Franklin Graham continues to shill for the President, who gave him 125,000 reasons to do so...

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For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. -- 2Corinthians 2: 17 (ESV)

Within the carnal world, reasonable people can disagree about the recent controversy surrounding the Executive Order to ban Muslims from this country. By the way, that is exactly what it is no matter how you try to twist and contort yourself into a pretzel over it. The ironic thing is if the cause was so righteous you wouldn't see so many trying to excuse it away. These of course are worldly considerations. This is the delicate balance between protecting the country and the spirit of the country and what we are supposed to stand for. As believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ however, we must always remember that our citizenships is in heaven. We do not have dual citizenship beloved. Our loyalties are not split. Thus when things like this happen we are to view things through the lens of the Gospel; not through the carnal lens of this world or our favored political party.

Now, I understand this is often not an easy task. We are taught so poorly these days. The majority of American churches have adopted the purpose driven paradigm that shifts us directly into the world to the point the church cannot be differentiated from the world any longer. It behaves like the world. It embraces the world. It is the world. So it is no wonder that when something so politically charged as this comes along, Christians think it is somehow appropriate as believers to respond carnally. It is not. Secondly, there are a great many in so called "leadership" within Christianity that worship this country before God. In many ways this country is their god. The Bible has a word for that and it is called idolatry. They constantly blur the lines to confuse believers. For example the Bible does say that we are to pray for leaders but that is not an entre'e into the politics of this world. The ending of the verse says we do so that we might live peaceful lives in all godliness because God wants all to be saved. It always comes back to the Gospel. There are major branches within American Christianity that espouse what is known as the Seven Mountains mandate. This teaching says the church must conquer the seven cultural mountains to facilitate the second coming of Christ. One of those mountains is government, so they use this to excuse their carnal politics. This of course is rank heresy.

With this backdrop and within the paradigm of Christo-politics, we see many "Christian" leaders selling out the Gospel for thirty pieces of political silver. In fairness to them I will assume they think they are serving the interest of Christ but employing Machiavellian philosophy is not good theology. God does not believe that the ends justify the means. In fact, any fair reading of the Bible revels that God is in control of the ends and we are to focus on the means. One such leader is the well esteemed Franklin Graham, who has always seemed more of a political operative than a reverend. Over the past few years however certain things have come to light that reveal Graham is completely compromised and has sold out the Gospel. Too harsh? Consider that today Graham is one of the staunchest defenders of the new President, no matter how unchristian his behavior has been. It was Graham that paved the way for Trump to cozy up to evangelical leaders in this country as he needed some Christian street cred after decades of being an obvious Democrat. Now granted, Graham has always tried to religiously couch this and even hide his gushing support but it has been and remains obvious. Why?

Perhaps it was the $125,000 the Trump Foundation gave to the two non-profits Graham operates?

That's right beloved. In 2012, when Trump was greasing the wheels for his 2016 run, he paid off Franklin Graham and suddenly Graham was a supporter. This is the true pay for play we have heard so much about. Trump needed Graham. He could not get into the good graces of the Evangelical leadership and he needed them desperately to have any chance of winning the White House. Now, before anyone starts to dismiss this because after all Graham is just a tireless servant for Samaritan's Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association you should be aware of another fact:

Franklin Graham earns $880,000 per year in salaries from those two organizations.

Now maybe that does not bother you but it certainly should. When someone earns that much running a non-profit, the only way they justify it is by bringing in more money than their salary per year. How much more does Graham stand to make now that he is in bed with President Trump as well? How do we know these facts beloved? Because as a non-profit the salaries of executives must be released when taxes are filed. This is why Franklin just petitioned to have both of these non-profits reclassified as an "Association of Churches." Except they are not of course an association of churches. Because they are lax in these laws, he will get approved and the result? He will not have to let anyone know is salaries again! How Christian.

This brings us full circle back to the recent Executive Order from the new president banning Muslims from seven countries. Make no mistake about it beloved. This order is unchristian. It goes against the Bible, The Great Commission and very heart of God. That does not mean that as a sovereign nation, America does not have the right to do what she feels is in her best interests. Those are carnal considerations though; not Christian considerations. As citizens of heaven our duty and responsibility is to the Gospel, not the Constitution. Now as I have said, Graham and compromised Christian leaders such as him, might genuinely think they are doing the will of God by being so deceptive and the $125K? Well that is just going to needy Christian causes right? God doesn't care how we get there does He? Of course He does! So Graham took pen to paper again this weekend to rally the troops behind his new master. Let us reason together and parse out what he is actually saying:

"Some people have forgotten that the priority of the President of the United States is protecting the Constitution and the safety of Americans." -- Franklin Graham

Now the carnal arguments can be debated because many would say that he is not protecting the constitution but violating it. So far he has lost the first four legal challenges offered against this order. That is not for our consideration as Christians however. Why is someone who claims to be a Christian leader espousing carnal defenses of this? It seems as if some Christian leaders have forgotten that their priority is to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"That's exactly what President Trump is trying to do." -- Franklin Graham

Really? How do you know this? Because he says so? Because he sounds sincere? What does the Bible say about the sincerity of the human heart Franklin? How deceptively wicked is the human heart? Once again however, why is an alleged Christian leader defending the motives of an Executive Order? Why is he trying so hard to defend the president that donated $125,000 to him? How much more does he stand to make under a Trump Administration? Graham continued:

"I think that a thorough vetting process really needs to apply to people coming into the US from all countries -- not just seven. We have to be sure that the philosophies of those entering our country are compatible with our Constitution. If a person does not agree with our principles of freedom, democracy and liberty, which we cherish, they should not be allowed to come. Without question, Sharia Law is not compatible." -- Franklin Graham.

