Billy Graham Releases New Prayer Letter Expressing Concern For America

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association released a new prayer letter written by Billy Graham a couple of days ago. In this letter he expresses his grave concerns for the spiritual health and well-being of our country. I wanted to share some of this letter with you and then let you go read it in it’s entirety if you so desire. I was struck by the fact that what Billy Graham is concerned about is what the team at Taber’s Truths has been concerned about. We all in our different ways are concerned with the spiritual condition of our country especially with things like the lack of shame concerning sexual sins and the millions of babies being murdered each year. It breaks his heart and it breaks ours. So take a moment to hear what God is speaking to us through such an awesome and humble man as Billy Graham.

Billy Graham Says His Heart Breaks For America

 by Billy Graham

Some years ago, my wife, Ruth, was reading the draft of a book I was writing. When she finished a section describing the terrible downward spiral of our nation’s moral standards and the idolatry of worshiping false gods such as technology and sex, she startled me by exclaiming, “If God doesn’t punish America, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”

She was probably thinking of a passage in Ezekiel where God tells why He brought those cities to ruin. “Now this was the sin of … Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen” (Ezekiel 16:49–50, NIV).

I wonder what Ruth would think of America if she were alive today. In the years since she made that remark, millions of babies have been aborted and our nation seems largely unconcerned. Self-centered indulgence, pride, and a lack of shame over sin are now emblems of the American lifestyle.

Just a few weeks ago in a prominent city in the South, Christian chaplains who serve the police department were ordered to no longer mention the Name of Jesus in prayer. It was reported that during a recent police-sponsored event, the only person allowed to pray was someone who addressed “the being in the room.” Similar scenarios are now commonplace in towns across America. Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone—except God.

Yet the farther we get from God, the more the world spirals out of control. 

My heart aches for America and its deceived people. The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance. In Jonah’s day, Nineveh was the lone world superpower—wealthy, unconcerned, and self-centered. When the Prophet Jonah finally traveled to Nineveh and proclaimed God’s warning, people heard and repented.

I believe the same thing can happen once again, this time in our nation.

As I write, I am in the middle of a busy summer enjoying visits with many of my grandchildren and other family members, but also working hard on a new book that addresses some dangerous illusions about eternal salvation that are becoming increasingly accepted in many places. I want to point the world to what the Bible says.

Although age and health restrict my mobility and my stamina, not to mention my eyesight and hearing, I am thankful for the days God has given me, and I am humbled by His continued hand of favor on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The Lord draws people to Himself daily through BGEA’s various evangelistic ministries, and I am so deeply grateful.

May God bless you,

Billy Graham

source: http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage.asp?articleid=8813

Does your heart break for America?

My heart breaks for America. I was just talking to my mother this morning and we were talking about how much things have changed since she owned an eating establishment and it has not changed for the better. Our nation, our communities, and our families are not in good shape. As I wrote in my article about whether or not America will have another great awakening, we have to stop ignoring what is going on and start taking responsibility for it and start seeking God for things to change. So I ask you. Does your heart break for America? Do you see how bad things have gotten while we have been having our charismatic bless me parties and followed after the latest and greatest fad that tickled our fancy? Is it not time for God to move on all of our hearts and lead us back to a point that we cry over the condition of our country? I think it is!

Blessings

Pastor Duke