Eight Lessons to Learn From the Life of Billy Graham (1918-2018)
Picture credit: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
A college dropout farm boy from North Carolina finds faith, starts to preach, begins travelling the world, meets dictators, becomes a confidante to presidents, becomes a media entrepreneur, catalyses dozens of global ministries, and ends his days as the most influential and best-loved evangelist in history.
Such is the Billy Graham story.
After years of ill health, Billy Graham has died at the age of 99. Books have been written about his life and legacy. Whole countries and generations of Christian leaders have been shaped by his work. After reading his autobiography [amazon_link id=”0060633875″ target=”_blank” ]Just As I Am[/amazon_link] at a key moment in my own life, I jotted down these 8 lessons to take on board. They are eight of just so many more that could be listed.
What will you take away from Billy Graham’s life? Share your lessons in the comments below.
1. Stay True to Your Calling
Billy Graham turned down a lucrative television hosting contract. He turned down Lyndon Johnson’s offer to run for the US presidency. For a short time he was the president of a Christian college until he realised it was a diverting him from his real calling: sharing the good news of Jesus to the world. There are many good things we could be doing. When God puts his finger on what that specifically is for us, do it.
2. Take Calculated Risks
Graham accepted an historic opportunity to preach in the Soviet Union, with all the propaganda hazards it entailed. He preached in closed countries and other dangerous places. But he was no cowboy. Each opportunity was weighed carefully, prayerfully and with much consultation. And some opportunities were refused. Combine bold risk with great wisdom.
3. Be Innovative With Media
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association explored the use of radio, TV and film long before others even contemplated the idea. Graham founded or helped found quality, reputable publications like Christianity Today. Excellence was always a key value in what he produced.
4. Handle Criticism Graciously But Firmly
Graham was publically denounced by both fundamentalists and liberals alike. He would contact his detractors privately through letter, and on the rare occassions he responded publically he was gracious and fair. He didn’t hit back or demonise. But he was firm when needed. When fundamentalist preacher Bob Jones attacked his work Graham wrote a series of letters, hoping to reconcile, the final one making it clear he would need to break contact should Jones continue his hostility. That’s what happened. Be gracious with critics. And be firm when necessary.
Picture credit: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
5. Expect Betrayal if You Dabble in Politics
His friend Richard Nixon secretly taped their private conversations. Enough said.
6. Be Politically Prophetic But Astute
Graham was an early opponent of racial segregation. He judged the emerging Religious Right movement in America to be an unhealthy politico-religious mix (something many fellow evangelicals today could reflect on). Graham said he wasn’t always astute when it came to politics – sometimes he didn’t remain bipartisan. But he spoke out on many things that mattered. This is a hard one to get right, but we can learn from someone who both succeeded and made mistakes here.
7. Be Generous While Maintaining Your Convictions
Did you ever hear Billy Graham demonise another religion? Did you ever hear him waver from his belief that salvation comes through Christ alone? Graham was generous to other faiths while maintaining his convictions. Let’s do the same.
8. Pursue Integrity
The Modesto Manifesto is now famous. In it, Graham and his team outlined the key temptations they knew they would face, along with strategies to stand strong. They would commit themselves to sexual integrity, honesty in their reporting, maintain close links with churches rather than operate alone, and handle finances transparently. The manifesto helped Graham avoid the moral failure so many other successful evangelists have fallen to.
Billy Graham was honest about his missteps, especially his not being around enough for his family. Others could list further weaknesses. But we can learn a lot from this faithful man. Today’s pressures are really age-old perils in new guises. Heroes like Billy Graham can show us how to face them, and propel us to exploit our own opportunities.
Well done Mr Graham.
***
Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.
Billy Graham
Peter_g
As a pastor in a small church the tensions between staying true to my calling and doing a bit of everything have often been intense, particularly during the many years I have had to raise at least the major part of my income from employment outside the church. I appreciate Graham’s wisdom.
I will say that the temptation to spread myself too thinly may even have been increased once I was accustomed to working in other spheres. If I can lecture, if I can edit a magazine, if I can work in research and still roughly manage pastoral responsibilities, then I should be able to shoehorn in such activities sorting out the church network or fixing the leaking roof as well.
It is not really effective.
Another thing I like was his determination to keep his links with the local church. Many “roving commission” Christian workers seem to use that role as a way to avoid the scrutiny of a local congregation somewhere, and even those who didn’t plan to isolate themselves from the local church often end up without belonging to a bunch of ordinary, everyday Christians. However it happens, it is a risky situation to be in.
Thanks for the post!