On the purely carnal side Graham is wrong. There already is a rigorous vetting process for entry into this country, fear mongering aside. Once again however, we are not here to argue to carnal arguments. That is for the world to decide. We are here to represent Jesus Christ, His Gospel, and to bring glory to the Father. How in the world is any of that accomplished in this absurd statement? Franklin Graham thinks if someone has a different philosophy they should not be allowed into the country? Is the Gospel exclusive beloved? Pretty much everyone we need to reach with the Gospel has a different philosophy. And please stop with the boogeyman of Sharia Law, which most Muslims do not even practice. It could never be implemented in this country BECAUSE of our Constitution. This is the danger however when you start to parse out a purely carnal statement. You get sucked into carnal arguments. Franklin Graham sounds like a spokesperson for the administration instead of a preacher of the Gospel.

"Some are also criticizing Christians who support the president's position on immigration -- and I'm one of those being criticized. But we have to realize that the president's job is not the same as the church." -- Franklin Graham

The criticism is well founded and biblically based. From Job, through the establishment of Israel, right on through the New Testament, God makes it undeniably clear how He feels about helping the least in society, including the foreigner and sojourner. God actually reminds us that we are sojourners too! That is the point beloved. When you properly see yourself as merely passing through this world, how can you not have empathy for those passing through as well? And why? Because some might be bad players? Have we no faith in the God we serve? What Franklin Graham fails to see is that he is being criticized because his position is entirely unbiblical and his defense is merely carnal. Oh, and he benefitted greatly and personally for his support.

The sadly ironic part here is that he does not realize how he convicts himself by correctly pointing out that the role of the president is different than the role of the church. Amen and hallelujah! That is the entire point. Reasonable people again can debate in the world about the wisdom of this policy but the church should have absolutely nothing to do with it. But look at how exposed Graham is here. He does not even see how he is compromised. His insistence in this article and previous statements is to defend the president instead of taking the position the church is supposed to take. That is the problem beloved.

"As Christians we are clearly taught in the Bible to care for the poor and oppressed. At Samaritan's Purse, we have been working in the Middle East for over 30 years. We've provided things like food, heaters, blankets, coats, shelter plastic, and more for tens of thousands of refugees there and in other places around the world." -- Franklin Graham

Graham keeps convicting himself. Yes Franklin we are to care for the poor and oppressed. That is entirely why this ban is unchristian! It does not matter how great a job your nonprofit, excuse me I meant your association of churches, has done over the years. It is all of our responsibility even if we do not earn a ridiculous salary in return for our efforts. I am glad that Samaritan's Purse has helped but I do not see that as an excuse why we do not need to care about the marginalized anymore.

"As Christians we are commanded to help all, regardless of religious background or ethnicity, like the Good Samaritan Jesus shared about in the Bible. Our job is to show compassion. I believe the best way to help is to reach out and help these people in their own countries." -- Franklin Graham

How profoundly sad that Franklin Graham is so compromised that he cannot even tell that he is the priest in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He is the one that finds any reason to oppose helping them. He wraps it up in religiosity, just like the priest did. It is quite telling that he would reference this parable because it is biblical proof he is wrong.

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise." -- Luke 10: 30-37 (ESV)

There is even more irony in that the reason Jesus tells this parable is that someone was trying to justify themselves, just like Franklin Graham is doing. The Samaritan is chosen as the anti-hero because Samaritans were reviled by the Jewish people, much the same way Muslims are reviled today by many Americans. The man that fell among robbers can be anyone in need. People on the outside of salvation looking in. People who have been assaulted by this world. People who need the compassion of Christ and the Gospel that can save them. The priest represents leadership in religion, as does Graham. The priest had solid, pious reasons to not help this man. If he did he would be made unclean. Franklin thinks he has solid, pious sounding reasons for not helping as well. Look at all the help I have done over the past 30 years! These people are better helped in their own country!

Says no biblical text anywhere.

How sad is it that most of the people who are standing up to demand help for these people are unbelievers while Christians cross the street to walk on by? We are supposed to be the Good Samaritan; not the religious priest. I cannot imagine standing before Christ and trying to make the argument that I felt it was better to help these people in their own country. The callousness of Franklin Graham in this scenario is staggering. He tries to fall back on the work of his "association of churches" but that has been exposed as well as his meal ticket in this life. Listen beloved. If you want to side with this ban, go right ahead. We have free will. But stop pretending that this has something to do with something Obama did in 2011 or countries he highlighted in 2015. Stop acting like it really isn't a Muslim ban because that exact wording is not in the Executive Order. Stop following false leaders who are idolizing this country and providing cover for carnal leaders who could care less about the Gospel and the cause of Jesus Christ. Like the Priest on the road to Jericho, let them pass on the other side. We have a higher calling. We are the sojourner in these lands. We are the salt and light for a dying world. We are the shining city on the hill. I am not saying that you have to hop on a flight to the Middle East nor am I saying that you should be out protesting. I am saying to stop sending the message that Christians do not care about the least in society when that is the number one topic in the Bible after salvation. Those in the world may be spiritually blind but they have no problem at all recognizing hypocrisy. No problem at all.

Our key verse today reminds us that there will be some who come in the name of Christ but are merely peddlers of His Word. People who make merchandise of the Gospel. It certainly appears that Franklin Graham fits that role now. Perhaps he started with the best of intentions. Perhaps he still has good intentions. It matters not because he idolizes this wicked, carnal, pagan country. It matters not because he shills for the president and sees no problem with the fact that he has been paid to do so. It matters not what his intentions are because he has become the problem in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He thinks that person who fell in among the robbers would be better helped somewhere else. Not in my backyard. Yeah that is not the Gospel. Not even close.

Reverend Anthony Wade -- February 1, 2017

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.