they please, have no relationship with Christ and couldn’t care less about His Word or what it says.  
In our zeal we mustn’t compare Christianity to Islam as if apples to apples. Islam is religion; a demonically inspired antichrist religion. This is obvious to those who’ve been in and out of the religion. God hates religion. Christianity is not a religion it is a relationship, as you well know.
So, keeping that in mind, let’s continue to call an ace an ace and a spade a spade and if you want, even say things like Jesus:  Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”
But we can’t stop there. We must include the words that followed His scathing rebuke…
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…”
Jesus wraps up His remarks with a heartfelt plea like a mother gathering her children in a big warm downy feathered hug. 
I think He must’ve paused, I think He scanned the crowd to see if they’d take a step toward Him; if anyone bowed their head to wipe away a tear. Perhaps He waited, searching, for. just. one. to look His way and nod.
Alas, He saw no one.
(I think He’s still looking…will He see any?)
Can’t you just hear the quiver in His voice, see the tremble in His outstretched hand and the sorrow pooling in His eyes, as He continues in a whisper, “…but you were not willing. See, your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ” (Matthew 23)
For every rebuke, let’s not forget His example, and extend our hearts and hands to offer a blessing in love. Because, His love, never fails.
You are correct; it is incomprehensible that the president will not acknowledge the dangers of Islam’s teachings…but he can’t because he doesn’t know.  Even if he did, that alone would not protect the American people as you and your father have said so well, our only hope is in Christ. 
Someday every jot and tittle will be fulfilled. Perhaps those in power are there for such a time as this, to usher in The Day of the Lord, when we can say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
One of Jesus’ final prayers as He walked this earth remains to be fulfilled.  In John 17, He prayed for believers “…that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us…that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
We (Christians) are sick, disjointed; like sheep without a shepherd. The proof spreads from our inability to choose a Godly leader in the white house to our own house where divorce and abortion rates mirrors that of the world. It’s time for His prayer to be answered. We need this prayer fulfilled.
You, son of Billy Graham, carry the mantel of your father. You can unite. I lift your hands in prayer as you carry the torch…lead the way.
Prayerfully yours,
Doug


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