Quote:
Originally Posted by leastofthese
Hey E,
Go find the billygrahamministrydiscussions.com forum and chat with others that have been insulted and assaulted by Graham's work. I'm sure there is a section in that forum that talks about his illegal financial transactions (maybe they even have a taped phone convo), the section for false teaching, his failed attempt to start a his own sect, and don't forget the section that talks about Graham's corrupt children that ran the business office.
I, for one, have no interest in learning anything about Graham's kids.
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leastofthese,
Should you decide to learn something about BG's children and grandchildren, you would learn that they had their failures in life, as most people do. They did not hide their failures. Of course, if it's truly hidden, we wouldn't know about it, but there were public divorces among the children and grandchildren. There were spousal extramarital affairs and remarriages. The children were open and honest about these events, and their turn to God for help in time of need. They began to minister to others who were in the same situation they were in to assure them that there was "life after" and that the only answer was, as their grandfather taught, a personal relationship with Jesus.
One grandson (Tullian Tchividjian (pronounced TUHL-ee-uhn cha-VI-jin)) was particularly troubled with extramarital affairs and depression. He also found the Lord in the depths of his depression but still struggles today. Another grandson, Basyle "Boz" Tchividjian formed an association to assist evangelical groups in confronting sexual abuse, particularly child sexual abuse, within their organizations. Tchividjian is also a law professor at Liberty University, who formerly worked as a prosecutor on sexual abuse cases
I found no instance of Billy Graham trying to cover the sins and failures of his children or grandchildren. He didn't "shoot the messenger." He didn't punish those who may have disappointed him.
In fact, his message never changed. He truly understood that the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ did not belong to Billy Graham, but to God and his son Jesus. BG didn't spin the gospel into a ministry for his own personal empire.
He lived the life and continued to be a rock for his family. Living the Christian life often comes down to how you handle your own personal failures and sins. The Graham Family was no exception. They were just like us, striving to find Jesus and not live by our own human frailty without him. Their lives are not defined by their failures, but by the saving grace and forgiveness of Jesus. May we all live that life that Jesus died that we may live.
Nell