Billy Graham and the fundis

Martin Marty, the well-known American religious scholar, has excerpted at his Web site an article he wrote about a Billy Graham appearance in New York in 1957, which appeared in The Christian Century 06/12/57 (quotes from Reporting on Billy Graham by Martin Marty 06/27/05).

It's a good example of the way in which Graham's ministry has always been distinguished from those of fundamentalists. Graham counts as an "evagelical". I wouldn't count him as a fundamentalist.

"Press comment ... is largely congenial to the events, ... regarding them much like very, very large Sunday morning services repeated nightly for Christians .... The rally ... is carried on in the New York that is much like Nashville, Minneapolis or Glasgow. If the crusade hopes to attract sinners that their hearts may be strangely warmed, the rally is attracting semi-saints that theirs maybe re-warmed. The song leaders, the announcers and the preacher all treated us pretty much like church people almost until the moment of the call for a decision for Christ .... Most of the congregation were not the New Yorkers of the image being prayed for .... But here is Graham's great appeal, his great success .... Now, for one night of a summer and for the summer of one-year at least, the concealed church is being revealed, the latent become patent .... There is a contagious release and exhilaration for these church people; this morning Protestants have something to talk about at work and at home. When they unite, their numbers are large enough so they can make a noise. raham is big: If he has his great weaknesses, this could be his great potential. The hunger that moves this minority of Church people may be something more than hunger for identification with size and power; it may be a judgment on us all ....

"The churches seem more than satisfied. There is in the message enough sin for the orthodox and enough palliation for the liberals, ... and there is enough Christ for both .... This leaves few critics. The rally is sufficiently popular to make dissent sound like 'sour grapes' .... The old-time infidel won't criticize; he has disappeared, finding nothing to burlesque in the new genteel happenings.

James Evans at the same site has an essay summarizing Graham's career. He gives particular attention to some ways in which Graham set himself apart from fundamentalists and the Christian Right: Billy Graham's Final Crusade Sightings 07/07/05.

Indeed, during the early days of the rise of the Moral Majority -- the early flagship venture of the Religious Right -- Graham warned of the dangers of linking faith's reputation to political parties.

But politics has always had a way of finding Graham. During the first night of this most recent crusade, Graham was introduced by former President Bill Clinton. enator Hillary Clinton was also present on the platform. After the introduction, Graham quipped that he always thought that Bill Clinton should have been an evangelist. After citing the many gifts that would allow Clinton to become a successful evangelist, Graham then said, "And Hillary could stay home and run the country."

Several conservative Christian leaders took serious offense at this remark, accusing Graham of endorsing Senator Clinton for a presidential run in 2008. That was not the only time Graham ran afoul of members from his conservative base. In an interview just prior to this most recent evangelistic campaign, Graham said he would not preach about any of the political issues important to evangelical conservatives, including abortion, homosexuality, and stem cell research. "I'm just going to preach the gospel and am not going to get off on these hot-button issues," Graham told the New York Times. "If I get on these other subjects, it divides the audience."

Evans also recalls one of Graham's least admirable moments, and what he did about it:

This desire for unity has been an important theme for Graham. Three years ago, taped conversations emerged with Graham and Nixon engaging in anti-Semitic banter in the White House. After the revelation, Graham quickly met with Jewish eaders and apologized to the Jewish community. In preparation for the present evangelistic campaign, Graham again met with Jewish leaders and pledged anew his opposition to all forms of prejudice.

Tags: billy graham, christian fundamentalism, christianity, martin marty