Donald Trump’s evangelical hellscape
Billy Graham passed away this week at the age of 99 in his home in Montreat, NC. Upon his passing, presidents from both sides sang his praises. He was hailed by President George W. Bush as “America’s pastor,” and by Vice President Mike Pence as “one of the greatest Americans of the past century.” President Bill Clinton praised him for integrating his revivals. Russell Moore, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, called him “the most important evangelist since the Apostle Paul.”
His crusades are stuff of legend and it’s estimated that he preached to 215 million people. But two decades ago, he handed his empire over to his son Franklin. Billy Graham was an amazing evangelist and brought evangelism into modern America making the Grahams a household name. He believed that God was not a part of any political party.
The saying goes, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Where Franklin Graham is concerned, he not only fell very far, but rolled down a hill, through a steaming pile of horseshit, and stunk up the entire orchard. His father preached that God is love. He preached about faith and hope. Franklin is a political hack who preaches the fear of Muslims and hate for homosexuals.
Franklin Graham used the Bible to help Donald Trump win the white evangelical vote. He once proclaimed that Barack Obama wasn’t a Christian, but rather an undercover Muslim. Franklin seems to make no apologies for his words being no where near to the truth of scripture.
He, along with the Falwell family, have turned evangelicalism into a right-wing, hate spewing enterprise from what was once so deeply spiritual.
Billy Graham believed himself to be a sinner and asked for forgiveness on multiple occasions when he thought he said something that might do harm.
That humility and self awareness has seemed to skip right over his son.
I’m a musician and voice over artist. I’m living blue in a red state. Bless your heart.